INFRASTRUCTURE and geography are among the hurdles standing between Australia and producing its next batch of stars, but John van't Schip believes instant changes can be made to enhance the quality.

Van't Schip was schooled as both a player and coach at Ajax Amsterdam's famed academy, which championed the famous Total Football philosophy that Barcelona almost expertly exhibits today.

Known as De Toekomst (The Future), the Ajax talent factory has produced Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Dennis Bergkamp, Johan Neeskens and more recently - and under van't Schip's tutelage - Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart and Nigel De Jong.

Melbourne Heart is reaping the benefits of the JVS philosophy - Eli Babalj, Curtis Good, Brendan Hamill and Craig Goodwin have repaid the faith having been handed debuts while Mate Dugandzic and Aziz Behich have flourished in their new abodes.

Aside from on-field success, Heart will begin cashing in like any development club, but van't Schip said it must negotiate cleverly.

"They should look at cashing in on the second transfer and not just making big money on the first one," van't Schip said.

"If European clubs only want to spend $300,000 fine, but tell them with the sell-on we want 20 or 25 per cent, so if a player develops and is sold for $5 million then they can get at least $1 million.

"I think this has a lot to do with the A-League not having the reputation of producing players that are good enough to start playing Champions League."

The only $1 million-plus transfers were done in the NSL days and just a handful of A-League transfers have topped the $500,000 mark (Tommy Oar, Mitch Langerak, Bruce Djite, Nikita Rukavytsya, Nathan Burns, Nick Carle and James Holland).

"Look at the players who have left in the last few years - Robbie Kruse, Mathew Leckie, Matt McKay - the boys from Roar to Utrecht are hardly playing and they're near the bottom of the Dutch first division," he said.

"So European clubs look at these players and they decide A-League players are not yet worth millions."

Van't Schip would like to see a greater youth focus in the A-League, but understands the challenges associated with achieving results.

He said he would rather see a kid make mistakes than an older player, but added young players must show greater desire.

"We had (Michael) Beauchamp last year and he made the same mistakes as Good and he's 30, so I'd rather play a young player who has more chance to improve and go on," van't Schip said.

"I don't want to make the expectations bigger than what they are (on the young Heart players).

"If you want to become a great player then don't be afraid, just because you're 18. There's 18-year-olds playing in Europe, at big clubs like Barcelona."

THE JVS FILE

John van’t Schip spent 12 years at Ajax after developing in the academy before signing for Italian side Genoa. He won 41 caps for the Dutch national team between 1986-95 before commencing a coaching career with Ajax in 1997.

THE COACH

1997–2000: Ajax youth coach

2000–2001: Ajax assistant coach

2001–2002: FC Twente

2002–2004: Ajax B

2004–2008: Netherlands assistant coach

2008–2009: Ajax assistant coach

2009-2012: Melbourne Heart

THE AJAX FOOTBALL FACTORY

Named De Toekomst (‘The Future’), Ajax Amsterdam boats one of the world’s best talent factories in the world.

Greatest products

Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Denis Bergkamp, Wim Kieft, Frank Rijkaard, Johan Neeskens, Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Kluivert, Edgar Davids, John van’t Schip, Edwin van der Sar.

The JVS coaching era

Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, Nigel de Jong, Ryan Babel, Maarten Stekeleburg, John Heitinga.

THE JVS SIX-POINT PLAN

Van't Schip draws on his experience from the famed Ajax football factory to reveal how Australia can produce better players



1. EXTEND SEASON

Six months off from the A-League is too long and windows should be introduced when the national youth teams are playing, like the Olyroos this year

2. A-LEAGUE FOCUS ON YOUTH

Young players should be given an opportunity instead of signing veterans from overseas. The national teams will benefit because better players will develop

3. TRAIN WITH THE BALL

Aussie kids train less than Europeans and they fall further behind because too many drills are done without the ball.

4. TECHNIQUE, NOT PHYSIQUE

Don't select kids on size, but skills. Some youth coaches and fathers focus on winning so they play stronger players, but that's not helping development and often the big kids don't make it.

5. PROMOTE THE STARS

Talented kids should be put up an age group or two and doing it in phases reminds them of their responsibilities.

6. BAN THE BACKPACKERS

The Victorian Premier League should be a good pathway for the A-League but many clubs are signing backpackers, often it's at the expense of young players who then leave. Set minimum squad and matchday under-21 requirements.