English based coaches - please read this!!!

[TAC]

With regard to the franchises, i agree that most are money making schemes, but i think it is easy to tell which is which simply by the marketing and professionalism. I think the one mentioned at the beginning of this thread, without knowing a lot about it, seems bonafide. If this guy really did work at the crewe academy, there is little more he can do to prove his credentials as a coach. That is one of the most prolific academies in the country, and they dont have half the financial support as most of the others.

I do however agree with Ians post about the difference in coaching. I work for what is considered one of the countires most successful academies (not in a coaching position), and i can tell you that the sessions that are being run, are no different than that you would see at any youth team on a sat or sun. Most are just level 2 coaches who have got a break. From what i've experienced, there is no reason why someone like ian couldnt produce a player who was just as good. However, i would suggest that a UEFA A license coach (such as the guy running the business) would be better suited and possibly more succesful at blooding young talent. After all, it is a very difficult qualification and only a handful of coaches achieve it. This added to the fact that has much experience at not only coaching but running an academy system makes him a good bet in my books. I must stress though, i only know of this guy through these posts so i could be wrong.

I think, in essence, my point is that the difference between academy coaches and voluntary coaches is negligable. In all honesty i would rather a coach who has worked for years voluntarily without any thanks, than someone who has got a lucky break, or has contacts because it would suggest to me more of a desire and ambition to improve youth footballers. Unfortunatley, there seems to be two problems in this country:

1) Simply, that it is very difficult for anyone without 'contacts' or who isnt an ex-pro, to get anywhere in this industry. It is very much an industry in which the phrase 'its not what you know, its who you know' is pivotal.

2)Secondly, as we all know, the FA have completely ruined coaching. I think the problem lies mainly in the coaching badges. Its not they we are not producing good coaches or player for that matter, but we are being taught how to coach in a destructive way. Just as we are coaching these kids, the FA are 'teaching' us how to coach and it isnt working. I think the main thing to bear in mind is that the FA had to come up with a way of assessing coaches in a one off session i.e. final assessment. In order to pass the assessment you have to meet particular standards which have in essence been made quantifiable for the assessor. I think people have lost sight of this down the years and this is now generally accepted as the way to coach. The coaching you do to pass your assesment is simply that - a way of passing the assessment. It is not neccissarily the best way to coach. I think the FA tutors have been teaching us how to pass an assessment, as opposed to how to coach. Think about your driving test for example, i bet you don't drive the way you did in that? But it seems to me that coaches just stick to this way of coaching forever.

Coaching is this country is becoming stagnant and i would personally attribute that to a lack of and poor coach education.

I say, have your own coaching philosophy and stick to it. Take on bits and pieces from others but dont be despondent when people disagree, there's too much hot air spoken in the coaching world. Just as with players, if your coaching is good enough, then you will make it.

End of rant.....it's amazing how carried away with these things you can get!!!!