Doha’s Starting Eleven - 11 Football Training Schools for Kids
A whole host of football schools and academies have emerged across Doha in the last two decades. The burgeoning popularity of these establishments is, in part, due to Qatar’s role as host of the FIFA 2022 World Cup.
Qatar’s love of football has been steadily growing since it was first introduced in the early 1950s, but alongside hosting one of the world’s greatest sporting events, the country has become gripped by football fever. Kids especially have been caught up in the excitement and are keen to pick up a ball and join the game, with dreams of becoming football’s next big thing swirling around their heads. In response, many sports and football clubs, schools, academies and training centres have sprung up to offer kids from all social and cultural backgrounds and abilities somewhere to have a kick about, socialise and improve their game, and, for some, a chance to live their dreams.
What Do Football Schools and Academies Offer?
Each of Doha’s football schools and academies offers a plethora of classes and programmes for various ages and abilities. Tailored activities are designed to improve football skills and help kids evolve into well-rounded individuals - confident, respectful, hard-working team players.
Most establishments also offer specific courses based on progressing particular skills, i.e. goalkeeping. Many offer girls-only programmes, summer and winter camps, and extracurricular activities. And some provide pro-development programmes for talented players as a pathway to professional football.
The majority of the academies also have teams that participate in either the Qatar Community Football League or the Qatar Foundation Junior Football League - offering kids the opportunity to experience competitive matches, tournaments and competitions.
Coaches at each academy are generally UEFA, FA or AFC qualified and deliver sessions and courses to achieve specific outcomes for player development. All staff are trained in the management of young people.
Training is generally held on weekday afternoons and weekends.
So, which schools and academies offer what, when and where?
Football Training Schools in Doha
We have picked eleven of our favourite sports academies offering football training in Doha and discuss each establishment's offerings below, with the top five first followed by the others in no particular order:
Top Five Academies
Evolution Sports Qatar
Image: evosportsqatar.com/
Winner of the GHP Best Multisports Youth Coaching Award in 2021, Evolution Sports is Qatar's largest and longest-standing multisports coaching provider. The academy operates out of multiple locations - Park House School, Abu Hamour, SEK International School, West Bay and Doha College, Al Wajba. The new Al Wajba campus facilities provide access to state-of-the-art facilities, including two 4G football pitches.
The football academy offers girls and boys from 2 years upwards numerous programmes, events and opportunities designed to develop a multitude of physical, technical and tactical skills, as well as a wealth of social skills and life skills. Players and parents are provided with online progress reports to measure performance and growth. Kids are encouraged to gain experience in competitive matches through competitions, tournaments and leagues - numerous of which are organised by Evo Sports (Qatar Community League, Qatar Junior Stars League).
The Evo Sports group is one of the leading lights in Qatar's youth sports development. They have to date, teamed up with the 2022 World Cup's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the Qatar Olympic Committee, the Qatar Football Association, the Qatar Stars League and Aspire Sports Academy to organise, deliver and support the progress of the game in Qatar.
Established: 2007
Age Range: 2 - 18 years
Programmes:
General:
Little Ballers Programme U2 - U5 (mixed)
Soccer School Programme U6 - U18
Girls Only Programme U6 - U16
Skills Specific:
Goalkeeper Development Programme
Pro-Development:
Train Like A Pro Clinic - one-off sessions to develop individual players’ core skills. Sessions delivered are taught in a more challenging environment to replicate the professional club experience.
The Academy - supporting the development of talented young players into elite footballers.
Extra-Curricular:
Pro Clinics and holiday camps are offered during school breaks.
Timings and Costs: Training schedules and prices are dependent on the soccer school location, age range and programme. In general, 2-3 one hour sessions are held on weekdays, starting from 4 pm onwards, and at weekends, starting from 8 am onwards, for each programme.
Coaches: Coaches are all UEFA licensed.
Contact Details:
Tel: +974 4407 6722
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://www.evosportsqatar.com
Social Media: @EvoSportsQatar
ICON Football Academy
Image: iconfbacademy.com/
ICON Football Academy is relatively new to Doha but offers Qatar Football Association approved training programmes run by FA qualified coaches at the Middle East International School in Abu Hamour.
The academy's overarching philosophy is to ensure that their training, provided in a realistic game environment, should be educational and challenging and add value to each player by improving their confidence and technical and tactical skills. The coaching team also focuses on building attributes such as humility, effort, ambition, respect and teamwork. ICON hopes to develop footballers and life-long leaders through dynamic and engaging lessons.
Training sessions for boys and girls from ages 4 to 15 are provided across eleven year groups, seven days per week, by experienced coaches. Each group has up to three sessions per week over a single term. Training is designed to progress development through the years, from fun-based learning for very young members to technical and tactical structures as kids develop physically and mentally.
Established: 2021
Age Range: 4-15 years
Programmes:
Age 4-6: Early ball skills, sociability, teamwork and fun
Age 7-8, 9-10: Structured learning centred around positioning
Age 11-12: Structured learning centred around possession
Age 13-14: Structured learning centred around passing
Girls Only
Timings and Costs:
Training schedules are dependent on the age range and programme. In general, 3 one hour sessions are provided per week for each programme, except girls-only sessions, which runs twice per week. Training is held on weekdays, starting from 4 pm onwards, and at weekends, from 9 am onwards. Costs are charged per term.
Coaches:
Coaches are all experienced and FA qualified.
Contact Details:
Tel: +974 5082 7441
Email: [email protected]
Social Media: @iconfootballacademydoha
Little Kickers Qatar
Image: facebook.com/littlekickersqatar/
Little Kickers Qatar is a UK based football programme with training sessions based on the British Early Years Foundation System (EYFS). Operating out of the Arab International School in Al Sadd, the programme is Qatar’s only specific pre-school football academy. Nonetheless, the Little Kickers organisation is one of the world’s biggest pre-school football academies with over 300 franchises in thirty-two countries.
The programme on offer focuses on the fundamentals of football, building on the foundations and basics of ball manipulation and mastery to the understanding and practical application of the rules of play. However, equally important, the courses are designed to build on the physical learning of preschoolers (hand-eye coordination, agility, balance, coordination, etc.) to cognitive, social and educational skills (decision making, listening skills, cooperation and collaboration, conflict resolution, confidence building, numeracy, etc.).
Training is tailored for each age group and becomes progressively more challenging as the children’s skills and abilities take shape.
Age Range: 18 months - 8 years
Programmes:
Mighty Kickers: 3½ - 5 years
Mega Kickers: 5 - 8 years
Extra-Curricular:
Summer camps are offered during the school holidays.
Timings and Costs:
Little Kickers runs weekend training sessions only, every Saturday from 4 pm. Costs are paid monthly with a one-time registration fee, which includes a uniform.
Contact Details:
Tel: +974 3133 2440
Email: [email protected]
Social Media: @littlekickersqatar
Lusail Football Academy
Image: Facebook.com/LusailFA/
Lusail Football Academy is one of the most popular in Doha. Located at Doha Sports Park and Lusail Sports Club’s Al Egla grounds, the academy has exceptional facilities to accommodate girls and boys from three upwards and into the senior and pro teams.
The academy’s coaching ethos is based on individual player development in an age-appropriate format. Age-specific programmes progress players through football development - from social and physical aspects to technical and tactical skills and knowledge. Club sessions are planned and delivered to ensure predetermined pathways to specific short term, and long term developmental goals are achieved. Players are assessed, and reports are provided to parents regularly.
As older kids progress into the U23 adult development programme, there is an opportunity for talented individuals to represent the academy’s pro team, Lusial FC.
Established: 2017
Age Range: 3-16 years
Programmes:
General:
Tiny Timmy Development Programme U4 - U6 (mixed)
Foundation Development U7 - U9
Youth Development Programme U10 - U16
Adult Development Programme U23
Girls Only Programme U7 - U16
Skills Specific:
Goalkeeper Development
Pro-Development:
Pro 1 on 1 Development
Extra-Curricular:
Summer and winter camps are offered during the school holidays.
Timings and Costs: Training sessions are held during the week and on Saturdays from 4 pm onwards. Generally, sessions are held for each programme three times per week and last for an hour, though adult sessions are 90 minutes. Costs vary depending on age range, term dates, and term length.
Coaches: Coaches are all UEFA and AFC qualified. All academy activities and proceedings are overseen by head coach and former Irish professional goalkeeper Ciaran Kelly.
Contact Details:
Tel: +974 3067 7463
Web: www.lfa.qa
Social Media: @lusail_fa
Paris Saint-Germain Academy Qatar
Image: psgacademy.qa/
In 2019, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) opened a branch of its world-renowned football academies in Qatar. With over 70 branches worldwide, Qatar joined a global network of football training schools. The Qatar academy operates out of Al Duhail, Al Khor, Al Saad, Al Waab, Al Wakrah, Barwa City and Education City.
Teaching girls and boys from 5 to 18 years of age, the academy’s courses are designed to identify and develop football talents. Training programmes are based on developing players’ strength and improving technique and tactical awareness, theoretical knowledge and personal qualities.
Kids have the opportunity to play in world-class training facilities, taught by PSG trained and certified coaches delivering a unique PSG training methodology. Talented players also have the chance to play at the PSG World Cup - a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Established: 2019
Age Range: 5 to 18 years
Programmes:
General:
U6, U8, U10, U12, U14, U17
Girls Only
Women Only
Skills Specific:
Goalkeeper Development Programme U10
Extra Curricular: Summer camps are available during school holidays.
Timings and Costs: Training schedules and costs are dependent on the age range, programme and the soccer school location . In general, weekdays sessions start from 4 pm onwards. Weekend sessions (Saturday only) start from 9 am onwards.
Coaches: Coaches are all UEFA licensed.
Contact Details:
Tel: +974 3306 2115
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.psgacademy.qa
Social Media: @psgacademyqatar
The Others
Absolute Sports Academy
Image: absolutesportsqatar.com/
Absolute Sports is a multisports training academy for kids aged 5 and 17 years. Football training for beginners, intermediates and advanced players is offered at the academy, as is one-to-one coaching. Led by UEFA licensed head coach and other certified staff - training sessions are held at the Sudanese School in Abu Hamour on weekdays and weekends from 5 pm onwards. The academy also offers winter/summer camps during the school holidays.
Contact Details:
Tel: +974 5501 7739 / 5527 1909
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.absolutesportsqatar.com
Social Media: @absolutesportsqa
BK Sports
Image: bksportsqatar.com/
BK Sports is a multisport and education provider with a sports academy offering football to girls and boys aged 4 to 14 years. The academy operates out of various locations, including Al Markhiya, Al Duhail, Al Saad and Abu Hamour. However, current football sessions are held at Al Arab International School in Al Saad every Monday and Wednesday from 5 to 6 pm.
Contact Details:
Tel: +974 3322 9025 / 3337 4384
Email: [email protected]
Social Media: @BKSportsQatar
Future Sports Academy
Image: futuresportsqatar.com/
Future Sports operates out of several venues - Compass International School in Medinat Khalifa, Doha British School in Ain Khalid, Qatar Foundation in Education City and the Swiss International School in La Luqta. The group offers 3-17-year-olds a variety of football programmes, including advanced and development football training, girls-only sessions, and elite training. Depending on the location, sessions generally run on weekdays from 4 pm, and on weekends from 8 am. Coaches are UEFA and FA licensed.
Contact Details:
Tel: +974 3344 2547
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.futuresportsqatar.com
Social Media: @FutureSportsQatar
Grinta Sport Academy
Image: Facebook.com/GrintaSportAcademy/
Grinta Sports Academy offers football, freestyle and futsal training sessions, and gymnastics to girls and boys between 4 and 17 years. Training sessions are generally on weekday evenings and during the day at weekends at Awfaz Global School in Al Gharrafa. Summer and winter sessions are available during the school holidays. Grinta is led by UEFA, AFC and CAF licensed coaches and is designed to develop player skills and confidence.
Contact Details:
Tel: +974 5063 1666
Email: [email protected]
Social Media: @GrintaSportAcademy
Premier League Football Academy
Image: Facebook.com/PLFAQATAR
Premier League Football Academy is led by ex-professional international footballer, Chuck Martini. The academy offers various levels of training from beginner to advanced team programmes and caters for both girls and boys. From ages 4 to 18, kids can train up to three times per week, weekdays and weekends, at various locations - Doha Sports Park in West Bay, Kings College in Al Thumama, and Oxygen Park in Education City.
Contact Details:
Tel: +974 5035 6595
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://goplfa.com
Social Media: @PLFAQATAR
Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim (SFQ) Sports Academy
Image: sfqsportsacademy.com.qa/
Main Image: nooncpk/Shutterstock.com
Multisport training academy, SFQ, offers football tuition to children aged 3 to 14 years. Operating out of several locations (The Gulf English School, Al Gharafa and Al Jazi Garden, West Bay), training sessions are mainly held on weekdays from 3:30 pm onwards. The academy also offers winter, summer and half-term camps during the school holidays.
Contact Details:
Tel: +974 6622 2962
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://www.sfqsportsacademy.com.qa
Social Media: @SFQSports