Talent identification in football, particularly at youth
level, has risen in its importance for professional clubs. More money is being
spent on the running of academy set ups than ever before with clubs identifying
the need to produce the next top talent. Clubs are now competing vociferously
with each other to be the first to snap up young potential, with development
centres being set up for players as young as four or five. The Elite Player Performance Plan allows “clubs
that have earned a top category grading to recruit young talent from further
afield than is permitted under the current rules”. Thus meaning that more clubs
can scout in more areas, giving players more opportunities to be observed by more staff at more professional football clubs.
| Is there a science behind talent identification? |
The Football
Association themselves are recognising the need for education on the matter of
talent identification, in the process of developing the Level 1 certificate in
Talent Identification. Former FA head of talent identification Mike Rigg
insisted that “our talent ID process must move beyond the snapshot
mentality," but with the demand and pressure to not miss out on the 'next
big thing', scouts could be too worried to take their time watching a player
when another club may take the chance on them straight away.
Developing the players I work with as a human being and as a
footballer are always the key when I remember why I love coaching football.
Therefore, when I am approached by a scout about a player in the team I am
working with I am naturally delighted, knowing that I am doing a part of my job
well and mainly, excited for the child identified.
What irks me, however, is when a scout does not feel the need
to talk with the coach (whether it be me or someone else) and makes advances
towards the child and their parents without anyone’s permission. As far as
I am aware there is a certain procedure scouts are asked to follow, which
involves the coach introducing the scout to the child’s parent. This was not the
case earlier this year at a tournament I coached an under tens team at.
On this occasion the scout had indeed approached me and told
me that he liked the look of one of my players. He added that he would come
back and swap contact details so he could come see more of him, but when I
next looked around he was already deep in discussion with the child and mother.
I knew a scout at the same club already and found out that this person was in
fact a scout coordinator! I would never block an opportunity for a young
player, and he will be training with that club soon but we have received an
apology too.
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| Worryingly accurate |
In another case, just weeks previously, a supposed head of
recruitment at a different club contacted a parent of another eleven year old
at our club. We have taken this boy to two professional clubs already because of
his obvious talent and we expected him to attract more attention. This time we had not received any notification whatsoever of their interest in taking the child in
question on trial from the club.
My primary concern here (lack of communication between
grassroots and elite is for another day) is that these people are strangers
first, employees at a professional football club second. We do not know these
people and for all we know they could be anyone. There are so many children out
there who dream of one day becoming a professional footballer which makes them
so vulnerable to people who may or not work for a professional football club. I need to know these people are the real deal before we get to the stage of introducing and talking about a potential trial.
Secondly, the unprofessional-ism of not one but two football
clubs is disturbing. These people are representing an organisation when they
approach people, so they must act in a way that shows that organisation to be a
respectful and thoughtful one. If there is a procedure they need to follow it strictly. If there is not then one should be implemented. It is very easy for scouts to wear a club tracksuit and show off who they work for but anyone can do that. When wearing old kit from my team (associated with a professional club) I played for at sixth form, children ask me if I am a scout, to which I politely tell them I am not. It used to be the scouts tried to stay out of the spotlight (hence the nickname 'the nowhere men'), now young men relish the attention!
I appreciate that talent
identification courses are in their infancy and an effort is being made but
clubs must strive to hold higher standards. They can do so much more without a fuss to create a more stable environment for young players to be identified in the correct manner. I do not know if other grassroots coaches have similar
experiences (please feel free to share if you have in the comments section) but these are people who hold important roles in the development
of footballers in this country and leaves me apprehensive about the state of
our talent identification system. I am hopeful with that more education for
those working in the professional game will ease my fears but I believe that
this needs to happen sooner rather than later.
