Excellent article on BBC from Kevin Davies

[ART]

In this article at the BBC website on the need to train more coaches in the game, Kevin Davies writes a lot of sense and gives interesting insights from the game.

 

"TRAIN MORE COACHES TO REVIVE THE LOVE OF THE GAME"

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24523343

 

Uefa A licence coaches by country

One of the 11 outdoor training pitches at St George's Park

 

Spain: 12,700

Germany: 5,500

England: 1,161

 

If there are so many coaches in Spain can see why Pochettino came along with a number of colleagues when he arrived at Saints.

Edited 18 October, 2013 by ART

[Saint Garrett]

Good read that.

[St_Tel49]

One of the more sensible analyses of the problems with youth football coaching in this country that I have read

[angelman]

I can't remember which ex-pro was saying it recently, but he also highlighted the role of the YTS/boot boy that seemingly no longer exists. While hoovering the corridors doesn't make you a more skilful player, it does foster the right ethos which seems to have disappeared to be replaced with contracts worth thousands a week.

[Wurzel]

I do not think a lot of football players today love the game. They see it as a means to an end. So how do you keep motivating these young boys who are earning vast sums of money at such a young age?

 

Having money can go to your head, I have been there, but rather than a wage cap, how about limited access to the money until they are 25?

 

Great idea. Or maybe combine the two. A wage cap whilst playing but contracts allowed to include sums over and above that only payable once retired from playing. That would sort out those that are really playing for the love of the game whilst still rewarding them financially later in life.

[Patrick Bateman]

In this article at the BBC website on the need to train more coaches in the game, Kevin Davies writes a lot of sense and gives interesting insights from the game.

 

"TRAIN MORE COACHES TO REVIVE THE LOVE OF THE GAME"

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24523343

 

Uefa A licence coaches by country

One of the 11 outdoor training pitches at St George's Park

 

Spain: 12,700

Germany: 5,500

England: 1,161

 

If there are so many coaches in Spain can see why Pochettino came along with a number of colleagues when he arrived at Saints.

 

It's a very good read. It's so obvious he's the "Secret Footballer", have I missed that announcement?

[sotonist]

It's a very good read. It's so obvious he's the "Secret Footballer", have I missed that announcement?

 

if he is, he's been lifting a lot of his material from Dae Kitson interviews.

[toofarnorth]

Someone mentioned on the radio yesterday that the cost of getting your coaching badges - above the first couple - in the UK is really prohibitive. I wonder if there is greater access at an affordable level to coaching qualifications overseas.

[Scummer]

Someone mentioned on the radio yesterday that the cost of getting your coaching badges - above the first couple - in the UK is really prohibitive. I wonder if there is greater access at an affordable level to coaching qualifications overseas.

 

Heard someone suggest on the radio the other day that it should be free to gain your coaching badges, at least at the lower end. Makes sense if they really want to get more people qualified.

[Saint_clark]

It's a very good read. It's so obvious he's the "Secret Footballer", have I missed that announcement?

 

Has he played in all 4 divisions...?

[corky morris]

Very interesting. I can see this from both sides. My youngest is at the development centres of both Stoke & Man Utd. They are completely different. The boy is 6 years old so in my opinion a baby. He has lost interest at Man Utd already & wants to come away. On Wednesday he was due to go, but asked if he could play with his mates & have fun. I said yes & he really enjoyed it.

Man Utd focus on ball skills. To the extent that they give kids grief for passing or tackling. I understand why, but what they are creating are lads who want to beat everyone all of the time. IMHO thats not how the game is played. But what do i know im just a dad.

The other thing is the parents. What a bunch of a r s e h o l e s!! As he is with the 7-8 year olds my lad sometimes lacks a bit of confidence. The other lads who are supposed to be on his team push him off the ball & run in to blind alleys. The kids parents are telling them to do it!! Really sad.

Question is - is he a better player as a result? Well i think he is. His skills have improved, but he stands out because hes quick & scores goals. Thats why Stoke want him. I am biased, but i dont think i have seen a 6 year old who can time a shot like him. Real strength & accuracy. I dont think you can teach that. Its just what we do in the garden with his older brothers.

So reading KD's article is interesting as IMHO you have to find a balance of fun & education, but its all to serious.

I am also ast coach to my 11 year olds team & we try & make it as fun as possible, but its difficult. Some of the lads simply dont engage. All they want is a match & dont want to work on the basics. Others (not normally the better players) listen, learn & make the effort. Trying to balance it out again is a nightmare.

Some teams we play have been coached to kick, stamp, pull, scratch, swear & generally act like idiots. The parents have taught them that. Our lads know whats right & they come to us, but the refs are so bad it makes no difference.

Point is - the chances of being a pro footballer are tinnier than tiny so let the lads enjoy it - trying to blend that & trying to improve as a player is difficult, but we all try hard to do it so give us amamteur coaches a little slack as we do it for the kids & for fun!

[vince]

Someone mentioned on the radio yesterday that the cost of getting your coaching badges - above the first couple - in the UK is really prohibitive. I wonder if there is greater access at an affordable level to coaching qualifications overseas.

 

Level 1 - £150 (usually £20 discount for Charter Standard clubs), 32 hours duration

 

After the L1, you can do the FA Youth Modules (specifically aimed at 5-11YO). There are 3 of them, £150 (£130 CS discount) each, all 32 hours duration.

 

Or take the Level 2 - I think that is £500.

 

Prices go up quite a bit after that, I believe.

 

My youth football club (U6-U16) will pay for the coaches to do the L1/Youth mods out of the club funds, but not all will do that. I thought there was a youth discount for U18s, but apparently not (at least not with Surrey FA where I am).

 

Having done the Youth Mod 1, I would say that if this is how the FA are trying to teach youth coaches to coach, then they are definitely going in the right direction, as it really made me think about how I coach the kids (my lot are currently U 8 ).

 

The main difficulty is the time commitment - they are (usually) 8 evening sessions of 4 hours midweek, or 4 whole days at a weekend. With peoples usual jobs and other family commitments, you need some degree of dedication.

 

What I don't currently like for grass roots coaches is that you have to do the Level 1 first, before being able to take the first Youth Mod, yet that one is far more relevant to coaches entering the game with their young sons. I was told the L1 is designed to teach parents how to coach, the Youth Mod is to show them what to coach, but I still think this is a barrier to getting trained and qualified "beginner" coaches into the game at that level, where it needs to be to begin to make a difference (or reprogram parents to not prioritise winning above learning, but that's a different debate)

Edited 18 October, 2013 by vince
"U8" was replaced with a smiley...

[70's Mike]

interesting topic, my own view is the fault lays with the professional clubs not grass roots football, for years the so called best talent has been "pinched"by Academies, who apparently have the best coaches in the country. So why do we fail as a nation?

Perhaps because those professional academies coach all the individual flair out of players and then discard them, imo no player should be allowed to go to a professional academy until they are 13. Let them play with their mates, put the money saved by the academies into increasing Grass Roots coaching, not only numbers but standards, making level 2 more affordable because that is where the coaching becomes about how to play

[Glasgow_Saint]

It's a very good read. It's so obvious he's the "Secret Footballer", have I missed that announcement?

 

Dave Kitson

[Torrent Of Abuse]

Heard someone suggest on the radio the other day that it should be free to gain your coaching badges, at least at the lower end. Makes sense if they really want to get more people qualified.

Or include training (and associated costs) as part of their contract. I'm sure there could be some tax benefits from being "paid" that way?