At Veens Football Academy, everything revolves around the individual development of talented players from Friesland and Groningen. With structure, personal attention, and smart tools, Veens strives to create a learning environment where growth takes center stage. One of those smart tools is SMART11 — software that has now become an essential part of their approach. Founder Alex van der Veen shares how this collaboration helps young players not only train better but, more importantly, play smarter.
“We want to give players insight into their own game – and Smart11 works perfect for that.”
What sets Veens apart from a standard football training program is its thoughtful structure. Players follow a 20-week program that includes a development plan, training sessions, and matches against other academies. But it doesn’t stop there — video analysis is an integral part of the learning process.
“We record almost every training session. Afterwards, we review the footage through Smart11 — both individually and at team level. This gives players immediate insight into their decisions, positioning, and actions,” says Alex.
Video Analysis as the Engine for Development
The strength of Smart11 lies in making on-field situations visual. What could you have done better? Which decision led to success? And how do you apply that next time? Based on video footage, coaches review specific moments from the match together with the player. By analyzing these situations step by step, players gain insight into the “why” behind a certain action.
“We review the footage in both individual sessions and team trainings. This allows us to train very specifically on what each player needs. It’s not just feedback — it’s a learning process.”
From Game Actions to Targeted Growth
What really happens during a match? Which actions make the difference? At Veens, they don’t just focus on the final result — they look at the building blocks of the game: the Game Actions. Think of defending crosses, preparing for transitions, and positioning within the block. With Smart11, these moments can be concretely analyzed and directly translated back into training.
“We’ve built our youth development program partly around Smart11. Game Actions — the key moments in a match — are reflected in our training sessions, feedback, and development forms.”
Each player is assessed based on these moments — not to judge, but to guide. What did you do well? What can be improved? And how are you going to train that? The power lies in repetition and connection: what you see on video is practiced back on the field. And that happens not only in a team setting but also one-on-one.
From Footage to Action – A Unique Development Path
Even players who don’t train regularly with Veens can take part in individual programs. Using their own video footage — along with examples from the ImpactZone — they receive personalized analyses and targeted training advice. Each Game Action is broken down, discussed, and translated into concrete training exercises. The connection between footage, feedback, and practice drives real progress.
“We conduct individual video analyses and link them directly to personalized training sessions. That’s what makes the process unique — I make sure every piece fits together.”
The collaboration with Veens Football Academy shows that technology and personal guidance can go hand in hand. The result? Greater game awareness, smarter decisions on the pitch, and players who truly grow.
Curious to read the full interview?
Check out the complete conversation with Alex van der Veen below! Want to see how Smart11 can help your team or academy train smarter and perform better? Download the app and experience it for yourself — or schedule a free consultation!
