Post on 24-Mar-2020
NSCAA Advanced Director of Coaching
Course
June 2013
‘Good Practice in European Youth
Academies’…and their relevance to US Youth
Soccer Programs
Good Practice in European Youth Academies
Key Issues as they affect My Youth Soccer Program in N. America
Major Perceived Factor Key Factors as they impact on My
Youth Soccer Program
Comments
Commitment to Individual Development
Identifying Talent
Maximizing Practice Time
Developing Quality Coaches
Appropriate Training Program
Appropriate Games Program
Educational Support
Sports Science Support
Parental Support
Facilities
Evaluation of overall Program
Other factors 2
3
HOW IS GOOD PRACTICE IN ELITE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ASSESSED?
IN EUROPE ( 9 million registered male players under 18 years of age)
Players into the first team of a professional Club ?
Winning Tournaments ?
How would Good Practice be assessed in North America ? ( I million
registered male players under 18 years of age ?)
Winning Tournaments ?
Players into ODP ?
Players achieving College Scholarships?
Players into Professional /Semi- Professional Soccer?
Others?
4
TOURNAMENTS ?
• France have developed a large number of high quality play
but:
-have never been in the top 3 in the FIFA Under 20
Tournament
-have only qualified 5 times (out of a possible 18)
• Spain have qualified 14 times and won it once ( England 10
times – 1 third and 1 fourth place )
• In 2005 - UEFA Burlaz Trophy for combined team
performances at Under 17 & 19: Spain (1),England (2)
-never won a major tournament at Senior Level outside
their own country
NB Since 2005 Spain have won Euros ( twice ) and WC !
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Countries providing players in the top 6
European Leagues ( Italian Study 2008 )
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‘Graduates’ of Academies in the top 6 Leagues in Europe’ ( Italian Study 2008 )
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Academies providing players in 31 ‘top leagues’ in Europe ( 2013 : Source The International Centre for Sports Studies)
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Key Factors which demonstrate Vision & Commitment
to develop Young People as talented footballers?
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Club Culture and Policy
- Traditions,Language,Legends,Stories
Consistency and Stability
Club Owners
First Team Coach
Youth Coaches : ‘They are not your players’
Players
Parents- inc ‘agreements ‘
Usually written up as a Youth Development Plan and approved by the Club
Board of Directors
Academy Managers : Leaders, Strategists,
Educationalists,Planners,Organisers,Politicians,Coaches,
Vision & Commitment to develop Young People as talented footballers:
Whole Person /Holistic Development
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What looking for ?- if you are briefing scouts
How ? : Subjective v checklist ?;Objective, Tests, Try Outs, Ongoing
Who?-
Where? : where are your hot spots ?
When ? : when to select
Identifying Talent- developing a Talent ID plan as part of the overall
Youth Development Plan
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Identifying Talent What to look for?- find out more
about the players
• TIPS (Ajax):Talent,Intilligence,Personality,Speed
• TABS (L’vpool): Technical,Attitude,Balance,Speed
• SUPS : Speed,Understanding,Personality,Skill
• PAS :Pace,Attitude,Skill
• Bobby Robson on Set Plays :
‘ Do they have something special ?’
Delivery or Conversion?
‘Earn Set Plays ‘ or ‘ Concede them’
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TECHNICAL PSYCHOLOGY
PHYSICAL SOCIAL
THE 4 CORNERS
AND THE AGES
HAVE A
CHANGING
EFFECT AND
IMPACT OVER
TIME
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What looking for ?- if you are briefing scouts
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SENSIBLE PROFILING
AJAX
• Select a ‘squad’ of players –equal number right and left footed
• Introduce 11v11 by 11 years & ‘Schooled’ to play in one (or more) of the
Ajax 1-4-3-3 system
ROSENBORG
• 23 Attacking moves to learn for the ‘Rosenborg’ 4-3-3
REAL MADRID.
All the Youth Teams play a 1-4-3-3 and 1-4-4-2 system with one holding
defensive mid-field player:
• At what age do you profile your players?
• What is your criteria?
• Is it written down and recorded?
• Are the coaches, players and parents aware of the profile
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Tottenham Hotspur Football Club Player Profiling
Physical Tactical Mental
Goal Keeper #1 6’ 2” Shot Stopping Resilient
Agile Distribution Brave
Powerful Communication
Full Back #2,#3 Agile 1v1 Defending Concentration
75% Defender Speed Defending Far Post Resilience
Speed-Endurance Defensive Support Play Controlled
Brave
Centre Half #5,#6 6’1” 1v1 Defending Leadership
80% Defender Agile Heading Concentration
Powerful Alert in possession Communication
Defensive Support Play Brave
5 solid passing options Consistency
Controller Agile Tight Receiving Skills Leadership
50% Defender Quick Perception Concentration
Powerful 360 Range Passing Resilience
Speed Endurance Support Play Bravery on ball
Creation Space Consistency
Heading
Screen Play
Breaking Up Play
Physical Technical Mental
Midfield #8
50% Defender Endurance 14K Tight Receiving Skills Concentration
Speed Endurance 7 Passes Brave
Strength RWTB Commitment
Shooting Resilient
Tracking Runs
Tackling
Defensive Support
Midfield #10
30% Defender Sharp Perception & Intelligence Confident
70% Attacker Speed Endurance Tight & Disguised recv/turning Risk Taker
RWTB Extrovert ?
Match Winner Dribbling Quick Minded
When, Where, How use space
Transition Player
Set Play Specialist
Creative passer
Forward #9
20% Defender 6’+ Perception / Awareness Big Personality
80% Attacker Strong Runner Recv Skills - Back to goal Selfish
Powerful - Behind Brave
Pace RWTB / Dribbling
Space Creation In & Out Box
Heading
Support Play
Usher one direction
Set Play Specialist
Forward #7 #11
25% Defender Pace Recv skills - In front Resilient
75% Attacker Agility - Behind Concentration
Speed Endurance Turning Bravery
Pace Creator RWTB / Dribbling Patience
When, Where, How use space
Combination play
Set Play Specialist
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How ? : Subjective v checklist ?;Objective data, Tests, Try Outs,
Ongoing
Try Outs and watching players –some considerations
• OPPOSITION PLAYING STANDARDS
• OWN TEAM PLAYING STANDARDS
• POSITION SUITABILITY
• PLAYING INSTRUCTIONS
• RECENT PLAYING ACTIVITY
• EXPECTATION FOR THE DAY
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THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION – YOUTH PLAYER ASSESSMENT
NAME: _____________________ DATE OF BIRTH: __________________AGE GROUP: ________
CLUB: ______________________ POSITION: ________________________
MATCH: __________________________ MATCH AGE GROUP: ______________________
MATCH DATE: ____________________
__________________________________________________________________________
ASSESSMENT
SCORE ON SCALE OF 1 (VERY POOR) 2 (POOR) 3 (AVERAGE) 4 (GOOD) 5 (EXCELLENT)
PERSONALITY AND ATTITUDE
Is he:- Tough-minded Confident Composed
Focused Enthusiast ic Takes Responsbility
INTELLIGENCE
How w ell does he understand his role?
How w ell does he read the game?
Does he make good decisions?
TECHNIQUE
How w ell does he cope technically
w ith the demands of his posit ion?
How good is his range of techniques?
SPEED
How quick is he?
Does he have a change of pace?
FITNESS
How w ell does he compete physically?
How w ell is he equipped physically?
How w ell does he last the game?
EFFECTIVENESS
To w hat extent does he effect the game?
ANY OTHER COMMENTS (e.g. left or right footed)
Total Score A = 68 and above Recommended Grade A = Recommended
B = 60-67 B = To be view ed again
C = below 60 C = Not up to standard
COMPLETED BY ________________________________________
SIGNED ________________________________ DATE _________________
SUMMARY
Strengths
Weaknesses
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ENGLAND YOUTH TEAMS
PLAYER ASSESSMENT FORM PERSONALITY AND ATTITUDE
Is he a team player, a winner (quiet or loud), coachable, a leader? Does he have a positive influence on other players?
INTELLIGENCE
Does he understand his role, the game? Does he read the game well? Can he adapt?
TECHNIQUE
Can he cope Technically with the demands of position? Does he have any outstanding Technical strengths or weaknesses?
SPEED
Is he very quick? If so, over what distances? Is he slow? Does he have a change of pace? What are his qualities relative to his position?
FITNESS
Can he last a game? Is he strong, powerful, weak? Effectiveness Does he affect the game? Is so, how?
RECOMMEND GRADE
A Recommend B To be viewed again C Not up to standard
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Bench Marking – see SFA Video on blog
TALENT IDENTIFICATION-SELECT WHAT’S MEASURABLE –GAME RELATED
KPI’s
ENTRIES INTO THE ATTACKING THIRD:- STOPPING THEM V DELIVERING
THEM
- Pass/Dribble/Run with and without the ball v stopping/track them !
- Exploiting Turnovers v Smothering turnovers
STRIKES AT GOAL IN THE ATTACKING THIRD: STOPPING THEM V
CREATING THEM
- Set Play winning or conceding
- Set play delivery /execution v defending against them
- Dribbling/Crosses/Thru Passes/Long Shots v defending against these
- Re-gain the ball v avoids re-possession
THE FIRST GOAL
- Their value in creating v stopping it
CAN YOU PROFILE & ARCHIVE YOUR BEST PLAYERS FOR POSTERITY ?
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GOOD PRACTICE AT 16-18 YEARS OF AGE ?
TALENT IDENTIFICATION-SELECT WHAT’S MEASURABLE –TECHNIQUE
TESTS
SOCCER STAR
6 skills tests for 6-16 year olds, now available (free!) on the web( fasoccerstar.com)
over 1 million children worldwide since 1989
Running with the ball,Turning,Dribbling,Speed,Shooting & Heading
No date of birth bias in results-High correlation (90%) with subjective assessment of
players 1-6 star ratings:6 Star represents top 3%
Current FAPL players who recorded 6 star rating when 9yrs of age:
- Michael Carrick, Michael Bridges, Mathew Etherington
AJAX Shooting, Speed and Heading Tests
DFB Test
UKRAINE SCHOOL TESTS
Do you have your own tests – archived and cross referenced against
game performance?
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Kunstschütze
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Dribbelkünstler
25
Ballzauberer
26
Kurzpass-Ass
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Kopfballkönig
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Flankengeber
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Elferkönig
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TECHNICAL PSYCHOLOGY
PHYSICAL SOCIAL
THE 4 CORNERS
AND THE AGES
HAVE A
CHANGING
EFFECT AND
IMPACT OVER
TIME
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15-17 yr olds –successful v unsuccessful:
Predictors for those players to be selected by top clubs in Germany,Italy,England
and Croatia
(Reilly,Bangsbo & Franks 2000 and Jankovic 1997)
• Max oxygen uptake (V02 max)
• Anaerobic Power:10/20 m sprints
• Trunk strength
What fitness tests do you use?
Do you record and archive the results to assist profiling ?
TALENT IDENTIFICATION-SELECT WHAT’S
MEASURABLE –PHYSIOLOGICAL
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Who?- Profile : birthdates,positions,family ?
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TECHNICAL PSYCHOLOGY
PHYSICAL SOCIAL
THE 4 CORNERS
AND THE AGES
HAVE A
CHANGING
EFFECT AND
IMPACT OVER
TIME
34
Two Case Studies
• What are the likely benefits and threats to each
player’s development ?
15 years
4 months old 15 years
5 months old
Growth Spurts THERE ARE MANY PHYSICAL REASONS FOR THE LACK OF
CONSISTENCY DEMONSTRATED BY THE PLAYER WHO IS GROWING UP.
For example;
• ADJUSTING TO PHYSICAL GROWTH
• ENERGY DEMANDS OF GROWTH
• LOSS OF CO–ORDINATION
SEEING TOO MANY PICTURES IN THESE CHANGING TIME FRAMES MAY BE CONFUSING FOR THE COACH OR SCOUT.
PARTICULARLY IF COMPARISONS ARE BEING MADE BETWEEN PLAYERS
1981 England Under 15’s –as 14 year olds
Front Row :who are staff and which are players?
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GOOD PRACTICE AT
16-18 YEARS OF AGE ?
TALENT IDENTIFICATION-SELECT WHAT’S MEASURABLE -PHYSICAL :
Find the early birthdays !
• Turkey won the 2005 UEFA Under 17 Championship in 2005:Qualification Date
(January 1st)
- 50% of the squad were born in the first 3 months of the qualification date
-10% were born in the last 3 months of the qualification date (Oct-December)
• 2006 : First 3 Months First 6 months
Russia 50% 75%
Cz 50% 75%
Germany 50% 75%
Spain 50% 80%
All Star Team ( + effect) 50% (30% in Jan) 90% - none in last 3 months
Of all 72 Squad players only 2 from last 3 months and only one of these
LATZA(Ger) played a full game
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GOOD PRACTICE AT
16-18 YEARS OF AGE
TALENT IDENTIFICATION-SELECT WHAT’S MEASURABLE –PHYSICAL
Select the tallest & biggest !
FIFA UNDER 17 WORLD CUP 2005 (male-ex.. Australia !)
Av Squad Height Av Squad Weight
1. Italy 1.82m Brasil 74.2kg
2 Brasil 1.80m Uruguay 74.9kg
3.Turkey 1.79m Holland 72.4kg
4.Holland 1.75m Peru 72.2kg
5.Ivory Coast 1.75m Turkey 72.3kg
6.Mexico 1.74m Mexico 70.1kg
Compare these with the average 16/17 year old and Compare with your players
PS:
- USA had the smallest average height ! ( 1.69m)
- Mexico won the tournament -19/20 born in first 6 months (95%) -55% in first 3
months: 0 players born in last 3 months
- Brasil 70% first 6 months : I player in last 3 months
Do you maintain weigh and measure your players?
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‘Graduates’ of Academies in the top 6 Leagues in Europe’ ( Italian Study 2008 )
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Psychological • Stable Extroverts (Kane 1970)
• Good Learners
• Game Intelligence
• Decision Making
• Concentration
• Confidence
• Composure
• Commitment
• Mental Control
• Academic Intelligence (School Performance) ? V Poor
Reading Skills ?
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Social • Swiss FA study ‘ Thank you brother !’-2nd and 3rd born
• Over representation of immigrants-1st ,2nd & 3rd generation ( e.g.
France,Germany,Belgium,England)
• Values
• Beliefs
• Parental Support
• Role Models
• Cultural /Community Support
• Socio-economic background
FC Rosenborg
• 16 Norwegian Titles
• UCL Champions League
believe their USP is Psycho-Social
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Where? : where are your hot spots ?
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Nursery clubs or affiliates- Real Madrid (200) AC Milan (100) PSV ( 300)
Development Centres
Joint Schemes- FC Twente and Heracles
Community /grassroots schemes- UK ,Werder Bremen,FC Koln
Larger Squads > Keep them longer
Exit Strategies to release the player back into the football community
Iceland ( see blog) mainly rural !
See blog for UEFA Champions League player locations
What are the common geographic/demographic characteristics of your
players?
TALENT IDENTIFICATION-SELECT WHAT’S MEASURABLE –
WHERE ARE THEY?
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The Hottest Spot for English Born Premier League Players ?
- Liverpool
England Team from Liverpool inc Kirby & Huyton
( population approx 500,000)
4-3-3
GK ?
Martin Kelly, Tony Hibbert, Jamie Carragher, Leighton Baines
Kevin Nolan, Stephen Gerrard , Joey Barton, Jack Rodwell
Wayne Rooney, Ricky Lambert, Leon Osman
Subs : Victor Anchibe ( 1 year old when came to Liverpool)
Ryan Shawcross
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How can you maximise Practice TIME ?
NB : “ Before you develop talented players you must at first protect
them”
Gerard Houllier
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Maximising TIME
1. Schooling- getting more from curriculum time
All in one school- KRYLIA SOVETOV, AC Milan,Rosenborg
Liaise with 4/5 schools – Bayern Munich
FA do initial training at local centres ( France,Belgium,Germany,Austria)
2. Bussing
Ajax ( 16 Minibuses): Ajax – opposed to ‘Hostels’
3. Make the most of each Minute:
Not dull Repetition-mastering skills can’t yet manage
Practice fewer things but at higher quality - at the edge of capabilities ( Feyenoord)
Move activities to the web ( e.g. priming,homework,feedback)
4. Sleeping- Residential
AC Milan and Real Madrid from 14 years of age
KRYLIA SOVETOV
Werder Bremen /Bayer Munich
5. Sessions per week-after 11 years of age the minimum ratio seen is 4:1 (Practice: Game)
Under 11yrs : 2 + I game
12-14: 3 + 1 game
15-16 : 4/5 + 1 game
17-19 : 7+ 1 game
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KRYLIA SOVETOV – ‘ Konoplyov Football Academy’
A private football school founded in 1999 by Yury Konoplev , a
businessman
It is located in Tolyatti- 1,000 miles from Moscow
6 training pitches (3 of them are 3rd generation artificial with the turf)
facilities for playing football indoor, rehabilitation and medical centre, gym,
entertainment facilities including mini-cinema, etc.
About 250 football players live there full board (from 11 years )
Coaching and Selection involve about 1000 players per year
Children from different regions are attracted.
Education is free
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Maximising TIME- encouraging the player to take
more responsibility for their own development
Homework ! Case Study Iceland ( population 350,000)
• 20.000 copies of a skills DVD and gave one to every single player from age 16 and younger in the whole
country (age 5-16).
• Each player received his/her copy hand in hand from a national team player or a women´s national team
player or a national team coach.
• So the Icelandic FA (KSI) visited all the clubs in the country. It is the biggest grassroots project they have
ever had and they gave out 16,000 copies.
• There are only 20,500 players of all ages in Iceland so close to 80% of all of their players received a copy.
Can you encourage your players to maintain personal practice diaries?
Do they accept the value of practice ? Its humbling qualities
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How to develop Quality Coaches for your program ?
NB: Steve Heighway,formerly Academy Director at Liverpool FC
‘ I want the coaches in our Academy to
know more about children than they do
about Football’
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Developing Quality Coaches
Youth development is now a Profession ( % of Academy Managers
as Graduates)
Camps and Community Programs provide massive opportunities
for coaching
Federation Qualifications & CPD – industry norm: big step forward
UEFA Youth Coaches Certificate
More Coach Education happening in clubs rather than ‘ Courses’-
clubs as ‘coaching hubs’
More Qualified Teachers especially Under 16 yrs
Specialised Coaches- GK,technique,defense
Team Teaching e.g. Ajax > aids feedback
As players get feedback & Action Plans –so coaches expect this!
Use of ex-players – Real Madrid one session every two weeks in
positional groups + an ex-player in that position
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PROGRAMS-what to coach
RESEARCH :Williams and Ford (2004):practice history of elite English 9-18
year olds
‘Amount of time Spent in soccer specific coach led INDIVIDUAL practice
was the strongest predictor of skill pre 14 years of age :after 14 years it
was the amount of time spent in coach led TEAM practice ‘
What would be core skills and understanding aspects of your program ?
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Feedback to Players and Parents has been a game changer
Players ( and their parents) now expect personal Goal Setting Monitoring and Feedback
Feedback now 3,or 4 times a year
Or ( Crewe Alexander FC Academy) ….once a week !
• Report
• Discussion
• Goal Setting
• The development of individual learning programs
• Rosenborg : a simple SWOT Analysis + Agreed Action Plan
• Sparta Rotterdam : Self Evaluation via Video
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Common Key Aspects of Elite Programs
• Skills (Attack and Defense)
1 v 1 Domination including protecting the ball
- Pass to a marked or unmarked player ?
- Number of fouls conceded at top level http://youtu.be/wDaFhCJC2Oo
- More use of the sole of the foot-Futsal? Boots? Fields
Passing and Moving ( less ‘undirectional’ static 3v1/4v2)
Passing and Control to achieve a strike at goal within 25 seconds
Heading ?????
• Game Understanding ( Attack and Defense)
Managing Turnovers ( 400 per game at highest level)
Creating and Exploiting Overloads
Creating and Finishing chances within the Penalty Area ( Gold Zone)
Long Range Shooting ????
Bio-Banding
• Matching formula for opposed situations -
height x weight divided by 1000 = group
e.g. 160 cm x 50 kg divided by 1000 = 8.0 =
Group 8
This player is allocated to Group 8. Players should play in small-sided games and be coached in opposed group practices with other players across a 2 group band (e.g. players in group 8 practice daily with players in groups 7, 8 and 9.
•Early v Late Maturers affect both players and also in more than just Physical
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Games Program Considerations to support overall development ?
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• SSG pre 11 years (except Ajax!)
• Number ( < 40 below 16 years) monitored and recorded
• Best v Best
• Playing Up
• No leagues until 16 years
• Evaluation
• Problem for some countries 18 -22 years
Games Program Considerations to support overall
development
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Support
• Educational
- Child Protection : Education, Screening & Complaints Procedures
- School Liaison and Homework : Education & Welfare Officers
• Sports Science and Medical
- Screening
- Monitoring Work loads
- Shin Guards
• Facilities
- Indoor Areas
- Synthetic Fields for play and competition
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MARSHALLING PARENT POWER- parents and coaches
on the same page
Ajax,AC Milan,B.Muncih,Real Madrid …..’Parents !’
Club Guidelines for parents (Real Madrid) How to be a better Soccer
Parent –not a coach
Choosing an’ Elite’ Club
Realistic Goals and Expectations
Providing Feedback
Communication Channels
A Balanced Life-Style
Managing Disappointment
Managing Success- for the moment !
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Factors to Evaluate an Elite Program
• Input
- Commitment
- Staff
- Program
- Facilities
- Support
• Output
- Quality of Players for first team
- Value of Players
- Value to local/national community
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Implications for DOC’s working in Youth Soccer in the USA
What are the 3 ‘Take Home Messages ‘ for you and your
Club/Association?
1............................................................................................
2............................................................................................
3............................................................................................
I would like to use the web to achieve these objectives
in my club /association
To support player
development
• 1……………………….
• 2……………………….
• 3……………………….
To support coach
development
• 1……………………….
• 2……………………….
• 3……………………….
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