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Good thoughts but.. some caveats apply
Super 
I see a few problems of a technical nature here. In current organizational theory typically MISSION and VISION statements are established..
A mission is a statement of overall strategic purpose...and typically is not time limited.
e.g. for the JFF it may be a version of this: To nurture a world class football culture while ensuring its sustainability in financial, technical & infrastructural development for the benefit of all stakeholders
A vision statement is more objective-oriented and may provide a specific goal and related timeline... e.g. regularly qualifying for and being competitive at the WC by 2026
Bravo 
Even if/when JA has a 5-12 y.o. dev program it would be foolish to "forget about the age groups above that" or not focus on those older kids at all..
* Were that course to be followed we would be abandoning latent talent which (although retarded by the absence of a program) can still be somewhat salvaged. Our brilliant 1994-98 experience under Simoes (mainly using HS ball grads) has established that as an irrefutable fact. Abandonment would be uncivilized
* Abandonment or lack of focus re that age group would also consign JA football to even more of a mockery than it is now for ~10 years i.e. until the first set of younger yutes is ready for senior ball
In truth JA therefore has to figure out a staged dev system to satisfy both near term and long term objectives. No throwing out of the baby with the bathwater please
Very true...esp as cricket has been so shiiity for more than 2 decades. It could use lots of help
Paul Marin;582637]I will address you and D1 in this post. We are arguing two separate things: 1) funding and 2) the starting point of the curriculum. There is however, a dependency between the two in that funding is required to deliver a curriculum, therefore sources of funds have to be shown an ROI if they are expected to fund the curriculum.
While funding sources (private, govt. etc.) can be altruistic, in the case of for profit organizations, there has to be an ROI. Therefore, it is not unsavory nor is it short sighted for the current sponsors to attach themselves to whatever vehicle they believe will be best for them. Alignment with JFF's interests would be a bonus, but not a requirement. So, as I believe X correctly implied, the onus is on the JFF to either a) find sources of funding that can be aligned with their vision or b) adapt their vision to be aligned to appeal to available sources of funding.
While funding sources (private, govt. etc.) can be altruistic, in the case of for profit organizations, there has to be an ROI. Therefore, it is not unsavory nor is it short sighted for the current sponsors to attach themselves to whatever vehicle they believe will be best for them. Alignment with JFF's interests would be a bonus, but not a requirement. So, as I believe X correctly implied, the onus is on the JFF to either a) find sources of funding that can be aligned with their vision or b) adapt their vision to be aligned to appeal to available sources of funding.
But while there is a dependency, there is a clear sequence of events needed. Like any properly run organization, there needs to be a plan, one based on establishing a VISION FRAMEWORK comprised of a CORE PURPOSE, CORE VALUES and MISSION. Let me explain:
CORE PURPOSE: Why does the JFF exist?
CORE VALUES: What are the immutable values of the organization?
MISSION: What is the 5 year measurable target for the organization?
According to the JFF's Facebook page, it's Mission is: to facilitate Jamaica footballing success by providing development, regulatory, affiliation and accreditation services to affiliates and entertainment to the general public.
Like many organizations, the JFF is tripped up by an alphabet soup of terms that are specious, they sound good, but meaningless because there is no "there there" in the execution.
A MISSION has a CLEARLY DEFINED OUTCOME and TIME FRAME. So I submit that the JFF's CORE PURPOSE is the "mission" it outlined above, but a CORE PURPOSE without CORE VALUES is like wearing a pair of pants with a busted seam – all kinda ting ago flop bout. It is the organization's CORE VALUES that hold everything together. With no values, you can’t have meaningful MISSION.
All of this brings me to the need for a clearly articulated curriculum. If there were a CLEAR MISSION (e.g. “By the year 2030, Jamaica will qualify for the World Cup finals”. I am not saying this SHOULD be the mission, it is only given as an example as it has a clear time-frame, and a clear outcome), we can then set about to put milestones in place that can drive a game plan that can be shopped to potential backers.
CORE PURPOSE: Why does the JFF exist?
CORE VALUES: What are the immutable values of the organization?
MISSION: What is the 5 year measurable target for the organization?
According to the JFF's Facebook page, it's Mission is: to facilitate Jamaica footballing success by providing development, regulatory, affiliation and accreditation services to affiliates and entertainment to the general public.
Like many organizations, the JFF is tripped up by an alphabet soup of terms that are specious, they sound good, but meaningless because there is no "there there" in the execution.
A MISSION has a CLEARLY DEFINED OUTCOME and TIME FRAME. So I submit that the JFF's CORE PURPOSE is the "mission" it outlined above, but a CORE PURPOSE without CORE VALUES is like wearing a pair of pants with a busted seam – all kinda ting ago flop bout. It is the organization's CORE VALUES that hold everything together. With no values, you can’t have meaningful MISSION.
All of this brings me to the need for a clearly articulated curriculum. If there were a CLEAR MISSION (e.g. “By the year 2030, Jamaica will qualify for the World Cup finals”. I am not saying this SHOULD be the mission, it is only given as an example as it has a clear time-frame, and a clear outcome), we can then set about to put milestones in place that can drive a game plan that can be shopped to potential backers.
A mission is a statement of overall strategic purpose...and typically is not time limited.
e.g. for the JFF it may be a version of this: To nurture a world class football culture while ensuring its sustainability in financial, technical & infrastructural development for the benefit of all stakeholders
A vision statement is more objective-oriented and may provide a specific goal and related timeline... e.g. regularly qualifying for and being competitive at the WC by 2026
This is an example of a basic development curriculum:
Development Targets:
U4-U6: early introduction of the game to boys and girls in this age group with community based games and jamborees. The goals are 1) to inspire passion and love for the game; no leagues, no standings, no stress, just fun and 2) body mastery, specifically, 2 footedness. The defining characteristic of this age group is 1 ball, 1 kid, loads of fun.
U6-U8. Basic understanding of the laws of the game, beginning ball mastery, body mastery (controlling ball with all surfaces of both feet and all parts of the body; introduction to 1v1 moves, passing and receiving techniques, shooting)
U8-U12. This is where the rubber meets the road. By now – ALL KIDS should be TWO FOOTED. Now you focus on expansion of technical skills - 1v1 moves, turns, combination play, spatial awareness, basic tactics (two touch, two touch with weak foot, expanded games focused on individual technical advancement). By the time a player gets out of this phase they should be able to use both feet, kick the ball with all surfaces, juggle with every part of their body, know the rudiments of passing and receiving (touch ball lightly, check shoulder, feet moving etc.), know various crosses, basic heading technique, throw-in technique, corners –outswinging/inswinging, and a raft of 1v1 moves and turns.
Development Targets:
U4-U6: early introduction of the game to boys and girls in this age group with community based games and jamborees. The goals are 1) to inspire passion and love for the game; no leagues, no standings, no stress, just fun and 2) body mastery, specifically, 2 footedness. The defining characteristic of this age group is 1 ball, 1 kid, loads of fun.
U6-U8. Basic understanding of the laws of the game, beginning ball mastery, body mastery (controlling ball with all surfaces of both feet and all parts of the body; introduction to 1v1 moves, passing and receiving techniques, shooting)
U8-U12. This is where the rubber meets the road. By now – ALL KIDS should be TWO FOOTED. Now you focus on expansion of technical skills - 1v1 moves, turns, combination play, spatial awareness, basic tactics (two touch, two touch with weak foot, expanded games focused on individual technical advancement). By the time a player gets out of this phase they should be able to use both feet, kick the ball with all surfaces, juggle with every part of their body, know the rudiments of passing and receiving (touch ball lightly, check shoulder, feet moving etc.), know various crosses, basic heading technique, throw-in technique, corners –outswinging/inswinging, and a raft of 1v1 moves and turns.
IF THIS BASIC FOUNDATION IS NOT THERE WE CAN FORGET ABOUT THE AGE GROUPS ABOVE IT!!!! But that said, each of these age categories in and of themselves are marketable. There are MILLIONS OF $$$$ associated with marketing to children between ages 4 and 12. Adidas, Nike, every clothing company on the planet, every fast food company on the planet, every kind of toy company, books and education etc. etc., not to mention every foundation in the world focuses on kids. So by breaking the curriculum down, you can now target the appropriate backers. The U4-6 set could be sponsored by a foundation, the u6-u8 set by food, clothing, or toy companies, etc. who are all blessed with marketing departments that can make the linkage.
Anyway, I could go on, and talk about the curriculum for the older age groups, but the bottom line is that WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE WRONG END OF THE HORSE. We need to focus on the little ones. What good is it that we have 14 year olds with no left foot? Or 17 year olds that can’t juggle, or don’t know how to check their shoulder receiving the ball, and just as badly - don’t know how to finish??? It is comical.
Anyway, I could go on, and talk about the curriculum for the older age groups, but the bottom line is that WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE WRONG END OF THE HORSE. We need to focus on the little ones. What good is it that we have 14 year olds with no left foot? Or 17 year olds that can’t juggle, or don’t know how to check their shoulder receiving the ball, and just as badly - don’t know how to finish??? It is comical.
* Were that course to be followed we would be abandoning latent talent which (although retarded by the absence of a program) can still be somewhat salvaged. Our brilliant 1994-98 experience under Simoes (mainly using HS ball grads) has established that as an irrefutable fact. Abandonment would be uncivilized
* Abandonment or lack of focus re that age group would also consign JA football to even more of a mockery than it is now for ~10 years i.e. until the first set of younger yutes is ready for senior ball
In truth JA therefore has to figure out a staged dev system to satisfy both near term and long term objectives. No throwing out of the baby with the bathwater please
I am going to stop because I am writing this and getting vex. The problem is not easy to solve, but until we have the right kind of leadership, vision framework, curriculum and commitment to marketing the long term value of a great Jamaican football product, we may as well go back to playing cricket.
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