philosophy
Vision
To be the best place for young players and coaches so we can all be the best we can be.
Mission
- To provide the best possible football development to young talented players in the Melbourne community.
- To allow coaches to enjoy and develop their work in the best possible conditions.
- To make a positive impact on our players’, their families’ and our coaches’ lives through football.
Our values & principles
Program-centred approach
All decisions made in every corner of the organisation are to benefit or improve the conditions for player development.
Always do the right thing
We aim to always act with integrity, being honest and transparent in what we do and why we do it, even if this leads to conflict or difficult situations.
Responsible for our actions
We seek to be positive role models, embodying the ethics that characterise us. In full awareness of our capacities, we go the extra mile to serve our mission and purpose.
Non-conformist perfectionism
We seek to set an increasingly high standard, practicing a healthy non-conformist perfectionism.
Player Development at RFI
Bringing world’s best practice in youth development since 2012.
Since our very start we have been committed to delivering the highest possible level in youth development. Thanks to our deep European & South American roots, we have a natural understanding that football is more than a sport, it is a school for life. We see player development in holistic terms: there is no distinguishing between the ‘player’ and the ‘person’.
We are well-known for the sporting education we provide; this is not only thanks to our coaching of technical skill or game understanding, but also by teaching values, working on mental strength and developing character traits aimed to ensure our children grow to become intelligent, determined young men and women who excel at football and anything they set their minds to.
Our staff is in constant search for updates in best practice and scientific knowledge applied to youth football and education. It’s engrained in our passion and our values. We know we can inspire our players on and off the pitch, aiming to go above and beyond to make football the best learning experience for them.
How we do it
A wealth of knowledge and experience on the pitch.
Our impressive track record in player development would not exist without our unique methodology, which has gone on to become a positive influence in other Victorian football organisations. Nevertheless, our method continues to evolve and keep up with the highest European standards.
Main pillars of our method:
- Our Program-centred approach enables our entire structure to be focused on supporting the coaches and players, both on and off the pitch.
- We focus on the individual player, always within a team activity and the game context.
- We apply training principles of active learning, making the player be at the centre of his or her own development. We base our coaching on modern developmental concepts taken from Portugal, Spain, Belgium and Netherlands.
- We have a famous Style of Play, designed to boost player learning, and we have developed our own Model of Player, which acts as a guiding light for each child to follow. Through these, we have created a unique Program Curriculum, with agespecific detail, which guarantees the player development path over the long term.
- Our environment is warm and welcoming both for players and families to enjoy and be comfortable in. We seek to cooperate closely with parents, aligning our work for the best interest of our kids.
- Our coaches lead with energy and discipline, running challenging and demanding activities and pushing players to their best. But also, they develop close trusting relationships with each member of the team to build a great rapport and make the player feel supported through adversity.
Why we do it
Making a positive impact in our players’ lives
Our purpose is to improve our children’s lives through football, by helping them learn skills, insights and values not just for the game but also for life.
To achieve this, we must help them develop the tools and skills to navigate successfully through the football world as much as life. The capacity to overcome adversity is highly relevant both for aspiring players and for success in any other walks of life – the same could be said about many other abilities, all of which can be developed in and through football. We know it is our responsibility to help them develop these as much as possible.
While we are immensely proud of the on-pitch achievements of our players, our biggest goal is to see them become young adults of worth and value who give back to their community and make it better. In doing so, they will be improving the football environment as well, paving the way for the next generations.
We are very fortunate to be now witnessing the fruit of our work over the years, thanks to the invaluable help and support from the families. Our players are growing to become precisely what we dream of: great players and great people.
Learn more about RFI
Register today to start your football journey with RFI!
If you are interested in speaking to one of our coaches about RFI and the various programs on offer, please register your interest and we will get in touch with you.
Register your interestPlease allow 24-48 hours for our team to get back to you