The GINGA Brazilian method: how young footballers are trained
Brazil is the country that gave the world Pelé, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Neymar. The secret isn’t special pitches or the climate, but the approach to training: there, children learn football through play rather than drills. This is exactly the approach at the heart of our academy’s training.
The four pillars of the Brazilian method
1. Individual ball work
The foundation of solid football skills is confident ball control. Each player develops technique at their own pace: dribbling, feints, control with both feet. The Brazilian school is known for the child spending the maximum amount of time on the ball in every session.
2. Learning through play
We reject traditional rote methods. Instead of endless repetitive drills — real game situations: 1-on-1 duels, small groups, game challenges. Children develop skills naturally and enjoy the process — which is why they don’t quit the sport after six months.
3. Physical conditioning
Drills for reaction, agility, and accuracy are chosen by age. The aim is optimal fitness without overload, so the player is competitive on the pitch while growing up healthy.
4. Values and team spirit
Respect for opponents, honesty, mutual support. These principles build character: the child learns to make decisions, to lose and win with dignity, and to work as a team.
What is GINGA
GINGA is a Brazilian concept describing a special fluidity of movement with the ball — a ‘dancing’ style of play. At the BAF international camps, the GINGA method is the backbone of the whole programme: from basic ball-control technique on day one to team tactics and friendly matches in the finale.
Where to try it
Brazilian-method training takes place at the academy’s two branches: in Khimki at Kudryavtseva St., 10B and in Moscow at Capitol Mall on Pravoberezhnaya St., 1B. Sessions are held in Russian and English, with groups from 4 to 16 years old.
The first session is free: come and see the method in action.