We've all heard of Manchester United's legendary Class of '92 – Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, Neville, and Butt – a golden generation that set the footballing world ablaze with their talent and success. But what was the secret behind their meteoric rise? The answer lies in Manchester United's unwavering emphasis on youth player development, a philosophy that paved the way for their unparalleled achievements. Aspiring coaches looking to create a world beating development pipeline in your club, take note – it's time to unveil the blueprint for nurturing future stars.
The Foundation: Early Years (Ages 6-11)
Importance:
The formative years lay the groundwork for a player's journey. A negative experience in these stages can put players off for life or at least a number of years. These years could be vital and developing better skills and cementing basic technical abilities.
Focus on fostering a love for the game, basic technical skills, and enjoyment. Positioning isn't important yet, concentrate on players individual ability and how to be part of a team (not necessarily on the pitch).
Tips:
Keep training sessions fun and engaging to nurture a passion for football. Minimise queues and maximise engagement to ensure lots of ball contact time and enjoyment. Kids don't like standing watching their mates for 3-4 minutes then getting 10-20 seconds of ball time... just to repeat and do it all again.
Emphasize fundamental skills such as dribbling, passing, and ball control. Isolate movements, teach players how to control the ball... I mean really isolate the skill. Tell and show them what part of the foot to use, how to swing their leg, how to get less or more power, where they should be looking, allll of the information.
I've lost count of how many players at U15 - U17 I've worked with that have said 'no-one's ever showed me that before'.
Break down the movements and don't assume a player will know how to do it. Once they have the basics the rest of the skills you teach them will become easier and make more sense.
Things that absolutely need to be broken down and taught:
Passing techniques - inside/outside of boot, maybe even a little backheel to introduce a creative approach.
striking the ball - again various types volley, half volley, inside/outside of boot, even a toe poke).
Turning - so many to teach here and the will be quite technical or difficult to understand for some. Inside/outside turns, Cruyff turn, scissors, stepovers, if you can think it then get them to try it. If they can't do it they may find their own variation that works for them... creativity is key.
Control - how to control the ball, what part of the body, don't move towards the ball, relax muscles, etc. What seems obvious to an adult will not be to this age group.
Headers - with lots of controversy surrounding working on headers, I recommend investing in some foam footballs. These are great for getting players out of their fear of the ball coming towards their face and can be picked up cheap, to work on heading the ball without any risk. For a cheap solution here's a plain ball that can be bought as a pair on amazon for £6.94 (£13.88 for a pair) https://amzn.to/4aybq5K
Aerial control - whether it's a volley or bringing the ball down on your chest, these are vital skills that need broken down and taught to do well. If you can swing it, we highly recommend investing in a rebounder to help players work on aerial control and striking. Here's our favourite one on Amazon at £29.99 https://amzn.to/4cHIdHB
Dribbling/ball control - avoid lots of cone drills, these skills can be worked on in a box with players choosing the movement and avoiding their teammates, instead of around cones which force them to put their head down. Here's our £14.99 set of 50 to mark out your box https://amzn.to/4cHIdHB
Encourage creativity and experimentation on the pitch. This is my favourite tip, leave the Playstation controller at home with this age group... let them play, make mistakes and learn. They can be guided along the way and coached towards the right decisions but let their flair and creativity shine in drills and small sided games.
"The expert in anything was once a beginner." - Helen Hayes
The Growth Phase: Pre-Teens (Ages 12-14)
Importance:
A crucial period for refining technical abilities and tactical understanding. Now we should have a good foundation knowledge of positions and can start thinking more tactically. Players should be comfortable on the ball by this stage and able to play without over thinking what their feet are doing too much, this means they can concentrate on reading the game and anticipating what happens next.
Players begin to develop their unique playing style and position preferences. Hopefully by now they've played most, if not all positions and have a good understanding of their strengths and where they like to play.
Tips:
Provide structured training sessions focusing on skill refinement and game understanding. Now we're looking at not just striking the ball but making the movements before a cross to find space and get the chance to score a volley or header that is now second nature to complete.
Introduce basic tactical concepts and positional responsibilities. Football fundamentals become vital, check out our infographic below for more detail (a full blog to follow soon).
Encourage players to be adaptable and play a number of positions, this will make their play more dynamic and more attractive to teams. It gives coaches squad depth for rotating players and allows different styles of players to bring something extra against specific oppositions.
The Development Continues: Teenage Years (Ages 15-18)
Importance:
Transitioning from youth football to more competitive environments. By now your players have a great foundation and things get a little more serious. Commitment may become more of a challenge, as players start to get first jobs and girlfriend/boyfriends, so as coaches we must make sure training is still fun and engaging.
Players refine their skills, decision-making abilities, and mental resilience. Decision making becomes more tactical, does the coach want us to play a direct long ball or short passing through the thirds, what is the better option based on what's in front of me and will it work against the opposition.
Tips:
Introduce more advanced tactical concepts and game strategies. Match related scenarios are key here. Can we make it as realistic as possible, placing players in situations to see how they react and coaching them to react in the best way possible.
Emphasize physical conditioning and injury prevention. Stretching and strength training become more prevalent have we warmed up effectively are our bodies conditioned to withstand a demanding 90 minute game? Check out our blog on creating the perfect pre-match routine Crafting an Engaging Pre-Match Routine for Youth Teams (the-football-hub.org)
Provide opportunities for players to compete at higher levels and showcase their talents. If you haven't already, make sure your team are playing at the right level and strive to push them further. Don't let them walk it every week beating inferior teams, they won't develop and will get bored very quickly, seeking out better teams to play in.
The Path to Potential: Late Teens (Ages 19-21)
Importance:
A critical phase for players to break into senior football or professional academies. Scouting becomes more rife as bigger clubs look to snatch up ready made talent. A one club approach works at these ages where playing styles at U19 - U21 should be closely aligned with that of the first team... making the transition to senior football seamless.
Continued focus on skill refinement, tactical awareness, and mental strength. Building resilience is a vital skill required at senior football to keep battling until the final whistle. This should be refined and encouraged throughout the age ranges. Check out our post on Nurturing Confidence and Mental Resilience on the Pitch! (the-football-hub.org)
Tips:
Offer personalized development plans tailored to each player's strengths and areas for improvement. A strong coaching team is required here to pick up the slack and give the best opportunity at development, 3 coaches minimum is a great starting point.
Provide exposure to senior football environments through loan spells or reserve team opportunities. Ambition to play senior football should be fostered through breaking in to training sessions or joining them on the bench/changing room for a much if players are required.
Support players' transition into professional football careers through mentorship and guidance. Football can be a ruthless unforgiving world, coaching doesn't stop on the pitch, keep them grounded and help them make the right moves for them... don't hold them back but make sure they will be developed and looked after properly as they move on/up.
Conclusion:
In the dynamic and exciting world of youth football development, success isn't just about talent – it's about nurturing potential, instilling discipline, and fostering a passion for the game. As coaches and mentors, we hold the key to unlocking the potential of future stars. By following this blueprint – focusing on the foundations, fostering growth, nurturing development, and guiding players towards their potential – we pave the way for the next generation of footballing legends to emerge.
Research shows that youth football development is a multifaceted process, influenced by factors such as coaching quality, training environment, and individual player characteristics. According to a study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences, high-quality coaching and positive learning environments significantly contribute to player development outcomes, highlighting the importance of effective coaching practices in youth football programs.
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