Malta FA continues off-season development with youth national team programme

The Malta FA is delivering the strength and conditioning programme to a number of youth national teams with the aim of supporting the players’ development during the off-season.

The programme, which is being delivered to the Under-15, Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 national team squads, focuses on several key performance areas.

Apart from a focus on physicality, the Malta FA’s Technical Centre has also placed significant emphasis on players’ mental development. As part of this approach, the Malta FA has established a collaboration with the Faculty of Neuroscience at BESC Graduate College Malta. Through this partnership, the Association is working closely with Milan Lab Co-Founders Dr Bruno Demichelis and Dr Umberto Zerbini. These two specialists have vast experience in their field, and have worked with renowned coaches including Antonio Conte, Carlo Ancelotti, Fabio Capello, Massimiliano Allegri, and Arrigo Sacchi.

During one of the workshops, Dr Demichelis and Dr Zerbini addressed approximately 100 players from the U15 to U18 squads, together with members of the technical staff. The presentation highlighted the importance of mental preparation alongside physical development and included practical demonstrations focusing on reaction time, sensorimotor synchronisation and stress management.

In a separate session, the U18 players also underwent a series of tests aimed at establishing baseline data in these areas. These tools provide valuable insights into attention, decision-making, emotional regulation, teamwork, and resilience, all of which are fundamental for success in modern football and high-performance environments.

Over the coming days, the Malta FA’s Technical Centre will also be holding sessions related to futsal, as well as strength training and pitch-based sessions.

These initiatives underline the Malta FA’s commitment to enhancing player development and strengthening the pathway towards senior football.