After years of suffering and peril, Indian football with its thriving leagues and trailblazing talents shows signs of resurgence.

Football is not just a sport. In many parts across the globe, it is a tradition, and it brings in a sense of belonging to the people. With more than 4 billion viewers every year, football is the most-watched sport, and it captivates people from all walks of life. The game itself teaches people lessons about never giving up and sheer perseverance. Although India, with its 1.3 billion people, has the potential to excel in every sport, it hasn’t been the case so far. Football is evolving slowly in the country, and it might take a while before we can see India on the international stage. Until then, let’s jump in to see how football has evolved as a sport in the country.

How it all started?

Along with many other things the British taught us how to do, they also showed us how to play sports like football and cricket. British soldiers initially introduced the game in the mid-nineteenth century, but the popularity spread owing to a man’s efforts. He is none other than Mr. Nagendra Prasad Sarbadhikari, also called the Father of Indian Football. After observing British soldiers playing the game, he taught the game to his classmates, and that is how his journey started.

After receiving enthusiastic responses from his classmates, the British Government encouraged him to spread awareness about the game in different places. He established a string of football clubs, one of the first being Wellington Club and Sovabazar Club in the 1880s.

Popularity soars in the Early Nineties

In 1888, Durand Cup was founded, becoming the third oldest football competition behind the FA Cup and the Scottish Cup. Such was the frenzy that the game caught. In 1889, India’s oldest current team, ATK Mohun Bagan FC, was established as “Mohun Bagan Sporting Club.” Likewise, the first Indian Football Federation was founded in 1893. It was the start of something promising.

More clubs and cup competitions came up, and more Indian players started to get onto the scene. Indian football showed its true mettle and potential in 1911 when Mohun Bagan AC defeated East Yorkshire Regiment 2–1 in the final of the IFA Shield. With growing fame and talent, Indian football teams comprising only Indians started touring other countries like Australia, Indonesia, Japan, and Thailand during the 1930s. Although unverified, India supposedly won its first international overseas match against Ceylon in 1933, scoring 1-0 over the hosts. Following the popularity and success of Indian clubs domestically and internationally, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) was set up in 1937.

The Golden Era of Indian Football

In 1950, India qualified for the FIFA World Cup following the withdrawal of all their scheduled opponents. The AIFF was unaware of the importance of the event and decided against going, citing reasons like the cost of travel, team practice, and selection issues. Although FIFA stated that they would bear a majority of the expenses, the governing body AIFF didn’t change its stance as they valued Olympics over World Cup.

(Photo credit: History of Soccer)

The period from 1951-to 1962 is considered the golden age of Indian Football. In 1951, under Syed Abdul Rahim, India transformed into a fearless side. As hosts, India won the Asian Games for the first time in 1951, defeating Iran 1-0. They continued their good run of form in the following year, winning the Colombo Quadrangular Cup held in Sri Lanka.

They went on to win three more editions of the Quadrangular Cup in the same decade. India created a historic moment at the 1956 Olympics, where they finished fourth in the final standings, beating the likes of Australia in the process. Although India’s good run of form continued for the rest of the years, it was not until 1962 that they saw silverware again. In the 1962 Asian Games final, India defeated South Korea 2-1, claiming the prestigious honor twice in ten years. However, this was the last of silverware that the country would see for the foreseeable future.

The Decline and Future Prospects

Post the Asian Games win, performances started to decline. With the sudden demise of Syed Rahim in the early 60s, India lacked quality leadership. The team went through a barren stretch during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, eventually losing its foothold as Asia’s top football team. Although India did win a couple of minor trophies during the 90s, it was the establishment of the National Football League, the first domestic league in the country, in 1996 that gave football fans a glimmer of hope.

However, National Football League did not have the desired impact, and the country continued to suffer on the international stage. In 2007, National Football League was scrapped to make way for I-League. In 2017, the emergence of the Indian Super League (ISL) brought the game to the masses with its exceptional marketing and the co-existence with I-League to bring about a tier-based domestic league further reiterates the direction in which the sport is going in the country.

Although India didn’t have anything to show on the international stage yet, it has a promising future. With the emergence of ISL and grassroots football academies and sports schools such as The Sports School, the country’s first school that integrates sports and academics, many talented young Indian players started entering the Indian football scene. With proper guidance and leadership, India can truly be shaped into an exceptional side and retake the lost crown of Asia’s top football team.

If you are a professional athlete already looking to scale greater heights, a student looking for a meaningful sports graduate program, or someone looking for an exciting new career, we invite you to spend some time looking around our website to learn more about us.

Built on a network of sports-minded professionals, The Sports School is India’s first integrated school for sports and academics serves as a platform for young people to pursue their choice of sporting & academic dreams. The Sports School has partnered with Bengaluru FC for football training program.

We offer unparalleled holistic educational programs, with world-class sporting infrastructure and amenities, sporting and academic excellence to help you jump-start your carer sports and beyond.

The post Evolution of Football in India appeared first on The Sports School.

Despite it being said for decades, Indian football is on the rise. Similarly, the country’s football league has traversed through different eras of trials, tribulations, and triumphs. However, the inception of the Indian Super League in 2014 ushered a brief revival in how professional league in the country was conceived and conducted while creating legends who left an indelible mark on the game of football and in the hearts of fans across the country.

Backstory

The Indian Super League began as a step to nurture the popularity of football in India as the country got ready to host the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Before Indian Super League, the sport saw limited popularity but still managed to draw large fans, bringing in football icons like Pele, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi.

Currently, in its 8th season, the ISL has 11 teams and may see even more teams get into a franchise-based league model by 2023. Unlike league formats in England, Spain, or parts of Europe, ISL clubs enjoy fixed membership, with no promotion, no relegation.

Despite being the fourth-biggest football league in the world on Instagram, ISL still pales in on-field comparison to English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and other similar leagues in Europe and South America.

While many begs to differ by saying that the league is not perfect and still has a long way to go. In a way, it is fair that two things can be true at the same time and the same applies to ISL. The fans always want more, as they should, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that ISL has significantly helped elevate Indian football to new heights.

Better match experience

Before the emergence of ISL, Indian football leagues had poor television coverage coupled with poor branding, marketing, and a dull ambiance which was not enough to attract the audience from the national and international community.

Fast forward to the present day, and ISL has transformed into the hierarchy of Indian football with a collection of marquee players from Europe to South America and young players filtering down the football pyramid to lift the level considerably. Former Brazilian footballer and Inter Milan defender Marco Materazzi Brazilian Roberto Carlos, Alessandro Del Piero, Nicolas Anelka, Luis Garcia, Robert Pires, and coaches like the legendary Zico became the trailblazers of the phenomenon. Many others followed suit including Ferran Corominas and Steven Mendoza who are now idolized as icons.

The TV ratings improved like never before, leveraging social media presence with millions of admirers has also helped the league to attract a fanbase through banners, pictures, and tweets on social media. The rising graph clearly suggests that today’s youth are not just welcoming the game, but enjoying it too.

Fan culture

During the National Football League/I League days, the lack of proper fan involvement programs hurt the growth of football fan culture in the country.

With the advent of the ISL, the fans have found new vigor and are able to attend matches regularly and follow their teams to away matches which ultimately results in a better matchday atmosphere, something that seemed like a pipe dream 10 years ago.

The ISL’s fan engagement programs led to the formation of multiple fan clubs, West Block Blues, Manjapadda, Gaur Army, Red Miners, The Juggernauts, Super Machans, and the latest East Bengal Ultras and Mariners Base Camp.

For others, these games mean nothing in the long term, but for the fans, it is more than a club involvement and every matchday counts as a big event. They become the 12^th man and want to be part of everything the club represents. It takes a very special type of fan to travel across a state to see your local team play in a week, week out. It gives a whole new connection between fans and players if they come from the same city or state. Just look at Edwin at Chennaiyin FC, Sahal Samad at Kerala Blasters, Brandon Fernandes at FC Goa.

Attendance

In terms of attendance too, the ISL has shown encouraging progress over the years while improving the overall perception of the league from both inside, and outside, of the Indian football realm.

In the inaugural year, the average attendance at an ISL match was 24,070 and watched by 429 million viewers on Star TV. In 2015, the spectator count grew to 27,210 per match. The 2015 season also registered the league’s highest attendance of 68,340 between ATK v Chennaiyin in the two-legged second semifinals. The following seasons saw a decline averaging 20,659, 14,731, 11,908 respectively. And the past two seasons have been played behind closed doors owing to the pandemic. However, in the coming years, ISL may see even more teams added with promotion, and relegation would be a great sign of integration and promising better fare and a much larger following.

Viewership and Social media reach

An analysis by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) data shows that the league recorded a giant reach of over 130 million in the 2021 season; surpassed the previous season in terms of Television Ratings, Time Spent Viewing, brand integrations, and social buzz.

The 2021 season also garnered 3.42 billion viewing minutes compared to the 2020 season’s 3.16 billion as well as 16% pan-India growth from the 2020 season’s viewership numbers. Smart broadcasting coverage by Star India has played a part, too in rising the numbers with its grandeur touch of localized telecast in regional language and high-engaging content to reach out to more people.

And let’s not forget that in an extremely tech-savvy Indian youth in the digital platform, there has been a drastic increase in engagement as well. And also remember that ISL’s engagement in digital media is more than double of Italy’s Serie A.

Direct links with foreign clubs

With an eye to improving the level of football in India and expanding their own brand, some European clubs have taken steps to get involved with ISL clubs. One of the most significant deals in the history of the league was when City Football Group added Mumbai City FC to their portfolio of football clubs after acquiring a majority stake of 65%.

Germany’s Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund has a partnership with Hyderabad FC in the enhancement of the academy and coach education. Scottish Premiership champions Rangers FC and Bengaluru FC forged a technical deal of setting up football schools and holding training camps in Bengaluru. And other German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig established a strategic partnership with FC Goa to offer their facilities in order to develop Indian talents and also expand their own brand in the country. All these tie-ups with foreign clubs inspire and pave the way for the next generation of footballing stars in India.

Recognition

Clubs in Asia and Europe are noticing the massive talent nurtured in the ISL.  Many young talents have had tryouts with European clubs but failed to pen a deal. Ashique Kuruniyan, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Lallianzuala Chhangte, and Brandon Fernandes to name a few who were a touching distance of the ultimate dream of playing in Europe.

Commitment to youth development and grooming domestic talent

Finally, the ISL academy system is an important part of the league’s growth and stability that simply didn’t exist in the first few years.

During the initial years of ISL, playing in I-League and state tournaments was the biggest pipeline for young players to enter the ISL. That meant that players usually spent years playing in the college environment. However, this system is now constantly improving, with ISL having youth academies at every club, teams across the country becoming more and more competitive and the number of younger kids who want to play football constantly increasing as well.

Just as important as the improvements made on the youth are the strides made on focusing on the growth of domestic talent as well, which also happened to be an important ingredient for long-term growth while ultimately giving the national team a much-needed boost.

Moving forward                                           

The pandemic may have interrupted the last two seasons running the league being played in a bio-bubble environment with no crowds but it is easy to see where ISL is going, even if it is not there yet. When ISL began, nobody knew where it might lead. Most figured it would end up as other defunct leagues in the country. Thankfully, the league is still thriving. If this is how far Indian Super League has come in just 8 short years, there is no limit to what the next 8 and beyond may hold.

The Sports School has partnered with Bengaluru FC to provide aspiring footballers with world-class training to reach the next level. At The Sports School campus, we offer a Professional Football Coaching Program with experienced coaches licensed by AFC and AIFF, where the monitoring and evaluation of the student’s performance will be done by Head of Youth Development and BFC Youth Academy coaches.

[maxbutton id=”1″ url=”https://thesportsschool.com/football/” ]

The post From irrelevance to hierarchy: How has ISL revolutionized Indian Football? appeared first on The Sports School.

About Durand Cup

Source- dnaindia.com

The Durand Cup was started in 1888 and is Asia’s oldest football tournament. It was started at Dagshai by Sir Henry Mortimer Durand. Initially, it began as an Army Cup and was open only for British India Army troops. Later it was open for civilian teams. Presently the defence team of India and civilian teams both participate in this tournament. It is the third oldest football tournament in the world.

Durand Cup is organised collaboratively by the Eastern Command of the Indian Armed Forces and the government of West Bengal. In 2021, this tournament will be organised in West Bengal. For the next five years, the Durand Cup will be held in Kolkata. In India, West Bengal has the maximum number of fans of football. The land has given great players too. People from all age groups love to play football in this state.

Prizes and cups of the Tournament

This highly prestigious tournament provides three cups to the winning team.

Durand Cup

Source- khelnow.com

The Durand Cup is a rolling trophy. The winning team keeps the trophy till next year, as the tournament is held every year it needs to be returned before the next tournament. In 1965, the Durand Football Tournament Society declared this Durand Cup as a rolling trophy. The cup is very attractive, it has a flat round base with a cup above the sloping base. Gokulam Kerala is the defending champion of this tournament.

President’s Cup

Source- zenger.news

The President Cup was first presented by the first president of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad. This cup is carried permanently by the winning team of the Durand Cup. With a circular disc at the top followed by the Ashoke Lion, the trophy looks beautiful.

Shimla Cup

Source- indianexpress.com

Shimla Cup is another rolling trophy in the Durand Cup. The locals of Shimla were enormously fascinated by the carnival brought by this tournament. They donated to present another rolling trophy to the winning team. Since then this trophy has been awarded to the winning team and named Shimla Cup.

Teams

Total 16 teams are going to compete to win the title of Durand Cup, 130th edition.

5 clubs from Indian Super League:-

1. Bengaluru FC
2. FC Goa
3. Hyderabad FC
4. Jamshedpur FC
5. Kerala Blasters FC

3 clubs from I-league

1. Gokulam Kerala FC
2. Mohammedan FC
3. Sudeva Delhi FC

2 clubs from I-League 2nd division

1. FC Bengaluru United
2. Delhi FC

6 teams from the Indian Armed Forces

1. Assam Rifles (AR)
2. Army Green
3. Army Red
4. Indian Air Force (IAF)
5. Indian Navy
6. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)

Best wishes to our partner Bengaluru FC

Source- hindstantimes.com

Bengaluru FC was formed in 2013 with a vision to take football to the next level in India. It has been training young talents since then and within a short span, the team has won several tournaments and emerged as one of the strong teams. The champion of the Federation Cup is ready to participate in the Durand Cup with full enthusiasm. Bengaluru FC is the sporting partner for the Football program at The Sports School.

Conclusion

Do not miss this thrilling and interesting football tournament. Different teams will face each other and it’s going to be an unforgettable experience. Do watch and cheer up!

If you want to become the next sports icon in the field of football, join The Sports School where sports and academics go hand in hand. For more queries contact us. It will be an honour to assist you. That was all here. We will be back with another interesting topic. Till then, keep smiling.

The post Durand Cup – Asia’s Oldest Football Tournament appeared first on The Sports School.

Let’s take a look at the ISL 2021: Top 5 Memories that have captured people’s hearts this season –

• NorthEast United FC and ATK Mohun Bagan – First leg play-offs 

Image Source – scroll.in

The drama began when Idrissa Sylla lost a spot to teammate Deshorn Brown on the regular line-up, owing to his form. Since this was the first part of the play-off game, the energy was at an all-time high. Since Brown was missing, Sylla stepped up to save Brown’s side from what would otherwise have been a loss in this leg. To ensure a spot in and qualify for the second leg, Sylla’s striking play enabled him to pop up and power across by Luis Machado – well past Arindam Bhattacharya – making sure the team had a solid chance to win. 

• Mumbai City vs FC Goa – Pandita’s header

Image Source – News18

All eyes this season have been on FC Goa’s Ishan Pandita. Pandita has proven his worth as a sub, especially during the 3-3 draw match between Mumbai City and FC Goa. he battled on like a warrior on being admitted into the game towards the latter half, and didn’t give up even when FC Goa was vying hard to build themselves up from a 2-3. In the 95th minute, Pandita rose like a phoenix to head a shot made by Edu Bedia straight into the net, making Goans go wild with excitement. He indeed proved that he is one player who just has to be off the bench to make a difference for his team.  

• Mumbai City vs FC Goa – Penalty Shootout
  
  

  Image Source – Sportskeeda

Penalty shootouts are always nerve-wracking for any football match – and more so when it’s being played between two frantically rival teams, and that too as a semi-final decider. Recently, the ISL semi-finals were among the most exciting semi-finals Indian football has witnessed in a long time as FC Goa and Mumbai City went head to head in a penalty shootout to decide who would make it to the finals. The match ended in a 2-2, due to which a penalty shootout was held. With bated breath, the country erupted to cheer as Mumbai City made it into the finals, making its debut into an ISL final. 

• Chennaiyin FC vs FC Goa – Win-Loss-Win

Image Source – ISL

One of the best goals this season was by Rafael Crivellaro as he kicked a goal with great panache from a corner directly into the net, helping Chennaiyin score a 2-1 goal over FC Goa. Rafael’s corner kick in the 11th minute of the game made it the third time ever to be scored this way in the ISL. However, within 4 minutes of this fantastic corner kick, FC Goa bounced back with a skilled goal from Ortiz Mendoza, leveling the game back. Eventually, the game ended with Chennaiyin winning the match as Rahim Ali scored another one for the team. 

• Fan Wall Moments – Truly Bringing the Spirit of the Game Alive 

Image Source – Youtube

This year, the ISL was held a little differently. Due to the pandemic, fans were forced to experience the game via virtual means instead of feeling the adrenaline inside the stadium. But this didn’t stop their energy. The ISL website has dedicated an entire “Fan wall” of moments to capture the football matches’ spirit through their dedicated fans. These fan wall moments are one of the top highlights of the ISL – you can see fans of all ages, intently plastered across their screens cheering loud, rejoicing, feeling the pain, hooting for their team players. It’s so heartening to see these fans from across various parts of the country adding more zeal and enthusiasm to the game, even as they remain isolated. It truly brings out the impact the ISL has on the nation and bringing people together, even in a pandemic.

We know that Mumbai City has made it into the final – who will battle it out with them to win the league this year? Will it be ATK Mohun Bagan or NorthEast United? Will the final have more thrill than these top ISL 2021 memories? We’ll soon find out. Don’t forget to watch the final and immerse yourself in the spirit of India’s exhilarating love for football! 

The Sports School Football Academy with Bengaluru FC provides aspiring footballers with world-class training to reach the next level. At The Sports School campus, we offer a Professional Football Coaching Program with experienced coaches licensed by AFC and AIFF, where the monitoring and evaluation of the student’s performance will be done by Head of Youth Development and BFC Youth Academy coaches.

Competitive and friendly match opportunities on a regular basis will be arranged with quality opponents and talented students will get an opportunity to play at the BFC Youth Academy teams. The Bengaluru FC Grassroots / Youth Development program is the first step in the career of a young aspiring footballer. Students will also be provided Sports Science expertise (Strength & Conditioning, Nutrition, and Injury Prevention concepts).

The post ISL 2021: Top 5 Memories appeared first on The Sports School.

Image Source: khelnow.com

In 2013, the football club began its journey with a sign on to the Indian Super League. In its first-ever year, the club has crowned the winner of the league, and ever since, has won another league title. Bengaluru FC has also been twice crowned the winner of the Federation Cup and has also won the Super Cup.

Let’s look at the football club’s journey from the start and what makes it so popular.

Club Trivia

Ownership:

Image Source: Behance

Bengaluru FC, also nicknamed “The Blues”, is owned by the JSW Group, with Sajjan Jindal as its chairman.

Current Coach:

Image Source: SportsMint Media

The head coach for the club is Marco Pezzaiuoli, a well-known German football manager.

Stadium:

Image Source: Sportstar

The club’s main grounds are located at Sree Kanteerava Stadium, which can accommodate over 25,000 people.

Club colours:

Image Source: BFC

The club’s jersey colours are blue for home games, white for games played away and green for other events.

The Club’s Inception

It all started when the JSW Group bid to be a part of India’s football league or the I-League. At the same time, Karnataka State Football Association’s president suggested that Bangalore host the FIFA under 17 World Cup in partnership with a corporate entity that could help them build the infrastructure required to become a host venue.

Soon enough, JSW won the bid to create a team that could directly enter the I-League. At the same time, the group also announced that they would be setting up sporting infrastructure as well as an academy for younger football enthusiasts to train at. Later in 2013, the Bangalore Football Club was officially launched at the Bangalore Football Stadium. To supplement the club’s members, Ashley Westwood was picked as its head coach and Curtis Osano, John Johnson, and Sunil Chhetri (captain of the Indian national football team) were signed on as players. The club’s first match was at its home ground against Mohun Bagan, which ended in a draw.

Image Source: BFC

In the next few years, Bengaluru FC played away games, participated in the Federation Cup, and qualified to play in the AFC Champions League.

Club Identity and Sponsorships

Crest:

Image Source: BFC

On the launch of its livery, the club’s crest featured the backdrop of the beautiful Bangalore Palace as an ode to symbolise the Wodeyar victory. As a tribute to the fearless, resilient and brave people of Bengaluru, the middle of the crest has a two-headed Gandaberunda. The Gandaberunda is a mythical bird borrowed from the Karnataka state’s coat of arms. In 2015, the club’s official mascot was revealed to be an eagle, with the moniker, Eddie the Eagle.

Sponsors:

Image Source: BFC

Over the years, in addition to JSW, the club has been sponsored majorly by Kia, with Puma as the main sponsor for kits and apparel. Minor sponsors have included the likes of Kingfisher, SF Sonic, EPSON, Nissin, DafaNews, EatFit and My Fan Park.

Home Ground:

Image Source: ISL.com

The club began with the Bangalore Football Stadium as its official stadium but soon moved to the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, which fans also refer to as the “Fortress”.

Supporters:

Image Source: Twitter

The Bengaluru FC has a huge fanbase in India, and its supporters are commonly referred to as the West Block Blues. The club’s players have always acknowledged what a tremendous role the supporters have had in their victories and refer to them as their “12th man”, in other words, an indispensable part of the team itself. The Bengaluru FC itself is a huge supporter of the Indian national football team, having proven this at India vs Guam game where they unfurled a banner showcasing their enthusiasm and support.

Rivals:

Image Source: India Fantasy

When speaking in pure sportsman spirit, the club’s rivals are seen as Mohun Bagan and the Kerala Blasters.

Bengaluru FC’s wins through the ages

Bengaluru FC has been bestowed with a number of honours and awards since its inception.

2013-14 – Winner, I-League
2014-15 – Runners up, I-League; Winner, Federation Cup
2015-16 – Winner, I-League
2016-17 – Runners up, AFC Cup; Winner, Federation Cup
2017-18 – Runners up, Indian Super League
2018-19 – Winner, Indian Super League; Winner, Indian Super Cup

In addition, the club has also actively participated in the AFC Champions League twice and played for the AFC Cup for five years consecutively from 2015 to 2020.

Image Source: Firstpost

The Sports School Football Academy with Bengaluru FC offers comprehensive programs for Professional Football Coaching with experienced coaches licensed by AFC and AIFF. Our football program helps players,  of each age group, develop and play competitive football. The monitoring and evaluation of the student’s performance are done by the Head of Youth Development and BFC Youth Academy coaches, in addition to which, students are also provided Sports Science expertise – Strength & Conditioning, Nutrition, and Injury Prevention concepts.

[maxbutton id=”1″ url=”https://thesportsschool.com/football/” ]

The post Bengaluru FC through the ages appeared first on The Sports School.

Football or soccer is the most-watched and followed sport in the world. Football in India has a massive following, just as cricket does. Though a football career in India is not considered the right career choice, the situation is slowly changing. Domestically, tournaments like ISL have boosted football’s image and popularity in India. It is no longer sports children play in their localities and isn’t restricted to Mohunbagan FC anymore.

Teams like Bengaluru FC have a massive following, and they also have a registration and selection process that is quite accessible. Having a football career in India is no longer a distant dream. Though the sport isn’t as popular as cricket on a national level, locally, football is a loved and cherished sport. Tournaments like I-League and ISL make football a viable career option for young aspiring footballers passionate about the sport.

Best Football Academy in India

Though India has never really managed to breakthrough in the FIFA World Cup, many Indians dream of the day when India can achieve this. Passionate lovers of football have established many academies and schools to train young children. These trained players play in tournaments like ISL and I-League. Some of the best football academies in India are as follows:

• Premier Indian Football Academy

Established by Nirvan Shah and Anjali Shah in 2002. Both have featured prominently in Mumbai’s football scene. The school has conducted camps abroad and provides excellent exposure.

• Tata Football Academy

JRD Tata established the Academy to pay tribute to his father’s love and commitment to sports. The Academy provides intensive training along with all-round development. The Academy looks after every need of its young trainees.

• Bengaluru FC Soccer Schools

Established in 2014, it was mainly led by the I-League winning team. BFC schools undertake extraordinary efforts to ensure the young trainees can learn from the best and reach professional levels in the future.

• Baichung Bhutia Football Schools

The great Indian footballer Baichung Bhutia established these schools to ensure young football enthusiasts in India could receive proper training. It is a premier institute for kids who want to pursue football professionally. The trainees are provided with match exposure, career guidance, and adequate studies. 

• The Sports School

The Sports School was established in 2019 with a vision to integrate education and sports for young aspirants and help them become professional athletes. World-famous mentors such as Rohan Bopanna, Robin Uthappa, and Pullela Gopichand train students in The Sports School regularly. 

Football at The Sports School

The Sports School Football Academy is a collaboration with Bengaluru FC. The program aims to provide world-class training to aspiring footballers. The coaches have licenses from AFC and AIFF. The trainees’ evaluation is undertaken by the Youth Academy Coaches and Head of Youth Development of the Bengaluru FC.

There are regular friendly and competitive matches held. Talented students get a chance to play with BFC Youth Academy teams. Bengaluru FC  is one of the India’s most established football clubs, and this partnership makes The Sports School one of the best football academies in Bangalore.

Professional football training at The Sports School is provided along with expertise in sports science. Students are taught about strength and conditioning, nutrition, and injury prevention. The turf itself is certified by FIFA Quality Pro. The artificial turf measures 108m x 68m and goes through strict lab testing and FIFA certification criteria.

The Sports School Football Program

The training provided to students includes the following criteria – position training, team practice, advanced skills, game analysis, ground matches, tournaments, mental conditioning, strength, and stamina enhancement. 

The head coach of The Sports School football program is Hason Khaleeli. Hason is a license holder of AFC. He has trained at the Football Association of Ireland. Over the past decade, Hason has worked with several grassroots programs to train players in Ireland.

Hason had been working with Bengaluru FC since its birth in 2013. He was the lead coach for U10 and U14, and he was Assistant Coach at the U16 and U19 levels. He became the head coach of the Football Academy of Bangalore in 2016, which gave this program an edge over many others in Bangalore. It is undoubtedly one of the best football academies in Bangalore.

[maxbutton id=”1″ ]

The post How To Start A Football Career In India? appeared first on The Sports School.

About ISL:-

The Indian Super League (ISL) is the highest level of a Professional Football League in India founded in October 2013. The league involves 11 teams with each season usually running from November to March. During the league stage of the competition, each club/team plays 20 games against the others in an all-play-all tournament (or round-robin style). The top four teams at the end of the league stage qualify for the play-offs. The season then winds up with the ISL Final to discover the Champion. The league has been officially known as the Hero Indian Super League since its initiation as Hero MotoCorp signed a sponsorship agreement with ISL. Its organizing committee are AIFF (All India Football Federation), FSDL (Football Sports Development Limited) and Star Sports. Initially, the league started with 8 teams, then expanded to 10 teams in 2017-18 and currently it has 11 teams competing against each other. 

Competition Format:-

The league stage follows a double round-robin format (all-play-all), with each club playing against others twice, once at their home stadium and once at their opponents’ stadium, for a total of 18 matches each. Teams earn 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, with the highest-ranked club at the end of the league stage being awarded the ISL League Winners Shield and the top 4 ranked teams advancing to the finals.

Clubs:-

CLUB		LOCATION	HOME GROUND	HEAD COACH	OWNERS
	ATK Mohun Bagan	Kolkata, West Bengal	Salt Lake Stadium	Aptonia Lopez	Sourabh Ganguly, Sanjiv Goenka
	Bengaluru FC	Bangalore, Karnataka	Sree Kanteerava Stadium	Carles Cuadrat	JSW Group
	Chennaiyin FC	Chennai, Tamil Nadu	Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Chennai)	Csaba Laszlo	Abhishek Bachchan, MS Dhoni
	SC East Bengal	Kolkata, West Bengal	Salt Lake Stadium	Robbie Fowler	Shree Cement
	FC Goa	Margao, Goa	Fatorda Stadium	Juan Ferrando	Virat Kohli, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala
	Hyderabad FC	Hyderabad, Telangana	G.M.C Balayogi Stadium	Manuel Marquez	Rana Daggubati
	Jamshedpur FC	Jamshedpur, Jharkhand	JRD Tata Sports Complex	Owen Coyle	Tata Steel
	Kerala Blasters FC	Kochi, Kerala	Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Kochi)	Kibu Vicuna	Blasters Sports Ventures Pvt. Ltd.
	Mumbai City FC	Mumbai, Maharashtra	Mumbai Football Arena	Sergio Lobera	Ranbir Kapoor
	Northeast United FC	Guwahati, Assam	Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium	Gerard Nus	John Abraham
	Odisha FC	Bhubaneswar, Odisha	Kalinga Stadium	Stuart Baxter	GMS Inc.

ISL Record holders:-

• Most titles as a Coach:- Antonio Lopez Habas
• Most points in a season:- 40, Bengaluru FC
• Most wins till date:- 51, FC Goa
• Most draws in total:- 35, Kerala Blasters
• Most goals in total:- FC Goa
• Most goal by an Indian in Indian Super League goals:- Sunil Chettri, Bengaluru FC
• Biggest win:- 7-0, FC Goa vs. Mumbai City FC

League Champions:-

• 2014 :- ATK Mohun Bagan
• 2015 :- Chennaiyin FC
• 2016 :- ATK Mohun Bagan
• 2017-18 :- Chennaiyin FC
• 2018-19 :- Bengaluru FC
• 2019-20 :- ATK Mohun Bagan
• 2020-21:- ?

ATK Mohun Bagan holds the most ISL trophies with 3, defeating Chennaiyin FC in the 2019–20 final.

Click below to know about Football program @ The Sports School by Bengaluru FC

[maxbutton id=”1″ url=”https://thesportsschool.com/football-program-at-the-sports-school/” ] 

The post All You Need To Know About ISL (Indian Super League) appeared first on The Sports School.

The sports industry has been growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3% since 2014 and created a global market worth of $488.5 billion in the year 2018. Experts predict that it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.9% in the near future and reach nearly $614.1 billion by 2022. With such a phenomenal rate of growth in the industry and an overwhelming range of opportunities, it is the right time to think of a career in this industry.
So, let’s dive in and explore the various career possibilities and decide which one is meant for you:

Sportsperson

A professional athlete is anyone who competes in individual or team organized sports. Thousands and lakhs of youngsters aspire to make their way to the top, but only a few live their dream, and even if they do, their careers are short-lived. So what does it take to become a professional player? Well, it is your strong will power and a tiny bit of luck that does the magic. There is no specific degree that you need in order to be successful, but professional coaching and playing regularly will work in your favor.

Skills required:

• Interpersonal skills
• Concentration
• Decision making
• Hand-eye coordination
• Physical stamina
• Strong determination
• Discipline

Athletic trainer

Athletic trainers work on diagnosing and treating injuries sustained in the muscles and bones by athletes. They are healthcare workers and also help the athletes in preventing any further injuries. To practice as a professional athletic trainer, the minimum qualification required is a Bachelor’s degree in this field; however, a master’s degree is preferable.

Skills required:

• Good communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Compassion towards the patients
• Good observation skills
• Emotional control

Sports Coach
The name speaks for itself. Sports coaches train sports enthusiasts to participate in matches at a professional level and familiarize them with the know-how of the game. There are various levels and groups of athletes that you can work with, ranging from school to state and national level teams.

To pursue a career in this field, you can look forward to a degree in sports coaching, sports management, and sports science. However, more than a degree, your experience in the field and an exhaustive knowledge of the game are valued. You can’t teach a game unless you know every tactic of it.

Skills required:

• Good social skills
• Selflessness
• Team building ability
• Patience
• Motivation skills
• Organization skills
• Understanding the physical and mental state of the athletes

Athletic Director

Athletic directors usually look over multiple aspects of an athletic program, which includes hiring coaches, budgeting, promotions and the list goes on. Athletic Directors typically have a Bachelor’s degree in education, physical education or a relevant field, and a Master’s in sports management, administration, or business.

Skills required:

• Good Leadership
• Managerial skills
• Good planning
• Interpersonal communication
• Organization skills
• Managing money

Marketing and Promotion Coordination

The job description for a marketing and promotion coordinator include preparing reports, analyzing the market, and implementing marketing strategies. This job requires a degree in marketing or a related field or working experience in digital and on-ground marketing.

Skills required:

• Planning
• Market Analysis
• Understanding the needs of your client
• Exhaustive knowledge of the market
• Research skills
• Direct marketing

Physical Therapist

Physical therapists help their clients overcome injuries and disabilities with massage, exercise, and other training methods. Besides recovery, they also help in preventing any future injuries. To pursue a career in this field, one must have a degree in physical therapy or any other related field.

Skills required:

• Assessing and interpreting patients
• Consulting with other health care professionals
• Excellent analytical and logical thinking
• Compassion
• Up-to-date knowledge of treatment practices

Medical Assistant

MAs employed at a sports facility usually attend patients under the supervision of an orthopedist. Besides the usual responsibilities of collecting the patient’s history and symptoms, they are also expected to educate them about the procedures, repercussions, preventions, and so on. In a sports arena, MA can have various tasks ranging from administrative to clinical jobs. Hence, there is no specific qualification that is required.

Even though the nature of this job is not specific, some skills will add weightage to your resume:

• Knowledge of human anatomy and physiology
• Administrative skills
• Compassion
• Quick action to injuries

Sports and Fitness nutritionist

A sports nutritionist advises athletes on nutritional regimes that will help them achieve optimal performance on the field. A professional in this field need to be aware of the nutrients that athletes must include in their diet and the organic substances that will benefit them the most. Along with an in-depth knowledge of nutrients, they need to be aware of sports performance, requirements of various sports, and the medical history of their client. An aspiring nutritionist should have a degree in nutrition or related fields of interest.

Skills required:

• A creative and innovative thought process
• Excellent people skills
• Social skills
• Knowledge of nutrition
• Being able to explain the complex terms in simple words

Sports Journalist

Sports journalists gather information and report new developments that unfold in the sports industry. A sports background, first-hand experience as an athlete can give you an upper hand during recruitments.

Skills required:

• Knowledge of the game
• Staying up-to-date
• Interviewing skills
• Research and analysis
• Social skills

Sports announcer

A sports announcer is someone who paints a picture of the entire match with his descriptive commentary on radio, television, and internet broadcast outlets. As it requires extensive knowledge of the game, we often see retired athletes and coaches taking up this job. Someone with a degree in communication, journalism, and radio is eligible for this post.

The skillset that is a must if you want to create a career in this field:

• Knowledge of the sport
• Street smart public speaking skills
• An engaging voice and tone
• Writing skills
• Technical savvy

Sports Agent

Sports agents handle sponsorship, public relations, financial planning, and contract negotiations on behalf of their clients. Even though it is not mandatory, a law degree is the best way to get into this profession because contract negotiation requires a legal foundation.

Skills required:

• A love for the sport
• People skills
• Sales skills
• Expert knowledge of their client’s career
• Networking

Umpire and Referee

The job of an umpire is to officiate at sporting events to ensure that the match meets the standards of the game and players stand by the rules and regulations. Furthermore, they provide that the athletes are adopting no malpractices to win.

Skills required:

• Quick judgment and decision making
• Social perceptiveness
• Active listening
• Active learning
• Critical thinking
• Time management

Sports Photographer

A sports photographer takes pictures of sporting events, teams, or an athlete; you can work with a particular team, or work as a freelance photographer, and offer your photos for magazines and newspapers. A degree in journalism, photography, or a related field will be a boon for you during placements.

Skills required:

• Love for the sport
• Passion for photography
• Quick reflex
• Coordination
• Monitoring

Sports Lawyer

Sports lawyers represent their client’s legal concerns, and they often double up as their agents to put forth their financial interests during contract negotiation. You are entitled to various responsibilities such as securing and interpreting employment contracts, breaking down the legal repercussions of their acts, salary negotiation, overlooking sponsorship deals, and so forth. This job description mandates that you have a law degree.

Skills required:

• In-depth knowledge of legal terms
• Analysis of the industry
• Good interpersonal skills
• Accurate information about their client’s history

The Sports School, Bangalore was as established with the vision to integrate sports and education to encourage young sports enthusiasts and support professional athletes. With new opportunities arising in the Indian Sports Industry every day, we have introduced courses like BBA in Sports Management, MSc in Psychology with Sports specialization in order to keep up with the dynamics of the industry. Our schooling, pre-university program along with UG & PG courses are backed by the cohesive educational experience prepares well-rounded professionals who are both excellent at their game while being academically outstanding and can easily mold themselves in any career they wish to pursue in the sporting industry. 

Click here to know more about us: [maxbutton id=”1″ ]

The post Different Careers Opportunities in Sports Industry appeared first on The Sports School.

Enhancing your physical endurance for a game doesn’t happen overnight; it takes years of practice and dedication to achieve that stamina and speed that can take you at the top of your game.  Here are a few drills that can help you build up stamina and endurance:

1. Interval Sprints

Interval sprints require you to run a few yards and rest and then repeat the drill. These drills will help you prepare for the stop and run nature of the game. Here are a few variations of interval drills that can benefit you:
Sprint-Stride Intervals: This technique will include alternate intervals of sprint and stride across the field. For instance, a player can run 20 yards of a sprint, followed by 20 yards of stride, and then repeat it until the endpoint of the field; this will make up for 1 set. Take a short break, say about 20-30s, and then repeat.

Tempo Run: Start at the corner of an end zone and stride for 100 yards. Jog across to the opposite side of the field and stride 100 yards again. Now jog back to the starting point and take a break. Repeat this drill for four times.

Huddle Sprints: Players sprint 20 yards to duplicate the action of a game and then jog back to the starting point. Take a small breather for about 15s and then repeat the drill. This is a very effective drill for replicating the aerobic and anaerobic conditions of a live match.

2. Dribble and Run

This drill requires a ball. You start at the touchline and dribble the ball at your best speed across the width of the pitch until you are parallel to the center. Now leave the ball there and run to the opposite side at 80% of your initial speed. Pace back to the center, maintaining your speed, and dribble the ball to the starting point as fast as you can. Take rest for the same time in which you finish the first set and then repeat the drill.

3. Around the Pitch

As the name suggests, this drill requires you to run across the field. For warming up your body, jog across the perimeter of the field until you reach back the starting point. Now run at 70% of your maximum speed and try to cover half of the lap maintaining it, and then jog your way through the rest of the lap. In the next round, increase the area you cover by a sprint to 70%. Slowly, but steadily keep expanding the area you cover with sprints until you finish the entire perimeter in one go.

4. Figure of Eight

Almost everyone has heard of the infamous figure of eight drills. Just like the name suggests, you have to make an ‘eight’ while dribbling the football. Take two cones and place them 4-5 yards apart. Now Dribble across the two cones while making an oval around each at your maximum speed. Throughout the drill, take short steps, and keep the ball near your feet, hit it with every step. It will give you better control over the football along with fitness conditioning. Condition training and physical fitness are as necessary as a solid command on the ball for a football professional. These are just a few examples of the various methods that you can adopt to increase your endurance in a game.

The Sports School is the first school in India to have a FIFA Qualified Pro Certified Artificial Football Turf where we train our students for professional-level football. We, along with our Sporting Partners for Football Bengaluru FC, provide the best possible training to young enthusiasts and take them to the next level. Along with the regular training program, we also offer other programs like Monthly Sports Training & Weekend Sports Camp so that you can train and grow as per your convenience. Be it for fun or professional training purposes; we got you covered!

The post Important Fitness Drills for Football Players appeared first on The Sports School.