Team Scholes - TASK THREE

The FA has recently opened St George's Park, England's new National Football Centre and home to 24 National teams and FA Learning (the FA’s educational department). St. George’s Park will provide a platform for the communication of The Future Game philosophy, which outlines a vision for the development of English football.

Your task is simple: give me your top three priorities for developing the English game. Whether it's changing the coaching at youth levels or making all stadiums standing-only, I want three top changes you would make through St George's Park that would have a long-term positive effect on the fortunes of out national side.

The deadline for this is 2359 on Thursday 6 December 2012 (my Birthday!).

Teams need to be mixed up following Olly's departure. So they are as follows:

Team Scholes:
Trebs
Zebs - CAPTAIN
Marky
Afro

Any plans Zebra?

He doesn't come on at the weekends normally so you're probably best kicking off yourself.

Cheat. Reading the opposing team's page

I'd suggest everything Hero put in their page

But in reality, I reckon Coaching at a Youth Level needs dramatically improving. Copy the Spanish model where possession is more important than results. Too many coaches teach kids to win before teaching them vital skills, and then it's too late before these kids are used to playing a very Stoke style of getting rid of the ball rather than the mentality of keeping the ball.

I be following and giving feedback for you lot this week.

Right gents. I'm not going to contributing to the task at all sorry.

I did say to Azzy that I was pulling out. Now Olly has the chance to take my place, but he is refusing atm.

Well Trebs, if ZZZ isn't around its down to us. Anything to add to my Spanish style idea?

Tell olly I'm gradin him lol

Sorry Marky I've been at uni.

I'll put up some rough ideas by the end of today

That's ok mate, there's plenty of time left to be honest.

It might be worth actually reading the Future Game philosophy

In 2010, The FA launched The Future Game, The FA Technical Guide for Young Player Development.

Two guides, one for the grassroots and one for the elite game, were published outlining a playing and coaching philosophy for the future of the English game.

The vision: players and coaches

The Future Game vision is intended for the whole game, with the same underpinning values applicable for coaches from grassroots to elite level.

A vision for players: To produce technically excellent and innovative players with exceptional decision-making skills

A vision for coaching: To train, develop, qualify and support more innovative coaches, who are excellent teachers of the game

Innovation is a theme embedded in both vision statements, underlining the aim for a more progressive and original approach to player and coach development, one which understands and predicts the trends and demands of the ever-changing modern game.

Background

The Future Game, The FA Technical Guide for Young Player Development, published in 2010, outlines a philosophy and vision for the future of youth development in English football.

Central to the message are the principles of creativity and innovation, for both coaches and players, and a playing philosophy based on quality passing, possession and building play through the three-thirds of the pitch.

Out of possession, the philosophy calls for a tactical approach to defending in which all players contribute.

Numerous reasons prompted publication. At the highest level of the men’s game, there was a belief that English players had fallen behind their global counterparts with regard technical competence and decision-making capability.

Statistics backed up the notion; other than success at the U17 and U18 European Championships in 2010 and 1993, England had not won an international competition, at any level, since the World Cup in 1966.

Other factors also contributed. With the development of the Premier League and the significant influence of foreign coaches and players, the landscape and culture of English football had changed unrecognisably to that of the early 1990s. European and international football, the arena in which young English players must compete, had accelerated too.

Above all, there was some feeling that in comparison to other high-performing countries at international level, England lacked a DNA, or clear vision for the future development of elite youth players.

The publications provided this response answering a growing number of calls for The FA to outline its beliefs on how the game should be played and how young English players should be developed.

The communication of The FA playing philosophy also serves to respond to a number of misconceptions. In some quarters it is still believed that The Football Association coach education pathway champions a direct method of play, based on a long-ball approach. This is not the case.

The Future Game DVD

The FA Licensed Coaches’ Club have partnered with TactX, a 3D coaching animation tool used on UEFA’s training ground website, to animate the practice syllabus from The Future Game, The FA Technical Guide for Young Player Development.

Over 100 age-appropriate practice sessions have been animated and are included on a new DVD-Rom available to all Licensed Coaches' Club members.

The Future Game - Live Coaching Sessions

Featuring exclusive footage of FA National Coaches delivering practical sessions from The Future Game at St. George's Park, The FA's new National Football Centre, three digital resources have been developed.

Each has an age-appropriate focus for coaches working with players of different ages.

◦The Foundation phase - players aged 8-11
◦The Youth Development phase - players aged 12-16
◦The Professional Development phase - players aged 17-21

Each resource features several hours of age-appropriate coaching footage including defending, attacking and goalkeeping sessions.

I completely agree technique should be a focus rather than results. Be it passing, shooting, tackling or whatever it is.

A few thoughts off the top of my head:
6+5 rule - 6 English players must always be played? But EU Legislation seems to hint it can't happen, and it could weaken the premier league?
Have 'B' sides who can get up to the Championship. Like Barcelona B. But would that lead to the big clubs get bigger?
More tactical training for youngsters. A lot of players seem to be good but lack a 'football brain'

The 'B' team wouldn't be a good idea IMO, there has been mention of it in the past but the big clubs currently have the Reserves/U21 league and they also have the loan system for their younger players to gain first team experience, so I don't see what extra we would achieve from 'B' teams.

The Football brain can be taught if taught at a young age IMO, learning how to do the right things, which leading back to my first post, too many coaches of youth teams teach the kids how to win at the expense of playing properly, developing their skills both physically and mentally. So while you can have more tactical training for youngsters, what we need is better trained coaches.

Right Marky, we'll have to get something together to do this.

Guessing Zidane isn't around, I say we come up with a couple of recommendations each and just go from there?

I think we should just copy our whole debate and post that. The reality is that we've made suggestions but the captain hasn't been here to do his job.

I'll knock something up by the end of the day I'll include what you've said.

Nice one. All we need is three specific points, highlight the long term effects and remember to wish Azzy a very Happy Birthday from all at Team Scholes!

There's not a lot I can help with as I'm only on my phone, so best of luck Trebs, and whatever happens I'll stick up for your efforts

Sent a PM

I've handed in our attempt