Foundations 12-Week Programme

CurriculumFoundations 12-Week ProgrammeA session-by-session schedule for delivering the foundations curriculum — 2–3 sessions per week, mapped to all ten stages with drill prescriptions and…

This programme maps the ten stages of the foundations curriculum to a twelve-week delivery schedule. It assumes 2–3 training sessions per week of approximately 60–90 minutes each. Adjust pacing based on your cohort’s progress — the completion criteria are the gate, not the calendar.

For coaches: This schedule is a starting point, not a contract. Where completion criteria are not met, extend the block rather than advancing. Where a stage is clearly complete early, reduce repetition and move forward. The curriculum sequence is non-negotiable; the timing is not.

Stage 1Tapping Culture and Safety1 sessionSession 1Content: The tap — what it means, how to tap (hand, foot, verbal), when to tap (before pain). The social contract of training. Why elevated-risk content is gated behind competence, not time.

Drill: Partner tapping in all three modalities under light contact pressure. Not resistance — familiarisation.

Checkpoint: Student can explain the protocol and demonstrate all three tap modalities before moving on.

Stage 2Universal Invariants Introduction1–2 sessionsSessions 2–3Content:connection eliminates space through connection precedes control conceptually. Base, connection, structure vs. movement, hip engagement, angle and control. Not assessment — vocabulary establishment.

Drill: Base identification — coach applies light lateral pressure, student identifies whether base is adequate. Simple, kinaesthetic, immediate feedback.

Note: These invariants will be revisited in every subsequent stage. Do not spend more than two sessions on introduction — the depth comes through application.

Stage 3Guard Bottom Fundamentals6–8 sessionsSessions 4–5Content: Sitting guard baseline — the default starting position, base requirements, hip engagement.

Drill: Seated guard maintenance — partner applies standing pressure, student maintains structure for 20 seconds. Build to 30.

Sessions 6–7Content: Butterfly guard bottom — hooks, connection, basic retention concept.

Drill: Butterfly guard retention under slow passing pressure. 30-second rounds.