Football Players TrainingThe trend for results at all levels in football has introduced implications that are alien to many previous concepts held dearly by those involved with grassroots football.   Great changes in attitudes are required among the host of volunteers keeping the game alive, especially those who take part because their own children are involved.

 

 

Developing players over a long period is too risky to get short term results and coaches need the best players, properly managed, to win cups and leagues.   Established clubs drawing on local players need to look further afield to strengthen their teams, and club committees need to choose between providing football for members, and producing winning teams.

Keener competition would need more qualified referees to ensure that club officials are not able to show bias towards their players, and adherence to the Laws such as junior football coaches being confined to the technical areas, and not openly criticising officials.

This cultural shock will be hard to bring in to local leagues that are restricted by transfer rules, meaning that unfavoured players will be sidelined for long periods.

The advantage of a more competitive structure at local level is that young players with ambitions for the professional game will have no illusions about what a “results culture” means.   The disadvantage is that the others will find that playing for fun on a regular basis will be termed “recreational football” and lack its present status in the pyramid of the game.

Author: B. Steer

Share and Enjoy:

Filed under: Football Coaching Views

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!