7 Academy: Using Technology to Develop Cognitive Skills and Create a Pathway to the Premier League

matteonania
Jan 21
3 min read

7 Academy was founded during COVID, when access to facilities was limited, and coaching had to adapt fast. What started as one-to-one sessions in borrowed spaces became a clear decision: build an academy with full control over environment, brand and development standards.

Elite Skills Arena (ESA) technology became a core part of that setup, helping turn training into something measurable, competitive and cognitively demanding.

Their Challenge

7 Academy needed a solution that would give full control over both performance and business direction. Relying on external venues came with clear limitations. Session times were restricted, layouts could not be adapted, and there was no real opportunity to build a long term identity around the academy.

Coaching had to fit the venue, rather than the venue being designed around the coaching philosophy, making consistency, innovation and structured player development difficult.

Our Solution

The turning point came with the decision to open a dedicated indoor facility and integrate Elite Skills Arena technology into the core of the academy. A full indoor pitch sits alongside a dedicated tech area, allowing traditional football practices and technology-driven sessions to work together. ESA products became central to this setup, not as standalone tools, but as part of a wider coaching framework.

The academy now uses two Wireless Circuits, Fast Feet and the Cube to deliver sessions focused on technical execution, reaction, scanning and decision making. What made the difference was not just the equipment to develop cognitive skills, but how it could be used flexibly within group sessions.

The same space can host small group coaching, opposition practices, target-based games and Talent identification events. Goals are replaced by target panels, time pressure replaces repetition, and every action becomes measurable.

The Results

• Full control over coaching and session delivery: Consistent sessions designed around development goals, not venue limitations.

• Data driven player benchmarks: Targets set and progressed over time using performance data.

• Increased engagement and competitiveness: Leaderboards and scores drive intensity and motivation across all age groups.

• Measurable cognitive development: Clear improvement in scanning, reaction and decision making.

• Talent pathway outcome: One player selected for a Brighton and Hove Albion trial following a 7 Academy Talent ID event.

What Users Say?

This is an elite environment for aspiring footballers. High level technology; professional coaching & class leading amenities. There’s also a fantastic viewing space upstairs with a cafe. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit here if you want somewhere to hone your skills, whilst having some fun. (Google Review)

The Scouting Perspective

Simon’s background as a Chelsea F.C. scout adds another layer of insight into the value of ESA technology.

“For me, what attracted me of ESA products was the technical development, passing and receiving, but really the cognitive aspect. The hardest thing to coach is the brain.”

From a scouting point of view, the technology exposes attributes that are often difficult to identify in traditional settings.

“You can be good athletically and technically, but can you see something, decide an action and execute it. These products can expose that attribute.”

This makes the environment not just a training space, but a powerful evaluation tool for talent identification.

Academy Advice

When asked what advice he would give to coaches or academies considering ESA technology, Simon is clear.

“Go for it. From a social and gamification point of view, and from a coaching point of view, it ticks every box.”

He highlights how technical development and engagement overlap rather than compete.

“Even in a coaching environment where we want to improve passing or scanning, the gamification and leaderboards make it more engaging while still achieving the development outcome.”

Full interview here: