Time for FA to follow the continent

[Guy Williams]

I am fed up listening to proffesional coaches moan about grass roots coaches not producing the talent for the future. Maybe the FA should stop sitting on the fence and assist us we are put into competetive leagues from 7/8 years old, we should run these age groups and 9 & 10's as soccer schools were we could concentrate on technique and the basic fndamentals of football without all the presssures of being in a league. Clubs could still have squads at these age groups and they could play each other. There is no direct pressure from coaches or parents who play a masssive part in the childrens mental state. We put to much emphasis on winning and not enough on technique

[ian.curry]

I'll ask you the same question I've asked everybody else - but as your new I'll give you a chance....why does the FA need to follow the continent, and more importantly, which country exactly?

On an international basis, who does better than us in major tournaments? France perhaps?

On a club basis - which is entirely unfair - who does better?
Spain perhaps?

What is so bad technically about Walcott, Lennon, Abonglahor, Milner, Rooney, Richards etc that needs improving?

Is Spain's finest youngster - Fabregas - better than all of the above.. to the extent that the FA needs to somehow change things?

[Val]

Originally Posted by ian.curry

... Walcott, Lennon, Agbonglahor, Milner, Rooney, Richards ...

Is Spain's finest youngster - Fabregas - better than all of the above?

Yes.

But in answer to your general thought, I don't know who's doing this business of creating soccer players best. Maybe it's wishful thinking on the part of the "past" generation, that somehow things were done better some years past.

What I don't see happening is lots of kids playing soccer by themselves, whether on the streets on in the sandlots (the American term), be it in America or Europe or even Latin America. What happens then is kids come to us as youth coaches with less practical, on-the-ball experience than they might have two generations ago.

Couple this trend with adults having professionalized the business of youth coaching beginning with the Bollietieri tennis academies in south Florida. Travel in hardcore coaching circles and everyone seems to want to train the next Robinho, the next Rooney. My goals are a little more prosaic, I want to nurture kids and give them a positive competive experience and put them in the position to play high school ball successfully.

I don't know who's doing this better, Ian, but I suspect that I would have problems with too much professional development. I bookmarked (I thought) an article on the current French Academy system which I'll have to find and link to here.

[hullcity]

Hi Guy

the FA have copied the continent and improved on this by setting up Academies, Centre of Excellences and making sure coaches have the correct qualifications.

Hi Ian

By following the continent origanally this is why these players are now coming through with many more to follow. At these levels there are no league tables and results are not published, the games on a Sunday morning are split into 3 x 20/25 min sections and the coaches of both teams are on the opposite side to all the parents/spectators. I totally agree on your principles and it is the way forward which maybe the county FA's have to take some responsibility with in setting this up.

Val, it would be very interesting to see the article on the French Academy.

[ian.curry]

Hullcity - yes thats correct, certainly in Academies anyway. I popped along to NUFC academy on Sunday(we play next door) and its like another world when the matches are on.
I wonder if our 'academy' lads can gain a winning mentality from this however?

[hullcity]

Thanks Val, I look forward to reading through this.

[hullcity]

Ian, great point, with nothing to play for there are some players at this level who seem to have the mentality of losing is alright, maybe going forward from U-14's and younger everything should be technique, ball mastery, fun and no pressure. Then the older boys should start to get coached 'a winning mentality' and be more competative.

Football 'the beautiful game' opens so many debates and conversations...

[74offsuit]

I wonder if our 'academy' lads can gain a winning mentality from this however?

I think this is where the main misunderstandng of going towards the develpment route lie.

If there is one thing I have to spend very little time coaching, it is the will to win.

My U15's play in Division three out of three, and want to win every week. This just comes naturally. The challenge is HOW to win, and that is why we need to quality coach to produce quality players.

I don't believe it's an either/or situation. I think it's just the emphasis that needs to change. More coaching to match ratio, better coaches, better parent education etc. I'm all in favour of leagues, but the challenge to the coach should be 'Can I affect/improve that player', not I MUST win my next match. If you improve your players, the results will look after themselves.

[ian.curry]

Originally Posted by 74offsuit

If you improve your players, the results will look after themselves.

Very much agree with this, my regular pre match team talk includes Clive Woodwards 'if you try and play your best, the score will take care of itself'

I just feel that the winning mentality is important, the Roy Keane, Viera, Ferguson, Mourinho will to win is, I feel, somewhat different or stronger to other players/managers will.

[Guy Williams]

Originally Posted by ian.curry

I'll ask you the same question I've asked everybody else - but as your new I'll give you a chance....why does the FA need to follow the continent, and more importantly, which country exactly?

On an international basis, who does better than us in major tournaments? France perhaps?

On a club basis - which is entirely unfair - who does better?
Spain perhaps?

What is so bad technically about Walcott, Lennon, Abonglahor, Milner, Rooney, Richards etc that needs improving?

Is Spain's finest youngster - Fabregas - better than all of the above.. to the extent that the FA needs to somehow change things?

Sorry haven't been able to get on lately How about Italy, Portugal, Germany, i don't disagree the FA are getting better players develop at different rates but at the begining they should be given technical coaching as opposed to match coaching the FA learning site for parents is quite hot on pressure is 1 of the main reasons kids give up football isn't playing in leagues doing that we have the talent out there but i don't feel we nuture it enough at a young age. Don't get me wrong i think coerver is brilliant but to just practice ball skills all the time is no good it has to mixed in with the level 2 syllabus.