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IMPORTANT
NOTE:
This
brief piece of information should assist all coaches and football people to
recognize the factors that determine success in the development of players and
high performance. In a recently released Report on Youth Academies in Europe –
produced by the European Club Association – highly comprehensive and detailed
information reveal the success factors and conditions responsible for producing
high grade professional players in today’s football.
This
165 page compelling document should have been carefully studied by SAFA’s
technical department and the PSL management before embarking in any youth
development programs. Some of the ever-important findings revealed in the
report are:
1.
The top ten European academies that were investigated apply DIFFERENT football mentalities, coaching objectives, training
programs, recruitment criteria and forms of competitions because THE SPECIFICS OF THEIR PLAYERS, NATIONAL
MENTALITY, CULTURE AND ENIRONMENT ARE ALSO DIFFERENT;
2.
There are no cases of transfer of coaching mentalities or methods from one
academy to another – benchmarking (copying) of successful solutions DO NOT WORK IF APPLIED IN CONTRASTING
CONTEXTS;
3.
The foundation in ALL academies is
the age group 7-8;
4.
Without exception, ALL leading
academies in Europe develop players ACCORDING
TO THE RESPECTIVE CLUB STYLE (60%) AND NATIONAL FOOTBALL PHYLOSOPHY (40%);
5.
It is NOT possible to FULFILL
players’ performance potential if they are not exposed from the age of 14-15 to
PROFESSIONAL MENTALITY (COMPETITIVE CLUB
PSYCHOLOGY, STYLE INFLUENCE AND PERFORMANCE MONITORING);
6.
The best talented players are recruited by clubs at the age of 7-8 or even
earlier;
7.
It is a clear indication that ‘INDEPENDENT’
academies can only have a very limited role in basic/recreational development
of children up to the age of 8-10 (Take note KZN academy!)
These
realities and factors must be considered and apply UNCONDITIONALLY if there is any attempt to maximize SA talent.
