Development Before the Scoreboard: Matteo Masucci's Philosophy at CAMPO

Sammy Sucu

11 hours ago

2 min read

Every program at CAMPO starts from one idea: winning should be the result of better players, not a replacement for developing them.

That idea comes from Matteo Masucci, General Manager of Juventus Academy Los Angeles. He explained it in depth on The Soccer Ladder podcast, and the Juventus Academy LA team summarized the conversation in Building Better Players. Here is what it means for players training in North Hollywood.

A Coach Shaped by Italy and Science

Masucci entered a professional youth environment in Italy at 14. After an ACL injury ended his playing path, he studied kinesiology, earned coaching qualifications, and later studied the link between the brain, decision-making and performance. That mix of European football and sports science is the base of the development approach used across CAMPO programs.

Technique Comes First

Decision-making is valuable, but only if a player can execute the decision. A winger can see the perfect run and still lose the chance if the cross is too slow or too high.

That is why younger groups at CAMPO spend so much time on the details: receiving cleanly, using both feet, protecting the ball under pressure, and finishing in different ways. Strong technique gives a player more time to think.

Soccer IQ Builds on Top

As touch and passing become automatic, players can focus on scanning, reading pressure and choosing the best option. Small-sided games give younger players many touches and one-on-one moments. As they move toward 11v11, the field, the number of teammates and the tactical choices all grow, and technical confidence is what lets them cope.

Ages 12 to 15 Need Patience

Growth spurts can temporarily affect coordination, speed and confidence. Two players born in the same year can be at very different physical stages. Masucci stresses that a size advantage today is not proof of long-term potential, and an awkward phase is not lost ability.

This is one reason CAMPO offers the Fitness and Agility Program: speed, coordination and movement quality help players carry their technique through those changing years.

Where to Start at CAMPO

[Juventus Development Program](https://www.mycampo.com/developmentprogram): focused training without league competition, built around each player's areas for improvement.
[CAMPO Youth Leagues](https://www.mycampo.com/programs): recreational and competitive streams with regular fixtures on the CAMPO match field.
[Juventus Pre-Academy](https://www.mycampo.com/programs): a playful first step for the youngest players.

See the weekly schedule for training times, or contact us for help choosing a program.