With the launch of the Premier UK Elite Developmental Program, a lot of work has gone into creating an environment where Elite players can flourish, improve, challenge each other and, as was the case with our 97/98 boys, progress to college or the pro game. Developing Elite players is no way an easy task however, and with a number of countries offering differing opinions, producing their own blueprint for the Elite player, it begs the question of what exactly a young soccer player with aspirations to reach the top will need to demonstrate and work on throughout the age groups.
When it comes to youth development, it is commonly regarded that AFC Ajax Amsterdam are the Godfathers of bringing through Elite players. Their Academy, aptly named "De Toekomst" (The Future) costs, roughly, $30 million a year to operate. This includes coaching costs, analysis equipment, uniforms for their players (game day and practice), coaching equipment (balls, pinnies, mannequins, cones etc), not to mention the running costs of 5 grass fields, 5 turf fields, indoor dome and turfed athletic area to work on players running technique. As you can see in the photo below from a trip there in 2014 (and yes, it was as cold as it looks!), it's an impressive sight
Ajax, 4 times winners of the European Cup/Champions League, have produced such Elite players over the years as Dennis Bergkamp, Wesley Sneijder, Marco van Basten and their very own Godfather, Johan Cryuff. It was Cryuff's ideas that helped implement the academy that not so long ago, made it the envy of World Soccer.
When developing their Elite players to play in the first team, Ajax use the acronym TIPS - Technique, Intelligence/Insight, Personality and Speed - for traits they want their players to eventually bring into their first team. This is the Ajax way and if players do not have these attributes at the level they require, they are let go and told to find a new Academy. During my visit there, I was fortunate enough to watch the U17's play against Roda JC (another pro club academy, but not quite at the level). These were players who were now competing for a pro contract. After the game we were asked to give our thoughts on who we think should be offered a contract. The No.4, Center Back, came up. Everyone in the class agreed that he was a yes. The instructor, whose name I can't remember, told us that he was debatable at that time. His TIP was where it needed to be (great on the ball, intelligent enough to read the game, captain of the team so a strong personality) but his speed was a concern. The reason was due to him not growing upwards anymore, but outwards. With this being the case, they were concerned about his hips growing wider, affecting his mobility. Thus, he would not be able to change direction quickly enough.
It's fair to say that in order to be an Elite player, physical proportions and capabilities come into play. We certainly agree with this SAQ makes up a big part of our training, especially in warm ups. Do particular exercises work better than others? Well, at Ajax, speed training for U8-11 players involves 30 minutes of tag games! No one said it always has to be serious...
Another interesting insight that came at the end of that game was Ajax's winger, the no. 7. I personally never seen a player move so fast, both acceleration and at full speed (and I've had the fortune to watch the likes of Messi and Ronaldo live) while taking a player on. He was frightening and I couldn't imagine any left back being happy to face him. Afterwards, we all agreed, he was a definite for a contract. Once again, we were told otherwise. He went "missing" for a large chunk of the game when it was 0-0, 1-0. As soon as Ajax had a 3 goal lead, he was wowing the crowd again. As our instructor said, anyone can play when the game is over, but what are they doing when it is closely contested? How are they impacting the game then? Can they come back from adversity if the game is not going their way?
In a similar situation, I went to see a former player of mine, who is attending the Elite Development Program and has previously played for PUK Elite a few weeks ago. Her team were dominant, with 2 players scoring a hat trick (including the player in question). The difference being, our EDP player scored her goals when it was 0-0, 1-0 and 2-0. The opposition, although over-matched, were still working hard to keep the score close, meaning space was limited, challenges wee firmer and clear cut opportunities were harder to come by. The other player scored her hat trick when the game was already over (I think it finished 9-0) and the opposition had give up caring. For coaches looking at players to step up a level, whether ECNL, College, Pro or National Team, these things will get noticed. Character, especially in the face of adversity, is a key element when developing the Elite player - and it is probably no better highlighted than Man Utd's Champions League Final victory in 1999.
Cryuff's influence stretches further than Amsterdam however. After playing and coaching FC Barcelona, Cryuff introduced a similar blue print with the clubs Academy, La Cantera (The Quarry). Here, players mains concerns are "to control the ball very well, to have the ability to run with the ball and to think very quickly and execute their passes very well," according to FC Barcelona's senior youth coordinator, Albert Capellas. Players are also worked on to be tactically aware, not only in terms of team shape but decision making on the ball, as to fit in with the philosophy of the club. Size of the player is seen as secondary compared to a players ability of the ball, as players can be taught how to use their body to protect it, regardless of how big their opponent is. In fact, the team that won the Champions League Final in 2011, had 8 players in the starting XI that had graduated from La Cantera, with an average height of less than 6 foot throughout the team. Barca ran out 3-1 winners and had 68% of the ball throughout the game. So much for small size being a disadvantage!
The ability to pass and move is a key element in all Elite players. Accuracy, first touch, the ability to play 1 and 2 touch to catch the opposition off guard and the speed of thought to do this is vital for players to step up to the next level. Passing activities are a regular staple of the Elite Development Program, often including 2 or more balls so that players have little time to think, encouraging them to think and react fast to the situation. Though mistakes are inevitable, constant repetition is the key to making this a habit in game days. Though some teams will like a tall, fast player who can have the ball stuck over the top in front of them to run onto, this becomes negated if a team decide to sit back. One of my former teams did this against one of the top 3 ranked teams in the state last Fall. the opposition had relied on using speed up front to combat high pressing teams. During that game they created ONE clear cut opportunity. Needless to say, we ran out 2-0 winners and it should have been more.
One outstanding element that needs discussing is the 10,000 hours theory. The theory, devised by Dr. Anders Ericsson, is that in order for someone to become a master at anything, it takes 10,000 hours worth of practice. Even at high level academies, where players will train on average 6 hours a week - meaning a total of 2,496 hours between the ages 8-16 - this is hard to achieve. While the theory is open to criticism - and some have - the study that he ran to prove it true showed that those who practiced more turned out as higher level performers.
With this being the case, AFC Ajax revealed that their players are assigned homework tasks to make sure they are getting the required hours away from structured practice, as well as having the facilities at De Toekomst open to Academy players, who can attend when they wish to play pick up, a key element in developing their own creative imaginations in the game without the pressure of coaches and parents observing their every move.
Similarly, Cristiano Ronaldo is well known to have worked as hard as anyone away from team practice (and still does), to the point that when he was at the Sporting Lisbon academy as a youth player, they had to lock him in his room at night so that he wouldn't sneak off to the gym and put extra sessions in.
I heard a story of a PUK Elite player who was that disappointed by her performance in a tournament earlier this year, that the minute she got home, she put her cleats back on and practiced in the yard for 90 minutes, through no pressure from her parents, but due to her own desire. It later turned out this was the case, win, lose or draw. She is now at US National Team Training for her age group.
Additional practice is key in allowing young players the opportunity to progress in the game. Through additional training sessions, homework and personal practice, players can reach achieve this very high target, providing the desire is there. We as coaches can import our passion for the game onto the children, but it is ultimately up to them to do the work, a great life lesson in all walks of life. With this in mind, desire links into the personality aspect of becoming an Elite player.
Next week we will look at how nations such as Germany, Italy and England develop their elite players, their thoughts on what players need and how this ties in with the thoughts of Premier UK.
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