The nowhere men who make a hash of matters

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.

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. Quite often a scout will approach me and fail to show me any form of identification that evidences that they are who they say they are. Leading me onto my next point. 

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.

Futsal, give it a go!

Futsal is a sport played across the world, with some of the most celebrated sporting nations hailing its influence in the development of some of their star footballers. It is the only small sided format accredited by FIFA and UEFA. There are professional leagues around the world. And yet, despite the hard work of many, in this country it is still met with hesitation by those who do not quite understand it yet.

I was fortunate enough to attend the Futsal Level 1 course on the 18^th July, delivered in Slough by the excellent Tracey Bourne. Tracey has been involved in Futsal for many years, a keen advocate of the game, and was quick to dispel the myth that Futsal is a diet five-a-side. It is obvious that this is a bugbear for many within the game. For that reason, the first thing we consider are the differences between the five-a-side game and Futsal. And there are many differences that do separate the two.

The England Futsal team is improving as the sport grows

Even just playing the game and learning the techniques, you realise how much this sport can help develop a player’s football ability. The ball, with thirty percent less bounce, stays at your feet when you take a touch.  You are likely to take six times more touches than in the eleven a side format, so we are told, leaving you with more chances to develop technical ability and play one versus one. The physical demands are rigorous resulting in greater fitness whilst, most importantly, having FUN. What’s not to like? 

Looking past player benefits, there is a clear pathway for coaches in a growing sport. The next step is the Level 2 and further down the line the UEFA B License that is in it's infancy, but is set to be launched this year. Should you find that this sport is for you, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to progress up the Futsal coaching ladder.

There is the argument that Futsal is its own sport and not simply a development tool for Football. The idea of it being solely used to develop players for football would belittle Futsal as a sport but there is no reason why it can’t help produce better footballers, particularly ones hoping to play at the highest level. At this moment in time those trying to promote Futsal cannot afford to be picky over who plays the sport so any participation, whatever the gain from it, is positive.

I would encourage anyone with preconceptions of the sport to enrol on the Level 1 course. It is just thirty five pounds for one day’s work in which you take part in lots of practical exercises, get the chance to meet others looking to work in the sport and meet tutors with a fountain of knowledge. You may find, as I have, that there is more to it than meets the eye!

Academy players at grassroots tournaments? Encourage or discourage?

We see and hear it every year.

As a coach, I love summer tournaments. It’s a day out in (hopefully) sunny weather, the children play lots of football and there is, in the main, a great atmosphere. But on arrival, without fail, the kids are gossiping about their rival opposition.

“They’ve got someone from [insert local professional club] playing.”

Often its hearsay, sometimes it really is true.

At a recent tournament where I was with an under tens side, I looked over at a team in an older group and there were several players I knew of or recognised who all played in different academies. I got talking to someone who works as a scout for another professional club and he was appalled.

From his point of a view, I suppose it denies him the opportunity to see more unsigned players and identify local talent. He reckoned it put off scouts from other clubs coming to more tournaments because when the best players there are already signed with someone, why bother? 

Do the kids really care who they play with or against?

However if as a scout you know there are registered academy players present would that then give you a greater idea of where the grassroots players are at in their development? What if there are players there that are not with a professional club who are showing that they can compete with those at the academies? That factor alone then lowers the risk of you offering a trial to someone who at the time is not ready to go in to the professional set up.

Then there are the coaches. The more I began to think about it, the more I realised that those who object to academy players in grassroots tournaments are the ones who are worried they will deny them the opportunity of a trophy. They will protest, claiming it is unfair on their kids, but that too comes from a deep-rooted idea in their mind that what matters most to them is coming home with a cup.

Where I object is if academy players are handpicked to play instead of children who have played for that club all season. And I did see this. That means those coaches are also more interested in winning, and that the result of the tournament itself is more important than getting to spend the day developing their own players. So there are two types of coaches with totally different viewpoints, but both united in the fact that they put winning above all else. It’s disappointing.

Sadly, I don’t think there is much consideration of the fact that they are children. Children who want to play football with their FRIENDS. How often can it be that these young footballers have the chance to play alongside their mates in a football tournament? I’d hazard a guess that the opportunity does not come around too regularly for them. If we encouraged players from academies to take part maybe it would it actually boost the number of young children participating in these events! Have we considered that children like a challenge? This is the ultimate one for them in many aspects. 

I have no idea what rules the FA impose, or the professional clubs themselves but I do know at some tournaments the hosts place rules stating that players registered with an academy or centre of excellence may not participate. Is this a form of exclusion? When there is more need than ever for the grassroots and elite level to work together, why are we making the lines more distinct?

Maybe we should begin to look past who a child plays for and, I don’t know, just let them play football?