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Jamaica's problem is systemic. It is not Tappa, its not Hue, its not bad defending, its is not Burrell. It is the whole system and it reflects general societal issues in Jamaica. We need to carefully build from the bottom, a little at a time, maintain it as we build it so that it will be sustainable. We need to develop a system of registration of football members in clubs and in the JFF, from little kids, to mid youth, to youth to post high school, to college, to serious business house, to mid-life. Overall football IQ and overall responsibility for system sustenance will improve along the way.
The current system would be good enough to get us to France but we are 18 years beyond the commencement of the road to France campaign. The whole globe is growing so we need to grow.....but we need to start with basics. Even if you have the best driver and best car, you wont compete at the Indy 500 if you don't have a good pit crew and if you don't have good tires, etc. So start with the basics.
We need proper ongoing youth programs islandwide. Entry level football for kids four or five years old must teach basic skills. We need a program islandwide that takes the kids from 6 thru 9 and builds on the basics taught at 4 and/or 5. It is quite fine to have it be co-ed up to age 9. Every kid must play every position and must learn to kick with both feet. Every kid must learn to value of including teammates in the fun.
We need to have a program islandwide for 10 to 12 year olds before they get to high school. At this stage they must be fully rounded with basic skills. Every kid must kick with both feet; inside of foot, outside of foot, instep, head, chest, trap the ball, juggle the ball. Positional play, movement off the ball, covering and defeating of the evil phenomenon known as ball watching. Don't knock me about the 2 foot thing. Yes many superstars use one foot. But most top players can do basic things with both feet.
From 11/12 to 14, there must be a well scripted program in P.E., house competitions and inter-school competitions. Collaboration between JFF and ISSA is most essential at this stage. Discussion of basic team psychology, tactics, fitness, nutrition, balanced intellect (importance of academic performance) is essential. Basic classroom PE curricula in addition to Lab work/field play. All P.E. classes must be taught in classroom and then in the field. Practice corners, free kicks, clearing the ball, heading the ball, trapping, running without the ball to open spaces. Fitness must be emphasized. They must be taught the basics of scouting and reviewing game video. They must be taught how to study basic trends of their opponents, before games, during games, and how to discuss making adjustments at half time.
From 14 to 16, step it up.
17 to 19 step it up further.
19 to 23....JFF to encourage all top ballers down to the level of former house competitors in high school to be in islandwide competitions at all levels and to participate in training youth all the way down to the 4/5 year old stage.
Summer soccer is essential at all levels of youth throughout the island. JFF and corporate Jamaica must partner to get this system going. It will ensure, health and fitness and a renewing system. It will also encourage youth to be busy and not idle.
JFF and UTech should develop a higher level sports medicine, sports management, coaching program, general wellness program. ISSA and Ministry of Health and Ministry of Youth and Sports must be partners. Structured P.E. and coaching must be geared toward community programs, primary school level outside of school, high schools, tertiary institutions, corner leagues, parish leagues and NPL teams.
Over time, if this is sustained at all levels, football IQ, preparation, fitness and performance will improve significantly.
Develop a team of trained national scouts for every level. Encourage the keeping of important statistics and continued review.
Rotate coaches as much as is possible and is practical.
There is much more...but JFF, NPL and parish leagues must find a way to ensure that NPL players work only if they are part of this system and get a living wage. They need to focus on football only; their team preparation, wellness, fitness, nutrition, video review, game study, discussion at all levels.
When we have done this in a continuing self-sustaining way, we will start to see better success at all levels. US soccer does this with a lot of money. But others do it with much less money because they create a smart, well-managed program.
Much more...but we need to do this a little at a time. Start with 4/5 year olds islandwide and also with 6 to 9 year olds.
The one time I saw anything close to this being done, my CC went on to win the DaCosta Cup in back to back years after not winning it in almost 20 years.
X, what u say? Let's be slow and deliberate. Will we have a sprinter's mentality or will we be as strategic, cunning and determined as a distance runner?
The current system would be good enough to get us to France but we are 18 years beyond the commencement of the road to France campaign. The whole globe is growing so we need to grow.....but we need to start with basics. Even if you have the best driver and best car, you wont compete at the Indy 500 if you don't have a good pit crew and if you don't have good tires, etc. So start with the basics.
We need proper ongoing youth programs islandwide. Entry level football for kids four or five years old must teach basic skills. We need a program islandwide that takes the kids from 6 thru 9 and builds on the basics taught at 4 and/or 5. It is quite fine to have it be co-ed up to age 9. Every kid must play every position and must learn to kick with both feet. Every kid must learn to value of including teammates in the fun.
We need to have a program islandwide for 10 to 12 year olds before they get to high school. At this stage they must be fully rounded with basic skills. Every kid must kick with both feet; inside of foot, outside of foot, instep, head, chest, trap the ball, juggle the ball. Positional play, movement off the ball, covering and defeating of the evil phenomenon known as ball watching. Don't knock me about the 2 foot thing. Yes many superstars use one foot. But most top players can do basic things with both feet.
From 11/12 to 14, there must be a well scripted program in P.E., house competitions and inter-school competitions. Collaboration between JFF and ISSA is most essential at this stage. Discussion of basic team psychology, tactics, fitness, nutrition, balanced intellect (importance of academic performance) is essential. Basic classroom PE curricula in addition to Lab work/field play. All P.E. classes must be taught in classroom and then in the field. Practice corners, free kicks, clearing the ball, heading the ball, trapping, running without the ball to open spaces. Fitness must be emphasized. They must be taught the basics of scouting and reviewing game video. They must be taught how to study basic trends of their opponents, before games, during games, and how to discuss making adjustments at half time.
From 14 to 16, step it up.
17 to 19 step it up further.
19 to 23....JFF to encourage all top ballers down to the level of former house competitors in high school to be in islandwide competitions at all levels and to participate in training youth all the way down to the 4/5 year old stage.
Summer soccer is essential at all levels of youth throughout the island. JFF and corporate Jamaica must partner to get this system going. It will ensure, health and fitness and a renewing system. It will also encourage youth to be busy and not idle.
JFF and UTech should develop a higher level sports medicine, sports management, coaching program, general wellness program. ISSA and Ministry of Health and Ministry of Youth and Sports must be partners. Structured P.E. and coaching must be geared toward community programs, primary school level outside of school, high schools, tertiary institutions, corner leagues, parish leagues and NPL teams.
Over time, if this is sustained at all levels, football IQ, preparation, fitness and performance will improve significantly.
Develop a team of trained national scouts for every level. Encourage the keeping of important statistics and continued review.
Rotate coaches as much as is possible and is practical.
There is much more...but JFF, NPL and parish leagues must find a way to ensure that NPL players work only if they are part of this system and get a living wage. They need to focus on football only; their team preparation, wellness, fitness, nutrition, video review, game study, discussion at all levels.
When we have done this in a continuing self-sustaining way, we will start to see better success at all levels. US soccer does this with a lot of money. But others do it with much less money because they create a smart, well-managed program.
Much more...but we need to do this a little at a time. Start with 4/5 year olds islandwide and also with 6 to 9 year olds.
The one time I saw anything close to this being done, my CC went on to win the DaCosta Cup in back to back years after not winning it in almost 20 years.
X, what u say? Let's be slow and deliberate. Will we have a sprinter's mentality or will we be as strategic, cunning and determined as a distance runner?
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