PLAYER “DEVELOPMENT”

This season, more than ever, the spotlight has been on player development. This appears to be across all age groups. Every season, the gradings for divisional teams brings to the fore the different standard of players in each age group. Whether division 1 or division 8, parents question whether their child will be developed. This is probably more so in the lower divisions where the ability range within the team is wider than the higher divisions.

 
This year, parents of our Under 6 – Under 8 players are also questioning the ability of Small Sided Games to develop their children. How can they learn to be football players on the big field when they are going to spend up to 7 years playing on smaller fields, less players per team etc.

Literal Roots:

What is “Player Development”?

Whilst it is obvious what the word ‘player’ means, it is not so apparent what is meant by the word ‘development’. In the true sense, the word means “the act or process of developing; growth; progress”. Another definition is “a process in which something (or someone) passes by degrees to a different stage”. It is clear then that development involves a process and that some growth must occur over time.

Overseas Experts and Observations:

(quotes are from Soccer Coaching International)

Few of us would argue that life today is a different world to the one we grew up in 20 – 30 years ago. Kids today don’t climb trees, don’t ride bikes and play at other neighbourhood kid’s houses.

“A recent study (2006) showed that the area children play in, spreading out in a circle from their house, is one ninth of what it was just fifteen years ago. We are virtually imprisoning our children due to the fear of them getting hurt by the massive increase in traffic. The other fear is that they may be abducted by predatory adults. The number of single parent families, double income families and shiftworking parents has also contributed to our children spending less time outdoors.

So we must ensure that one of the few occasions that children have to ‘play’ outside is fun and a positive one.”

When we were young, imagination and compromise/decision making were the basis of any game played in the back yard or park whether it was Cowboys and Indians or French Cricket. Children developed their own rules, learnt how to settle disputes, compromise etc.

Generally, this generation is growing up in front of the TV, computer, hand held games etc and are not meeting other neighbourhood children.

In England in 2006/07, they identified these problems in children’s football:

·                     Football is no longer the children’s game – it is too heavily influenced and too often controlled by adults;

·                     Often, the same children are on the sidelines as substitutes or are omitted every game;

·                     Coaches and parents can too often be seen screaming from the sidelines;

·                     Winning is often prioritised before fun and development;

·                     The format of matches is such that there is not enough free play where children can solve their own problems;

·                     Children are not encouraged enough to express their skills on the pitch..”

It’s no secret that the UK, along with many other countries, have developed and adopted over the past decade or so, a system of small sided games.

Manchester United introduced a 4 x 4 pilot scheme for their Under 9’s. Rick Fenoglio states, “The scheme was to re-create, as much as possible, a match day environment that was more child and player-centred. This guiding concept led the developers of the scheme to reflect upon football environments where the young player was free to learn, practice and develop their football skills without being shackled by the imposed structures, expectations, attentions and scrutiny of significant others. The environments which were considered to provide these qualities the most were the playgrounds, parks, streets, back alleyways, beaches and barrios around the world – areas where the world’s greatest players first learned their skills.  ……. The 4 x 4 games and format of the pilot scheme were selected because it was

felt that they would give players more opportunities to practice and develop their game-related skills in a less pressurized but nonetheless challenging game format.”

Man U adopted four different 4 x 4 games. Each game is 8 minutes long and very importantly the children (under 9’s) referee their own games. “This allows them to take responsibility, communicate with the opposition and sort out any problems. This helps with their social development skills. The coaches also take a back seat and just encourage. This allows children to express themselves more and problem solve and think for themselves.”

“In a world where children can no longer play outside without supervision, parents and coaches have taken over. And the competitive drive adults bring to the game means youngsters no longer have time to fall in love with football, to play for fun and thus truly to develop their skills.”

Here at Souths:

It is obvious to all that a player who starts their football career at the age of six has developed along the way by the time they reach sixteen. The way they play the game, the way they read the game the way their team work has improved.

Most of our players will train for an hour a week for 24 weeks per season. That’s 24 hours training! In adult terms, that’s 3 days of intensive on-the-job training. Imagine knowing nothing about computers – not even how to turn one on – and having 3 days (24 hours) to get up to speed to become the PA to the Director of a national company. We wouldn’t expect to be able to do that and yet we expect/want are children to be experts in less time (or at least better players!).Stuff goes here