English based coaches - please read this!!!

[ian.curry]

[quote=Lar;2968]A NEW football academy aimed at helping talented players to get signed up by professional clubs...

This is my issue with this/these schemes.

It is my aim as a junior coach to do the same thing, but I don't pretend to be any better than anybody else. I believe in my own ability, and I know I'm not the best - but I guarantee that being with a UEFA A coach won't make a young un a pro any better than with someone like me.

[Lar]

The higher up the coaching ladder you go, the more knowledge you gain. The guy running it has worked in a successful acadamy, so he knows what is required.

It is aimed to HELP TALENTED, young players get signed by a professional club. It doesn't say they WILL become a professional player.

[rils]

The reason why I made such a sweeping statement and it was in no way meant to be disrespectful is that in football its not all about what you know but who you know -

I would say for this guy all he would have to do is pick up the phone and say have a look at this lad for me - or arrange a couple of friendlies he will get kids placed straight in with trials and contracts.

Trust me its a big part of how it works

[74offsuit]

The guy running it has worked in a successful acadamy, so he knows what is required.

Depends what you mean by successful. There was an article in Sundays Telegraph highlighting the failure of UK's academies.

The gist of it saying our players are over coached, with not enough street soccer. Too much emphasis on teamwork and not enough on technical skill. Premiership academies in UK have a high proportion of non Uk players.

My own main grudge against these 'business' type academies that are springing up, is what about established clubs? My own club was established in 1968, never had a penny outside funding or any interest from the FA. Yet we provide soccer for every youth age group and adults and girls. I just don't think these academies are the way forward to produce better players.

[rils]

I know where everyone is coming form on this - but it isnt that simple - one coach I know sees around 100 kids a week over the summer period the club itself reckon they will see around 3.5k to 4.5k over a summer period - they reckon around 2 in 100 catch their eye - then they have to get it thru a scouting scenario - where the scout truns up unnnounced at a match - a match where your player could be playing out of position/ been subbed /not had a good day.

What the academy managers really seem to like is to hold friendlies - and really test their existing squad against what they have already.

If you dont offer anything different to what they have ie equal then its a non starter and that kid who could equally hold there own will not be selected.

The other scenario is that club football ie passing and playing as a team does tend to knock creative play and individuality. Thats one of the reasons why we miss out - players abroad just dont have that pressure they play for fun! and learn from the game - we just simulate game play i n training sessions and then wonder why kids get bored - its a real dillema and the piece in the times is just one of many taking a pop at the whole system - one thing is for sure if Benitez and Wenger etc could get local talent then undoubtably they would - but they cant and arent finding it on the doorstep - there is a big difference what this chap is doing though and that is getting local talent into proffessional clubs that will bring players through the ranks and these clubs need to develop from within to survive cos they sure as hell cannot shop at the same places as the top 10 in the prem.

A clear divide of money and a global market means cream will rise to the top and if foreign players want it more and have the ability needed then thats who will get signed.

Don't get me wrong Im as pissed with the situation as anyone else out there who without knowing the bench marks that clubs use to fully assess player potential has to second guess like everyone else.

Time for the FA to challenge the clubs on what is going on and where we are falling short - dont forget the Lewis report has now been published and the clubs that did respond cited lack of investment (ie handouts form the FA and the Football Foundation) as to one of the biggest threats they faced in youth development - pathetic and yet another example of "greedy" prem clubs taking the absolute piss in this country

Anyway rant over

[ian.curry]

...all he would have to do is pick up the phone and say have a look at this lad for me - or arrange a couple of friendlies he will get kids placed straight in with trials and contracts...

This is what all kids are falling for as well, a line, 'you'll make it if you come to us lad, I know scouts come to watch us every week'
Well that's simply not the case. If a player is good enough, he will make it.

I had a lad ready to join us in the summer until his old club's chairman fed him a similar line, when he gets a bit bigger NUFC are going to sign him on.
I've had players taken to academies from my club, in fact most of the u15s academy team is made up of random clubs, not 'bigger' clubs with scout contacts etc.
This season I'll come up against one team with an NUFC and Liverpool scout for managers, and another with a Sunderland coach training them. The NUFC academy director is the chairman of another team, and a 4th team has direct links with NUFC. Does this give their kids a better chance of making it than mine?
NO

[rils]

Originally Posted by ian.curry

...all he would have to do is pick up the phone and say have a look at this lad for me - or arrange a couple of friendlies he will get kids placed straight in with trials and contracts...

This is what all kids are falling for as well, a line, 'you'll make it if you come to us lad, I know scouts come to watch us every week'
Well that's simply not the case. If a player is good enough, he will make it.

I had a lad ready to join us in the summer until his old club's chairman fed him a similar line, when he gets a bit bigger NUFC are going to sign him on.
I've had players taken to academies from my club, in fact most of the u15s academy team is made up of random clubs, not 'bigger' clubs with scout contacts etc.
This season I'll come up against one team with an NUFC and Liverpool scout for managers, and another with a Sunderland coach training them. The NUFC academy director is the chairman of another team, and a 4th team has direct links with NUFC. Does this give their kids a better chance of making it than mine?
NO

What I was trying to get across was that if the coach who dont forget has worked for an academy setup for years - comes across a lad who he feels wouldnt look out of place in an academy then they are more likely to trust his judgement - speaking to academy directors they obviously dont want to miss out on any player to another club so will look at every source of introduction that comes their way - but I have to say that they would rather look at children playing up against their existing squad to benchmark them on what they have already. One of the biggest gripes they have is not enough contact time with kids at an early age - for someone not to be in the system at 15 years old would take an exceptional player for them to even look at - dont forget they are looking at the game 10 - 15 years down the line.

PS dont forget the word "scout" is used loosely there are thousands of scouts looking to break the next big player - speaking to clubs the best scouts they have are emplyed by the club with a proven track record - not neccesarily a coach or a parent looking to make a couple of grand off an introduction.

I think you have got it wrong about this guy - he wont be getting scouts to watch the players every week - he will be looking to develop them and bring them through and instill in them what clubs are looking for.

I do agree with what you say that if a player is good enough then he will make it - not much slips through the net if they want them.

[Lar]

Originally Posted by 74offsuit

Depends what you mean by successful. There was an article in Sundays Telegraph highlighting the failure of UK's academies.

They have produced players who end up playing Premiership football, maybe one a season over the last 10 years. Is that successful?

Bear in mind that I have had conversations with this guy. He voluntarily coaches a local U11 side (he's been with them since U8) and he very much preaches let the game be the teacher. He doesn't care about the results of the games, just that they play good passing, attacking football. He encourages them to express themselves. This is what he was drilling into us. He's very much there for the kids to learn and progress through the game.

[djasha68]

Football schools can pay well, you dont only have to work when the kids are off school. Look at Brazilian Soccer schools, Simon Clifford has earnt a small fortune franchising them, and I know a guy who bought a franchise and makes a few dollars doing it. Premier Sports are now running football camps up and down the country, in 1000 schools every week.

If you want to make this a living it is possible, but you will probably have to run your own business and become a salesman, accountant, secretary, run a website as well as coaching football. That being said I am looking into turning this hobby into a full time job, have been looking into it and I think it is possible. Will be looking to find experienced coaches soon.
REALLY NEED A BUSINESS PARTNER, PREFERABLY SOMEONE FROM HERTFORDSHIRE WITH COACHING EXPERIENCE, LEVEL 2 MINIMUM.
EMAIL; d.williams2230@ntlworld.com

[cheshirefootball]

I agree with most of the replies and from past experience feel that some of these schemes are all about the money. It is easy to prey on those who want the dream and someone offering to get you there is always going to get people on board. Also do some background research on the people running these academies - plenty on google! Try ringing the Clubs quoted on the adverts to see if they have links with these organisations.
I have run teams from under 7s to under 13s for the past 8 years - I only have a Level 1. I also coach teams on an as and when basis. I have been around academies and centres with my own kids and have picked up many different drills and tips. This has helped my sessions and I suppose I could say that I have done academy standard coaching drills.
If you want to send your kids for trials then ring the Clubs direct - don't pay someone to do it for you. It works and is proven with both my own kids. I handed out numbers for Clubs during last season that I got off yell.com and can vouch that at least 10 players were signed by Clubs because their parents rang up themselves.
Beware of the scam merchants that want to make a quick buck out of kids football!