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The Lithuanian Football Federation presents another organization that received a four-star rating in the football education institution certification process - "Be1 NFA".
Although the academy in Lithuania is one of the newest, it has already defined its path - the academy employs foreign specialists who bring their accumulated experience here.
"We are still an organization that is on a path of exploration, we certainly have quite a few foreign specialists who bring a different perspective on football," - said the organization's technical director Laimis Bičkauskis.
He was seconded by one of the youth team coaches, Edmundas Pukys.
"Our methodology and philosophy are that we have foreign coaches who have their own culture, their own passion, their own view of football. We take examples from them, adapt them to what we can do in Lithuania, and from that not only the players, but also the coaching staff become stronger. Each coach can see different things and try to adapt them to us.
We strive to raise the bar higher, we work on that issue and I believe that in the future we will lead here and continue," he said.
Both interlocutors stated that the certification process forced their academy to strive for improvement and is a beneficial thing for all football education institutions.
"The certification process forces all of our academies to stretch themselves, consider what can be improved, which is very beneficial for us and in the future we can achieve better results than we have now," - said L. Bičkauskis.
"Certification forced us to step out of our comfort zone, it was a good nudge for everyone, brought more motivation and attention, not only on the field, but also off it. It greatly affected the coaches, touches the players themselves. There are evaluations, discussions, from that we are only stronger and we try to keep our group from falling down and only rising up.
Players feel every day that the attitude towards them is different, that there is intensity, training quality, which is also reflected on the field. We strive for them to be people, and then - to be athletes. This touches all principles from game philosophy, like playing from their own goal, center, to finishing attacks," - added E. Pukys.
Another important point - the academy has the opportunity to invite footballers from other cities and provide them with necessary things, such as accommodation, food or the opportunity to study.
"We have the opportunity to invite young footballers from other cities, we have a good number of rooms arranged and we provide the opportunity to stay here, overnight, as well as meals, and we also have an agreement with Gediminas Sports Gymnasium, where they can study," - explained L. Bičkauskis.
