At FC Bayern Campus, the individual development of young players is a process based on consistency and precision. The skills.lab Arena, in operation since December 2020, plays a central role in this process, integrating individual training with data-driven insights.
The Campus itself, which opened in 2017, provides a purpose-built environment for youth development. With eight football pitches, a 2,500-seat stadium, and dedicated training facilities, players from U11 to U23, as well as women’s and girls’ teams, train and develop here.
At the skills.lab Arena, players participate in weekly training sessions designed around specific focus areas, such as finishing, decision-making, or positional awareness. These focus areas are determined collaboratively by the team’s coach, the player, and the skills.lab coaches Oskar Kretzinger and Maximilian Luckner to ensure a targeted approach.
Training sessions last 60 minutes and are tailored to the individual, with feedback based on precise data. Each focus area is addressed over a period of 6 to 8 weeks, allowing players to achieve noticeable improvements through consistent practice and repetition.
Oskar Kretzinger, Leading Expert at the skills.lab Arena, describes the approach: “Five years ago, we were unable to objectively map a player’s performance in terms of their technical and cognitive abilities. Now we can make football more measurable with data. In addition, we can effectively improve a player in individual training in the Arena through a clear focus and many repetitions in a short period of time.”
For players like Josip Stanišić, who joined FC Bayern’s academy in 2017 and progressed to the first team in 2021, the skills.lab Arena is a motivational space. “The training in the skills.lab Arena inspires you to spend even more time improving. It’s a place where you’re constantly driven to be your best and can challenge each other to push further.”
Every player on the Campus undergoes a screening twice a year, providing valuable insight into their technical and cognitive abilities. These screenings don’t just measure current performance. They allow comparisons over time and among peers, helping coaches make informed decisions about training adjustments or readiness for the next step.
This structured approach ensures that each player’s development is comprehensively monitored and benchmarks are set for consistent improvement. For Aleksandar Pavlović, these structured assessments and training programs played a crucial role in his journey. Despite his late development, the club recognized his football intelligence and technical ability. “I was a late bloomer and was always the smallest player between the ages of 15 and 17, that is why I never played for a national team until I was 20. So I was forced to find quick footballing solutions early on,” says Pavlović.
For the staff at FC Bayern, the skills.lab Arena is a key element to support the structured development of young players. Training is specific, measurable, and adaptable, ensuring that each session is meaningful. As Jochen Sauer, Director of Youth Development and Campus, notes:
“Aleks Pavlovic had some physical development to do over the years, but in his data, we always saw his footballing intelligence, his bilaterality of feet and his overall basic technique. To get this knowledge, combined with the efficient training possibilities, makes the skills.lab Arena incredibly valuable for us.”
Individual training in the skills.lab Arena is an integral part of the weekly program for all teams at the FC Bayern Campus. By addressing predefined focus areas through structured and data-driven sessions, players consistently benefit from targeted improvements in their game.
The goal of this individualization is to enhance player performance in 11 vs. 11 match scenarios through exercises in the Arena designed to transfer training progress onto the pitch. Whether it’s sharper decision-making, better positional awareness, or improved technical execution, each player’s progress should not only be measurable but also impactful. At FC Bayern, this integration of technology and training reflects a commitment to fostering growth and ensuring that every player is equipped to take the next step.
© All Photos: FC Bayern
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