Gymnastics builds footballers, Fisksätra goes its own way

Fisksätra’s training methods stand out and have caused several larger clubs in Sweden to get in touch and ask questions about the business.

– We like to look out the window if you say so, states Dahlgren, who is the one who directs the work at Fisksätra IF.

He and his colleagues draw inspiration from successful clubs in other countries.

– In the Netherlands and in Germany, they work in this way and we read research that says that it is very good for younger children to exercise in a variety of ways.

Long training sessions

The training sessions are long, between two and three hours each time, and often begin with gymnastics and agility training, or so-called multisport.

– I feel that I become more flexible when we do multisport, says player Oscar Julin with a smile. We run everything possible, virus litter, hide and seek, obstacle course. We run a lot.

Fisksätra IF has in a short time received a lot of attention for its way of working.

– Our focus is the children. I tell my coaches that they train individuals, who then become a team, but our focus is not team training, says Erik Dahlberg.

Doesn’t cost several thousand

It is not a play and play activity where everyone can join.

The level of ambition is high.

Erik Dahlberg does not want to call it an academy team, even if there are similarities.

– We are proud to be able to offer high-class training to children in the suburbs. An academy team in a regular club often has fees of up to SEK 40,000 for a season. We help these guys also invest heavily in their sport without paying a lot of thousands.

The business is financed by arranging its own cups, and through sponsors.

The players are picked up by minibus

The club owns a minibus that the coaches use to pick up players who live far from Fisksätra.

– I played in Spånga before and we met Fisksätra here in the hall and then Erik called and wanted me to come and I wanted to, says Suedy Mpili, one of the new acquisitions who gets a ride on the bus between Akalla and Fisksätra several times a week.

– Everything is about the individual. An entire team here will not reach the Allsvenskan or play the Champions League. But a player who is training here right now, might get there one day.

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