In this first episode of the FSI Talk, Jose Asian is joined by Gari Fullaondo and Miguel Alonso with the topic being all about “youth football player development”. This talk looks at how using detailed football academy methodology can really help young football players improve. By focusing early on ways to help them grow, improve their skills, and perform better, and by combining scientific knowledge with their experience, this episode shows a way to make their development more personalized and effective. During this talk, our expert provided us with a toolbox with key points to improve youth football player development from technical, tactical and conditioning approach. In this way, the three experts offer a holistic perspective on how to approach the development of young players in elite academies. The topics addressed are:

• Is the professional player born with these qualities, or are they made?
• What characteristics does having an ideal elite academy have?
• Should the academy train according to the first team's game model?
• Is the process or the result prioritized in the development of the footballer?
• How to approach "street football" or method-free football within the academy
• How to manage early specialization in football
• What and when should the soccer player be evaluated?