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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 16 2001 : 01:20:46 AM
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Frankie
FAO Karl - English coaching structure
Thu Nov 15 09:14:43 2001
.......most clubs run programmes called Football in the Community and they create links with primary schools working with kids, boys and girls, from the age of 5 to 11. The main aim of this is to create an interest in the clubs within the kids. In towns like Bolton they hope that if they show them that the club is part of the community then they will be more likely to become Bolton fans rather than Man Utd or Liverpool fans.
The clubs will often hold coaching sessions at the schools and then kids will be invited to the club's Academy once a week for an hour or so. This is at an early age and hundreds of kids are invited along. The coaches are then working wth the kids from an early age quite regularly and get to see the promising players over an extended period of time. This is the crux as far as I am concerned.
When I was a kid playing football regularly (I'm now 32), this did not exist. I used to play in the local boy's league and scouts from professional clubs from all over the country would come to watch and kids may get invited for a trail. This was at the age of about 15. If you didn't perform in one these one off trials that was that. In the team I played for at least 8 lads had trial's with teams such as Everton. Liverpool, the two Manchester clubs and of course Bolton. The thing all hinged on one off performances. It was very hit and miss. Many of these lads did the rounds with the all the clubs, but the clubs were never involved in the development of the player. There was none. We trained once a week for an hour, the manager of the team was one of the lad's dads. It was the same at every team in the league they are run by enthusiastic amateurs. The only time the clubs got involved was when you signed schoolboy forms at the age of 15 and you then went training once a week. This was too late - the clubs only got hold of the kids at 15 and only had a small number, maybe 20 or 30. Now they have access to hundreds of kids from a very early age and these kids are receiving professional coaching. Ajax have been doing this for years and we've finally cottoned on.
Players like Owen, Gerrard at Liverpool, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Defoe at West Ham, Dunn at Blackburn are the first products of each clubs academies.
The lower down you look from U21 to U15 the strength in depth and the potential is quite frightening.
Its a pity its took us so long to realise that the kids are the future
The future is very bright indeed
Karl |
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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
Posted - Nov 17 2001 : 09:39:13 AM
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Mac
I have figured you out
Fri Nov 16 08:05:07 2001
There is one MAJOR fundamental difference between what you define as a national football program and what I think a national program is. So let me give my definition.
In MY opinion, a national football program that is to bring together the best national footballing talent for the purpose of preparing the various national teams. The focus should be on the national team.
It is clear that you think that the national program should cover every footballer.
Now lets get back to your argument. In an ideal world, what you are saying would be great. But as far as I can tell, only France has a program that is even close to what you are proposing. And even France does not go to the extent that you are talking about. Not Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, USA, England, Germany, none of these countries have the kind of program that you are talking about. Most countries take advantage of the youth club system to identify players and chose them for the national team programs.
Now let me describe the national football program as I see it in Jamaica. There are various age group teams that are prepared from a small pool of selected players. These players then are prepared for the various tournaments. Of course you know that Jackie Walters is our National Youth technical director. His responsibility, along with his assistant Dr. Dean W. is to identify youth players and bring them into the various age group of the national program. Then, as players get older, they progress from one youth national team to the next and continually looking for other players. All our youth teams play the same system so it is easy to transition players from one age group to another. Now, if this is not a national football program then I don’t know what is.
Karl, you mention about coaching. I have said it before and I will say it again. When the coaching courses were being held in Jamaica, the attendance was poor. When the NPL team coaches were mandated to have a certain level of certification, some of them resisted and were forced to be certified. If you talk about refereeing, I wonder who paid for those Jamaican referees to go to Trinidad to participate in the courses. CONCACAF is always having courses in Trinidad for coaching etc, where are the Jamaican participants. Did clubs put up money to train their coaches? Did some of the coaches put their own money to get trained? Everyone must take share of the responsibility.
I think that what you are proposing would be great in the ideal world. But you must have money to have such a program. The national program should focus on the national teams various competitions. By making the club and youth tournaments better, this will raise the level of football. It completely amazes me that you and others always talk about youth and when there is an installation of the U21 league, you don’t see the tremendous benefit of having a national youth league. The question that I had is why was it not done from before? When the NPL and A league clubs were forced to have youth team in order to participate, some clubs complained. When the rules were implemented to have NPL rosters to have U20 players, you did not see these things.
We are steadily building a program. It will not happen overnight. The JFF should be coordinating these efforts, but they don’t have to actually do all by themselves. Everyone must participate. Our program should be something that fits our situation and be within our budget.
Karl |
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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
Posted - Nov 18 2001 : 4:49:51 PM
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quote:
Mac
I have figured you out
Fri Nov 16 08:05:07 2001
There is one MAJOR fundamental difference between what you define as a national football program and what I think a national program is. So let me give my definition.
In MY opinion, a national football program that is to bring together the best national footballing talent for the purpose of preparing the various national teams. The focus should be on the national team.
It is clear that you think that the national program should cover every footballer.
Well, Mac you are close.
Question: How can you assure yourself that you in your words "bring together the best national footballing talent for the purpose of...."?
Do you then think your program must have a component that identifies this "best footballing talent"?
If you do not have a component that makes sure, as far as it is humanly possible, that talent is not lost... - How will you be certain that the "best footballing talent" was not left out?
I am saying if the JFF agrees with us that "the best footballing talent" must make up our national teams...then, the JFF must consciously work at improving all areas of football, to ensure all talents receive the best possible atmosphere to florish and grow...so that the very best has the greatest of opportunity to make it.
For that to happen the FOOTBALL PROGRAM cannot be all about the end-game...i.e. national teams being the alpha and omega. Rather the FOOTBALL PROGRAM must a seemless all-encompassing, bottom to top building process i.e. real "Perpetual Renewal". A program that has building on the present and improving in all areas at all levels.
Because our aim of having the very best in our national teams demands work from the cradle....to those self same national teams. If the base is poor material maybe at the national levels we can with hard work produce good. If the base, however, is excellent, then....with hard work at the national levels the teams should be worthy of walking with the very best in the world. Who knows perhaps in our lifetime the REGGAE BOYZ could be THE BEST IN THE WORLD!!!!
If only the JFF could see we need a NATIONAL FOOTBALL PROGRAMME!
Karl
Edited by - Karl on Nov 19 2001 19:23:14 |
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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
Posted - Nov 19 2001 : 7:22:02 PM
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Frankie
FAO Karl - Talent Spotting
Mon Nov 19 03:00:48 2001
This was on the loacal paper about how Bolton are finding players. Though it might be of interest.
BOLTON Wanderers are assessing boys as young as FIVE as they attempt to set up a production line to deliver the stars of the future.
Despite the highly-acclaimed Academy system only kicking in at Under 9s level, Reebok talent spotters are trying to catch them even younger . . . with a little help from two friendly local clubs.
Eagley Rangers and Ladybridge, who are prominent members of the Bolton and Bury Mini-Soccer League, are providing bases for coaching sessions for the under sixes which Wanderers hope will become nurseries for budding young footballers.
"We are looking for five-year-olds who can run with the ball rather than run after it," explains Peter Almond, assistant director of the Wanderers' Academy.
"Then we will teach them the ball skills."
Wanderers are proud that their work on the Academy is bearing fruit with Kevin Nolan having come through the ranks to hit the Premiership heights and the England U-20s and Michael Gillan and Chris Howarth currently in the Under 16s.
But they are determined to compete with the best and that means having youngsters ready for competitive action when they join the U-9s.
Thirteen local teams recently competed in a tournament for under sevens run by the Academy in conjunction with the Bolton and Bury Mini-Soccer League - an association Wanderers hope will prove beneficial to all sides.
"We are looking to help with the development of the game for the younger age groups throughout the Borough," Almond confirmed. "We want to be associated with the local leagues and the local clubs and we want local boys to want to play for the football club.
"By working together with the junior leagues and their clubs both sides can benefit. The extra coaching the boys receive should raise both individual and team standards while helping the football club identify and nurture prospective Academy boys.
"Over the years there has seemed to be an 'us and them' situation which has no need to exist. Both the leagues and their clubs on one hand and the football club on the other want to see junior football prosper and progress.
"Bolton Wanderers are proud of the fact that local boys from the Bolton and Bury Mini-Soccer League now play for their Academy teams from under nines level, competing against the best boys of their age group in the country.
"With closer co-operation by all parties concerned we are hopeful of identifying future talent to follow in the footsteps of Kevin Nolan, Michael Gillan and Chris Howarth."
Eagley Rangers' sessions for under sixes are run at Sharples Sports Centre on Mondays (5.30 to 6.30). Their contact is Quinton Beech on 07752 811050 or 01204 430281 or www.eagleyrangers.co.uk.
Ladybridge will have a county standard mini-soccer centre in Lostock operational in September next year but are currently running sessions at Deane School Sports Centre on Mondays (6.30 to 7.30) and their contact is Steve Hill on www.ladybridge.net
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Frankie: Thanks! Please keep the info coming.
Karl |
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