Posted by

Ian McClurg ,

March 12, 2014 Email

Ian McClurg



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Luis Suárez and Diego Costa have arguably been two of the most influential players in the English Premiership during the last two seasons. Neither player graduated through the traditional academy models in Europe and have always had something to prove. It makes me wonder if we are now at a point, within academy systems, where we are developing players the same way in a very scientific and structured manner – but not able to develop the “diamonds” who can offer something very different. Suarez and Costa, in my opinion, provide that something extra that has separated them from other players. Both have been recognized for their desire, commitment and ability to find different solutions on the field of play. They have both been criticised for crossing the fine line between being competitive and reckless. However, for their managers and team mates they are proven goal scorers who have been very important in helping both Liverpool and Chelsea challenge for the league title. Last season, Suarez was the Premier League's top scorer with 31 goals. He also shared the European Golden Shoe with Cristiano Ronaldo. This season, Costa is the leading goal scorer with 17 goals in 19 appearances – a very impressive record. It is fair to say that youth soccer development can be a mysterious process. Football (soccer) may be the world’s most popular game but truth be told it does lag behind other sports with respect to the application of science and the importance of psychology. That is changing but it is still playing catch up to many of the Olympic sports. England, for example, which hosts the world’s most successful league, has only within the last few years completed the first review of its youth academy system since 1998! In fairness, though, the academy system under review in England is a massive one. There are 9,000 youth players in England’s professional club academy system; all competing for a career at one of the 92 professional clubs and very few of these players will become professional players. Well-known organizations like Liverpool, Everton and Manchester United start looking at players as early as 5 and will assess thousands of players before they make decisions on signing player at the U9 level. (Yes, players — or more accurately, their parents — do sign contracts with clubs for eight year-old players.) The review of the academy system by the English Premiership let to the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) being implemented in recent seasons. Is a long-term strategy designed to take Premier League Youth Development to the next level. The EPPP is the result of consultation between the Premier League and its clubs, representatives of the Football League, the Football Association and other key football stakeholders. It has six fundamental principles:

• Increase the number and quality of Home Grown Players gaining professional contracts in the clubs and playing first-team football at the highest level

• Create more time for players to play and be coached

• Improve coaching provision

• Implement a system of effective measurement and quality assurance

• Positively influence strategic investment into the Academy System, demonstrating value for money

• Seek to implement significant gains in every aspect of player development The plan focuses on four main areas- coaching, classification, compensation and education. In the past, many have seen youth development at academies in England as a process of attrition and “survival of the fittest” to unearth players, rather than following a systematic process of development with a high percentage rate of success. But with so many players competing for so few spots, it is true that clubs can afford to be choosy. I’ve seen things change a great deal recently, though. In 2003 I spent ten days at one of England’s most successful youth programs, Crewe Alexandra Football Club. The coaching and training was first class, but I did not notice much attention being paid to non-soccer development. That was simply the way things were done ten years ago. However, on recent visits to England with our partner club, Wolves FC, I recognize a much more holistic philosophy towards development. The education of young players has now became a focus, assisting the families with travel arrangements to training and matches is much more prevalent, and the young players are surrounded by a support staff which include nutritionists, video analysts, fitness professionals and welfare and educational officers! Wolves FC received its Category 1 designation from the English Premier League in an audit of academy operations. The club now has much more contact time with its players and takes them out of school for one full day each week. Each training hour is logged and performance development is monitored on a much more frequent basis. With the increased investment comes higher expectations of success. A greater percentage of the Wolves’ first team players every year are being developed from within their own academy system, as opposed to recruiting players from other clubs in England or overseas. Currently, 25 percent of their young players within the U18 and U21 academy teams have received first team opportunities, and the goal is to increase this to 40 percent. Top clubs now have an increased awareness that not all players are the same, in terms of their physical, mental and emotional needs. They go through different stages of physical and emotional growth and all these factors do impact their soccer development. There is now a greater realization that professional club academies have a greater responsibility to the players and their families to assist in overcoming life’s obstacles in becoming a professional footballer, rather than sitting back and waiting for the strongest to survive and come out the other side. Many have referred to this out-dated process as a “sausage factory.” This progress is underway at professional clubs throughout the world. But what does it mean for young players and their families that are currently outside this environment? Swarez did not join his local side Nacional's youth team, until the age of 14. Costa played street soccer and never believed that he would turn professional, due to the remote location of his hometown in Brazil. At age 15, he left Sergipe and moved to São Paulo, to work in the store of his uncle and received his first experience of being coached at Barcelona Esportiva Capela. Did their late experiences with professional club academies hinder or help them? Would they be the players they are today if they had have come through a structured development system? It makes you wonder. Are we developing lots of players the same, who will act and make similar decisions on the field and how do we ensure that players like Suarez and Costa thrive within these types of environments? It will be many more years before we can accurately assess if the EPPP program is successful. In the meantime, enjoy watching players like Suarez and Costa. They have a deep passion for the game and are skilled and focused on how best to help their teams and the teammates they play with. They play like they were still playing with their mates in the streets and as English premierships defenders will confirm – they are two of the most successful and dangerous players in the Premiership in recent years. How can we help support and develop a greater number of players who think and act differently…..and bring something else to the table? Ian McClurg is technical director of 1 v 1 FC, a soccer training academy based in Ancaster Ontario and author of the upcoming book, The 1v1Way: Soccer Tips from an Emerging Talent Centre. For more info, contact Ian at ian@1v1soccer.ca or visit www.1v1soccerfc.com

