How do we develop Elite soccer players (Part 2)?

Read Part 1 here

Developing Elite players is a skill when it comes to coaching.  There is more to it than simply throwing down a bunch of soccer balls, putting on a session and determining that one player is better than the rest.  Technical, Tactical, Physical, Psychological and Social aspects all come into play.  In recent years, it seems that no one has done a better job of this than the nation represented by the reigning World Cup champions, and women's World Cup 4th place team, Germany.

To give you a brief understanding of the history behind the current German Development philosophy, back in 1990, West Germany (the Berlin Wall had been knocked down but the Football Federations were still separate entities) were crowned World Champions, beating Argentina 1-0 in the final.  At Euro 96, they were crowned European Champions.  Roll forward 4 years to Euro 2000, and they finished bottom of their group, with 2 defeats and a draw to show for themselves.  An investigation went in to why the performance was so bad, why the players were not able to replicate the same form and levels as the likes of Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller and current USMNT head coach (and USSF Technical Director) Jurgen Klinsmann.  The investigation brought together the DFB (German abbreviation for German Football Association), the Bundesliga (Germany's equivalent of the Premier League ) and the professional clubs.

One of the key aspects that the DFB introduced was the Talent Development Program in 2002, which consisted of 390 development centers designed to work with young players on technical skill - passing, receiving, finishing, ball manipulation - and tactical understanding - decision making, positioning, awareness.  Similar to the Premier UK Elite Developmental Program, the Talent Development Program allowed players from Academies as well as Local Travel Clubs to attend.  By combining the 2 groups, this meant that local players were allowed to receive high level training, as well as work alongside those who were playing at a higher level to help improve their speed of play, speed of thought and understanding of the game, with the opportunity to progress to a higher level team if they were able to improve to the desired level.  Academy level players were able to receive a different view point a compared to their clubs "play the (insert club here) way" and, no doubt, develop their leadership skills by working with less able players (as mentioned in part 1, personality plays a big part  in being an Elite soccer player).

What made this program all the more impressive and worthwhile was that the 2 teams that competed in the 2013 Champions League final (Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund - both German) had a combined 26 players on their rosters who came through the Talent Development Program.  As far as additional training being a benefit goes, that takes some beating!

Similar to the Spanish and the Dutch, the DFB believe that technical skills are the cornerstone for all players.  Size and speed cannot compensate for this at Elite Level.  Robin Dutt, Sporting Director of the DFB stated that size was important for defensive players, but they still need to be able to play with the ball at their feet, citing German International Mats Hummels as a prime example.  If a player cannot control a ball under pressure, strike a ball cleanly, manipulate a ball to keep it from the opposition and pass a ball accurately and with the correct weight, they will have a ceiling on how far they can go in the game.  Similar to American Football, fast strong players are important, but how effective can a Running Back be if he has butter fingers?!

The German system sees competitive soccer introduced at U12, very different from the British model and something that we seem to have agreement with in the US.  Players need to learn that some games are there to be won, and learning the will to win is a key component in Premier UK's philosophy, but as Dutt says, it is not the main priority between U8-U14, "the main thing is to do good training."  One of the challenges we face in the US is the competitive nature of not just the players, but the adults as well (coaches and parents).  With limited time at practice (on average, 2 sessions a week), having the patience to focus on the long term development of each player as opposed to looking at the short term gains of winning a game is difficult.  As a result, technical development is often overlooked for tactical performance.  Sadly, certain tactics cannot be applied without good technique.  Asking a team to switch the field is all well and good, but if a player cannot play a cross field pass, the success of this is unlikely.  Technical training centers allow for these skills to be developed, without the pressure of the "need" to win.

Similarly with the Germans in 2000, it seems that after every international tournament, the English Football Association (FA) go through their very own investigation as to why the National team struggles.  Rather than looking at things long term, the here and now seems of most concern.  Of course the mentality of the nation doesn't help, seemingly happy to criticize the National team at the drop of a hat.  The last tournament, Euro 2016, was no exception.  For years supporters have said they wanted new blood in the team instead of the same players who had let us down previously.  With England having one of the youngest squads in the competition, we once again struggled, with certain fans citing a "lack of experience".  You can't please everyone.

The FA's Director of Elite Development, Dan Ashworth, has recently introduced an "English DNA" model, designed to incorporate the characteristics that each England player and team should have going forward.  First and foremost, the long term aim of the England DNA is to create winning senior teams, with the performance of the development teams being the main aim.  Though this should be the focus of every coach working with young players, learning the will to win is surely an important mentality for players to have.  The Academy system in England currently does not have competitive league play until U18, which, looking at the Spanish and German models (the last 2 World Cup winners) is too late.  Some clubs have taken it upon themselves to enter their Academy teams into tournaments to allow players to feel that pressure to win games, learn about managing games and develop that will to win, but with how the game schedule runs, this is hard to do on a consistent basis.

As with most nations, the FA have declared that players need to be technically proficient, capable of receiving, turning, traveling with the ball, passing over varied distances, finishing and heading, withe the aim of developing these skills at a young age.  Looking at these well known soccer countries, it has to be taken as a given that technical development is of paramount importance when developing Elite players.  If players cannot control the ball, the team cannot possess the ball effectively.  If they cannot combine passes with one another, they will struggle to break down opponents.  If they cannot use 1 v 1 moves and turns, panic ensues and the ball will be lost. 

There is little doubt, looking at some of the most successful soccer nations in history in terms of the players they have produced and how they are producing players now, that technique is the foundation.  Tactical decision-making is not far behind as well as creating strong psychological aspects of each player. 

Next week will look at the US Development model, South American influence and the role that adults, both parents and coaches, have in the development of Elite soccer players.

Like us on Facebook

Learn more about Premier UK

How do we develop Elite Soccer players (Part 1)?

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.

Like us on Facebook

Learn more about Premier UK

What do the Heading guidelines mean for the future of US Soccer?

The USSF have recently passed a rule that all heading of the ball will be banned from practices at U12 level and below.  Should a player deliberately head a ball in a game, an indirect free kick will be given to the opposition.  This has caused a rather large debate among the soccer community.  Is this is case of overprotective to players?  Should lighter balls be used?  Will players completely forego heading as they get older?  It certainly makes for a fascinating discussion.

Interestingly, the player with the most international caps for the US Women's National Team, Abby Wambach, scored 77 of her 184 international goals with her head.  Likewise, the number 1 draft pick in the inaugural MLS season, Brian McBride, was often known to go where angels fear to tread and was well known for his combative nature in the air, as displayed by this relegation saving goal for Fulham (4:30).  Heading certainly has played a big role in the successes of recent US Soccer history.

That is not to say it is without it's dangers.  Jeff Astle, a legendary center forward  for West Bromwich Albion, passed away in 2002 at the age of 59.  Astle is a cult hero at WBA, due to the amount of goals he scored for the club and his stereotypical target man approach of winning as many headers as he could.  Astle's death was as a result of chronic traumatic encephalopath (CTE), which doctors related to multiple concussions being obtained through heading the ball.  The doctor studying Astle's brain said that he thought it belonged to an 89 year old man.

The evolution of soccer balls has helped reduce the possibilities of this occurring.  In Astle's time, the ball was a lot heavier, soaking up water rather than deflecting it adding the weight.  Heading the ball must have felt like taking a punch from Anthony Joshua.  In recent years, balls have become lighter, have less panels on them and take in no water at all.  Derby Star have gone one step further and designed a ball especially for youth players, weighing as little as 290 grams.  On a study visit to the Ajax academy, I got to hold one of these balls and it felt like I was holding a feather.  Ajax had determined that all teams up to U11 would use these balls for practice and games, to not only improve the technique and skill behind lofted passes, but also to reduce the risks associated with heading.  One coaching employee said that they have to teach heading from U8, as it is part of the game.

So why have the US put these rules in place?  One word - lawsuits.  In 2014 a litigation was filed against US Soccer, US Youth Soccer, American Youth Soccer Organization, US Club Soccer and the California Youth Soccer Organization.  A resolution was agreed in 2015 which has led these rules to being put in place.  Though the ruling is a recommendation only, most states have heeded the warning and decided to implement these rules as mandatory.

The research and studies that have been put in place state that children up until the age of 14 have heads that are too big for their bodies and as such, the neck muscles are not fully developed to cope with the stress of heading the ball.  It has also been shown in a study published by the JAMA Pedriatics journal that most concussions among children aged 14-18 who play soccer are caused by heading the ball.  The data that is being provided certainly points to the benefits of limiting heading practice at specific age groups.  Repeated blows to the head are not good for anyone, especially children whose brains are still developing.

However, is a ban of heading in all games really necessary?  Unfortunately, the data on how many headers take place in U12 games and below is not available.  But think back to all the U10/11/12 games you have watched over the years.  How many headers can you recall seeing?  In my own experience, I can probably count less than 10 in the last 5 years.  The context of the situation should certainly be taken into account.  I once coached against a team that had a number of older, bigger girls in their team and played for corners.  Those corners would be aimed at the back post for one of their taller players to win the header and score.  This is certainly a coach taking a win at all costs mentality over the safety of the individuals involved.  This rule would also require the coach to focus on other ways to break the opposition down, such as using clever combination play, 1 v 1 skills and movement off the ball, which can only add to the development of the players.

At the same time, if a ball is coming towards a player and the best way of dealing with it is with their head, what are they supposed to do, duck?!  Teaching that habit at an early age cannot be good for the long term development of the player.  When they are allowed to head during games, balls will be traveling at a faster speed and poor technique can lead to whiplash, as well as concussions.

This ruling is only in place in the US.  The English FA, as mentioned in the Guardian, said they would continue their research into concussions and head injuries, even starting a campaign to raise awareness, but would not be changing the rules regarding heading the ball.

Despite the research, there is no real way of telling what impact the rule with have on US Soccer as a whole.  On one hand, the data suggests that kids will be less likely to suffer from concussions as a result of heading the ball, which can only be a good thing.  But as players progress to college & professional level, only time will tell if this will have a long lasting improvement or not on the performance of both the MLS and the National Teams.