Breaking the-style training! K League has set sail with its standard youth system, "Made in K League (MIKL)."

*This content was translated by AI.

The Korea Professional Football League is taking steps to improve the K League youth football system.

The league announced on the 16th that it will introduce the K League standard youth development system, "Made In K League· (hereinafter MIKL)," to establish a systematic environment for youth development.

The K League has been producing numerous professional players since 2008 by mandating the operation of age-group clubs under each franchise. However, structural limitations, including result-oriented management, rote training methods, and an education-system-focused operational model, have consistently been criticized.

In response, the federation established an expert task force last year and collaborated with Smart Football, a Spanish educational methodology specialist and institutional investor. Over approximately one year, the federation benchmarked the youth systems of Spanish clubs to build MIKL that meets global standards while being tailored to the K League environment.

The core of MIKL consists of two elements. The first is the "advanced training methodology system." Moving away from traditional training focused on repetition and directives, it aims to cultivate practical talent capable of independently assessing situations and responding flexibly based on cognitive learning.

The second element is the "Academy Directing System" designed to support this initiative. This professional system breaks away from the traditional practice of relying on the individual capabilities and experience of coaches, activating an integrated framework where each department—youth directors and head of training, coaching, physical conditioning, medical, performance analysis, and scouting—collaborates organically.

The federation has set 2026 as the preparation period for introducing MIKL. It will conduct face-to-face training three times a year and provide continuous remote feedback for youth coaches and directors. The first round of training was already completed in February and March in Yongin and Changnyeong, targeting approximately 160 officials.

The federation is operating four practical task forces in the areas of sports directing, training methods, infrastructure, and tournament systems to ensure the successful establishment of the system. Through this, it plans to establish a medium- to long-term roadmap and gradually apply it to all K League clubs starting in 2027.

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*This content was translated by AI.