GNK Dinamo Zagreb Academy known as Hitrec-Kacian

Introduction

GNK Dinamo is a forward-thinking organization dedicated to continuous improvement. To foster football development, the club integrates various disciplines, including scientific programs, software applications, coaching workshops, and marketing activities.

The GNK Dinamo Zagreb Academy, known as Hitrec-Kacian, serves as the youth team of Dinamo Zagreb. Established on December 27, 1967, the academy comprises ten age categories, providing comprehensive training and development opportunities.

Located at Maksimir Stadion, the NK Dinamo Zagreb youth academy operates from facilities owned by the city, with the club holding long-term usage rights. The infrastructure includes seven full-sized pitches, two artificial pitches, and the iconic Maksimir Stadium. Additionally, the academy boasts a fitness room and wellness center, with a swimming pool currently under construction adjacent to the artificial pitches.

In adverse weather conditions or during pitch maintenance, two additional grass pitches are available for use, ensuring uninterrupted training sessions for the academy players.

Academy Objectives

Dinamo Zagreb embraces its identity as a selling club and recognizes one of its primary objectives as an academy is to develop talent for players to eventually be sold to one of the top five leagues in Europe.

When working with young players, the academy focuses on five main objectives:

1. Cultivating healthy lifestyle habits: The academy acknowledges the prevailing cultural issue of insufficient physical activity among children. Recognizing this concern, Dinamo Zagreb aims to instill healthy habits, considering data from the Croatian Ministry of Health that reveals an increase in children's weight.
2. Fostering personal growth: A holistic approach is taken to player development, with the understanding that only a select few will reach professional levels. The academy's objective is to train young players to become not only skilled athletes but also good individuals, emphasizing character-building qualities.
3. Promoting enjoyment in sports: In alignment with the first objective, the academy seeks to create a passion for sports in general, not solely focused on football. By instilling a love for various sports, the aim is to develop well-rounded, fit, and healthy young individuals.
4. Emphasizing academic responsibility: Education is considered pivotal in the academy's approach. Aligned with the second objective, academy staff closely monitor players' school obligations, requiring regular reporting to ensure players maintain their academic responsibilities. Reports are reviewed at least once a month.
5. Developing players for the first team: The previous objectives are interconnected, as the ultimate aim is to prepare players for the senior team. Success in the first four objectives significantly increases the likelihood of players progressing to the first team. Players aspiring to join the senior squad must demonstrate proficiency across all four aspects.

By focusing on these objectives, Dinamo Zagreb's academy endeavors to produce talented players who not only excel on the field but also lead healthy lifestyles, display positive character traits, enjoy sports, fulfill their academic obligations, and have the potential to contribute to the success of the club's first team.

Recruitment

The recruitment process at the academy focuses on specific age groups and geographic areas:

• Selection from U8 to U14: The academy primarily recruits players from Zagreb and its surrounding areas within a limited catchment area. Within this area, there are approximately 10,200 individuals, out of which 9,000 are children aged between U8 and U14. Among the remaining population, only 120 individuals are older than the U14 age group. This restricted pool of 9,000 children poses unique challenges for player selection, given that there is a statistically higher average weight and a prevalence of 17% flat feet among them. Therefore, the recruitment process must be precise and tailored to address these factors. The academy has developed a meticulously planned curriculum to effectively work with this smaller pool of players.
• Open school and B teams: The club also operates an open school program for children aged U6 to U12, which includes B teams. This initiative allows anyone to join and play, following the same program as the academy. The open school also places emphasis on other sports, including basketball.
• Proximity and commuting: Players between the ages mentioned above who live more than a 45-minute commute from the training ground are not typically recruited. The club aims to limit travel time and disruption in the lives of young players. The general practice is to have a maximum of one player per generation who may travel up to one hour, which is considered unusual.
• Exceptional players outside the catchment area: If a player with exceptional talent resides outside the catchment area, the club stays in contact with them and consults with the player's local coach. The club provides support in developing the player's skills and may have the player visit the academy one or two times a week. They also participate in tournaments and special occasions. This approach aims to facilitate potential transfers while considering the well-being and development of the player.
• Expansion of recruitment: Once players reach the U14/U15 age group, the recruitment process expands to encompass the entirety of Croatia. The club owns two houses near the stadium, where approximately 30 players from other parts of Croatia reside. These players attend school in close proximity to the stadium, allowing them to train and develop within the academy.

Remarkable statistic: As of the previous year, approximately half of the first team players had progressed through the club's academy. This achievement highlights the significant impact the academy has had on player development and its contribution to the club's first team.

Training Program

At Nogometna škola Dinamo, the training program accommodates approximately 200 players across different age categories. The training frequency varies based on age groups: U8, U9, U10, and U11 players train three to four times a week, U12 and U13 players train four to five times a week, U14 and U15 players train five to six times a week, and U17 and U19 players train six to seven times a week. Additionally, the academy organizes successful summer schools in the USA, Canada, Australia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The academy nurtures players from U8 to U19, comprising a total of 11 teams. Notably, there is no U18 team within the structure.

The age-group structure follows a two-tier system. The first tier encompasses U8 to U13, where the primary focus is on developing fundamental technical skills. In the second tier, U14 to U19, young players face increased tactical demands and are under greater pressure to achieve positive results in competitive matches.

The academy emphasizes fast-paced gameplay and encourages players to minimize touches on the ball. Starting from the U15 level, players adhere to a relatively strict daily routine, with only two free days per month. Players residing in the NK Dinamo academy houses receive visits from their parents to maintain family connections.

The academy has achieved impressive results, with 13% of U8 recruits progressing to U19, and 34% of U11 players remaining in the system until U19. At least two players from each age group typically conclude their youth careers by joining the Dinamo A team.

The training demands can be summarized as follows:

• Learning basic football principles.
• Attaining a high level of physical preparedness.
• Mastering technical aspects of the game.
• Understanding tactical elements of the game.
• Learning and perfecting different game systems.
• Providing individual training to young talents.
• Encouraging player satisfaction in training and competition.

The key objectives during games include:

• Meeting technical and tactical requirements.
• Ensuring consistent performance from both individuals and the team.
• Adapting to pressure situations.
• Aligning with players' and the club's ambitions.
• Promoting fair play during matches.

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