Foreword
One of the greatest successes of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was its ability to capture the imagination of the football world. Here was a month of engaging, competitive, tournament football played in an excellent atmosphere prompting many discussions on current and future trends in the game.
It was a privilege for me to
be part of a four-man scouting team along with Gareth Southgate [Head of National Teams], Mike Rigg [Head of Talent ID] and John Marshall [FA Scout] tasked with performing opposition scouting duties during the tournament.
Like many major sporting events you only get a true picture of its enormity when you are live at the event. To experience the passion, intensity and physicality of the World Cup was a remarkable and enlightening learning experience for all four of us fortunate enough to travel to Brazil.
Complementing the work in South America was a scouting hub in operation at St. George’s Park. All 64 World Cup games were observed and analysed by a team of coaches, scouts and analysis staff in Burton who worked around the clock to provide immediate information for the England team senior staff.
This process involved collecting a huge volume of detail and analysis focusing on modern tactics, trends, styles and philosophies and will be collated and communicated through a research project that will inform our longer-term development work.
Our plan is to utilise the information gathered to cross-check our own playing philosophy and emerging DNA ensuring our approach is underpinned with the latest research. We also intend to implement some of the key messages into our coach education programmes as part of the review of all FA course content, a project which is currently underway.
When the report is finalised over the coming months the findings will be disseminated throughout the game. We believe there is some fascinating information which we hope will be valuable to all those involved in player development across the game.
As is often the case following a major tournament there is much talk of emulating the development programme of the successful nation. It is important to stress that simply copying the approach of other nations is a dangerous approach as each country has a different approach, structure, culture and history which all must be understood.
Germany are one of many countries we have already spoken with and identified as having good practice. We have already learned some important things from their approach and not just since they won the World Cup – but over the course of the last 18 months since we have had dialogue with key figures in their set-up.
I know we sometimes get criticised for saying developing the future of English football is a long term plan – but anybody with experience of youth development and building effective teams or culture will know that significant work in these areas is a long term approach. Germany started their programme 14 years ago after Euro 2000, putting in place a structure for their younger players to come through.
There are a lots of things that The FA, the clubs and leagues are doing such as The FA Youth Coach Educator programme and the Elite Player Performance Plan that encourages me that our national game will improve over the coming years. We feel like we’re making progress with our younger teams with steady progress below the radar for our teams to start performing better in World Cups and European Championships in coming years.
The focus of this issue is the importance of designing effective coaching practices, a crucial aspect of both player and coach development and one where we think we can continue to make improvements.
It’s crucial that the practices we are delivering to our young players are realistic, related to the game and linked to the playing style that you believe in. During practice it’s important to let the players play and let the ball roll. Coaches must resist the temptation to intervene too much and let the players have the opportunity to play and practice in the sessions and practices that are set up.
Finally, I would like to put on record my thanks and pass on my best wishes to Sir Trevor Brooking who retires from the organisation at the end of August. Since I started in my role last March Sir Trevor has been nothing but a tremendous help and support.
I think I speak for everybody at The FA when I say Sir Trevor has always been a wise, guiding and friendly voice for all of us – and I’d personally like to thank him for the time and advice he has given me and we all wish him well in his retirement.
Good luck for the new season,
Dan Ashworth FA Director of Elite Development
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