Messi - The Good Friend & Colleague

"I like to score goals, but I also like to be friends with the people I play with. It’s good to be valued as a person, it’s important that they have a good concept of who you are beyond being the guy that scores a lot of goals." - Lionel Messi

In a recent interview with Spanish daily newspaper El País, FC Barcelona and Argentina striker Lionel Messi spoke of his desire to be remembered as a good friend and colleague to his team mates rather than as the best player in the world.

To hear such a comment from arguably the greatest ever footballer in the history of the game and who still has the best years ahead of him is an incredibly powerful tool for coaches and teachers working with young people.

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/leo-messi-im-more-concerned-with-being-a-good-person-than-being-the-best-footballer-in-the-world

The Youth Development Review

"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones" - John Cage

The English FA, after 2 years of intensive research headed by national football development manager Nick Levett, have finalised and approved changes to how youth football is organised in England.

"These positive changes have been put in place to improve enjoyment, fun and development of young players allowing more touches, on a better proportioned pitch with an increase of involvement in the game as a whole."

The link below takes you directly to some of the excellent resources the FA have produced in relation to the youth development review. They are a must read for any coach and parent involved in youth football.

http://www.thefa.com/my-football/player/youth-football/youth-development-review

Result vs Performance

When you as a coach or parent come to the weekend and that all important U10 league fixture is all you can think about, what's going through your head? Is it that 3 points will help the team with promotion and you don't care how the points are won?... or is it that you want to see the players enjoy themselves, to learn from the experience and develop as players and people within a competitive environment by playing together as a team, regardless of the result?

Gian Marco Campagnolo is a lecturer in Science, Technology & Innovation Studies at the University of Edinburgh and is a UEFA B licensed coach. He spoke to the Edinburgh Evening News about his thoughts on the result and performance at a grassroots level. 

http://www.fundsport.com/news/results-holding-back-football-development

The FA Youth Awards - Creating the English Messi?

Independent journalist Glenn Moore reports on his experience of taking the FA Youth Award Module 1 which the FA believe (as do I) will change the future of the grassroots game forever and for the better.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/coaching-the-coach-to-bring-out-the-best-part-2-coaching-the-next-generation-6259057.html

The 5live Debate - Grassroots Football Development 

& Funding

Today on BBC Radio 5 Live, presenter Victoria Derbyshire hosted an important debate on the development and funding of grassroots football. There was some really interesting comments from the FA's Nick Levett, vice president of Wallsend Boys Club Sid Sharp and Fulham's Youth Academy Director Huw Jennings along with some important input from listeners.

Pretty much the whole show was dedicated to the topic. If you're genially interested about youth and grassroots football THEN LISTEN TO THE DEBATE!

UK ONLY - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b015n7hl/Victoria_Derbyshire_Grassroots_Football_Funding/

A Decision Made For Adults

It's been reported today by the BBC that a Junior Football League in Telford, Shropshire has began censoring Sunday grassroots youth football scored to 'protect the welfare of players'.

'The Telford Junior league said regardless of actual scores, it would list games as 1-0, 0-1 or 0-0'.

As a coach I am all about the welfare of the players in my team but I do feel here that this decision has been made not for the benefit of the child but the adult. The U13 team I coach in Greater London have lost their last 3 league games 13-2, 13-2 and 13-1. Not any of the players talked about the score line, only that they had been beaten. The only people who made a fuss about the score were the parents.

The last time I checked, youth football was for kids, not adults.

It's the parents and coaches who are embarrassed to talk about scores with other parents and coaches from other teams.

This then poses the question, what/who is youth football there for, the result/the adult? Surely not for kids, that would be stupid...

The article goes on to quote Richard Biffin, chairman of Admaston Juniors. He said "Children's welfare has to come first...One young goalkeeper cried after 20 goals and that's not right".

What I would say to that is why did he cry? Was it only that he conceded 20 goals in a match or was it that he conceded 20 goals in a match and cried because he was put under unnecessary pressure from coaches, parents, ADULTS! That he was made to feel that the match was so important he couldn't make a mistake and in doing so would let down the coach and everyone on his team?

The goalkeeper in my team, having conceded 39 goals in 3 games still comes to training with a massive smile on his face. He plays with no fear and no pressure. Why? Because his parents and his coaches encourage, praise and support him in what he does, good or 'bad'. With the good things we tell him why they were good and with the 'bad', we try to improve him as a player and build on his experience and game knowledge so that the 'bad' can slowly disappear.

A really interesting topic of conversation. Your thoughts welcome.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-15255060

AVB's Footballing Philosophy

In 2009 Andre Villas-Boas (AVB), the then assistant to Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan was interviewed by Daniel Sousa, a 24-year-old student in the faculty of sport at the University of Porto.

In the interview, AVB 'explains his theories about how the game should be played and gives a fascinating and detailed insight in what to expect from his Chelsea team'.

The interview is incredibly detailed and really reveals AVB to be an honest and intelligent football coach.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/8699902/Chelsea-manager-Andre-Villas-Boass-footballing-philosophy.html

FourFourTwo Youth Development Reports

Over the last 4 months, FourFourTwo football magazine have been reporting on youth football development in Europe and South America. The current November issue looks at Uruguay, who with a population less than Scotland, reached the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and won the 2011 Copa America (the equivalent of the European Championships).

The attached files come from the September issue where youth development in England is the focus.

Back issues of the magazine are available from the below link.

http://haymarket.subscribeonline.co.uk/back-issues/fourfourtwo-back-issues