What we need to develop our players

[canadatoworldcup]

I was watching the Aston Villa/Liverpool game today when I heard that this player was playing U21, and that player was playing U21 internationals and I never hear of Canada playing U21 internationals. In order to develop our players and take it to the next level, we need to play more internationals at younger ages. If we could enter our younger teams U21, U20, etc into tournaments around the globe more frequently it would expose them to playing different styles and speed of game and hopefully help us identify and develop players quicker.

As well, to develop these players we need to have them centralised in one central location. Not necessarily Toronto, but from what I remember when the team I coach was U12 there were three national training centres around Canada. Why not have them in one location where players can live, train, and go to school all at the same time. This would also help use keep our players in Canada rather than see them go abroad (say to Europe) at younger ages.

At these national training centres, we need qualified coaches from other countries in Europe, South America to come in and teach us how to play the international game, not kick and run as we have seen as of late. There are lots of dedicated individuals in Canada who are very good at coaching players until they reach a certain level. We lack the coaching to take them to that next level of "international stardom". If we can get some people in here who can do that for us, we will see better results from our national teams. The women's team has done this bringing in Evan Pellerude (or however you spell it), but our national team has not. We did have Olsiek (sp??), but again, he was not the answer we needed.

Bottom line, you get what you pay for. The CSA needs to invest some serious money into our national teams in order to get results. Right now, somewhere around $7.00 of every registration in Ontario goes to the OSA, of which I am not sure how much goes to the CSA. Perhaps raising these fees to $15.00 (not a lot, but with a whole lot of soccer players in Ontario alone that would be a huge sum of money, basically doubling what we have now), we can do things and bring Canada to a higher level on the international scene.

[Yañez]

First time in the Canadian forum. For some odd reason I support Canada in Concacaf. Anyways, I hope for the good of Futbol and Canada, that Canada develops a more "Latin" style like in Spain, S.America, Holland etc... Instead of the British or Italian style, or even the American style.

Good luck and hope u make it to the world cup eliminating Mexico :)

[Jogakanata]

These r very good suggestions, particularly because we have the coaches in Canada some drive taxi's or buses or are landlords of housing co-operatives and have professional and international experience, Canada needs to locate these people and get them involved with whats goin on soccerwise. And if we raise fees, whats stopping these thieves from lining there pockets even more with our money?

[canadatoworldcup]

well, i think that it would need a whole new national federation to do this, and a better auditing and accounting of where money is spent to ensure that the money generated is actually used towards player and national team development.

i dont think that it would be very easy or likely that we would be heading in this direction. these are just some ideas i was thinking of as i was watching the game today.

and by getting people into Canada with international experience i never meant someone who was in Canada right now. we are allowed to hire people from outside our country to run our national program. look at england, fabio capello and sven eriksson, portugal had scolari, there was a brazilian they were talking about bringing in here that used to coach Jamaica.

this would mean an entire overhaul of what we have now, which isnt much unfortunately.

[Jogakanata]

Ofcourse U werent! but its cheaper!:cool:

[canadatoworldcup]

lol, that it would be!

[wyly]

I was watching the Aston Villa/Liverpool game today when I heard that this player was playing U21, and that player was playing U21 internationals and I never hear of Canada playing U21 internationals. In order to develop our players and take it to the next level, we need to play more internationals at younger ages. If we could enter our younger teams U21, U20, etc into tournaments around the globe more frequently it would expose them to playing different styles and speed of game and hopefully help us identify and develop players quicker.

As well, to develop these players we need to have them centralised in one central location. Not necessarily Toronto, but from what I remember when the team I coach was U12 there were three national training centres around Canada. Why not have them in one location where players can live, train, and go to school all at the same time. This would also help use keep our players in Canada rather than see them go abroad (say to Europe) at younger ages.

At these national training centres, we need qualified coaches from other countries in Europe, South America to come in and teach us how to play the international game, not kick and run as we have seen as of late. There are lots of dedicated individuals in Canada who are very good at coaching players until they reach a certain level. We lack the coaching to take them to that next level of "international stardom". If we can get some people in here who can do that for us, we will see better results from our national teams. The women's team has done this bringing in Evan Pellerude (or however you spell it), but our national team has not. We did have Olsiek (sp??), but again, he was not the answer we needed.

Bottom line, you get what you pay for. The CSA needs to invest some serious money into our national teams in order to get results. Right now, somewhere around $7.00 of every registration in Ontario goes to the OSA, of which I am not sure how much goes to the CSA. Perhaps raising these fees to $15.00 (not a lot, but with a whole lot of soccer players in Ontario alone that would be a huge sum of money, basically doubling what we have now), we can do things and bring Canada to a higher level on the international scene.

I do believe we already have regional training centers and some very good coaches.

Bringing in a international coach will do nothing unless the entire counrty is run as one super development club, as it is now it's to fractured, who ever canada hires as technical director he'll accomplish nothing as every province, club and coach will go on doing things their own way right or wrong....

Pellerude as an example of what can be done is misleading, there are relatively few women soccer countries so there is little competion...whe can hire the best there is for the mens squad and they'll play better for sure but there is only so much he could do with the talent available but it would do nothing for long term development....

Canada's problem begins with it's youngest players if they aren't started on the right path from the beginning it effects the size of our talent pool at higher ages...

[canadatoworldcup]

i would like to see it done as one super development club, that is all part of my point with the international program being run by a non-Canadian.

[bettermirror]

wellness to world cup is a start. provincial associations need to be done away with. standards of development and club policy needs to be set across the province. in fact, that's starting already in bc. you have opened a HUGE can of worms with the national training centres. YES MORE NEED TO EXIST and YES THEY NEED TO BE CLOSE TO EVERYONE. ie, Is Daniel Imhof not from Smithers, B.C.??? No NTC near him.

But basically, competitive results-based leagues need to be done away with so that those small technically adept players are respected and given maximum playing time - this as opposed to certain coaches selecting only the physically developed to try and shoot over tiny goalies in massive goals! BC doing 8v8 up to and including u12 is a start.

I best stop here. This topic goes on and on...

And yes, TFC/Whitecaps/Impact all need SIGNIFICANT youth programs which show actual progress from youth to the senior side. It's fair to say the Whitecaps have already started this process.

[Jogakanata]

If the federal government took over Canadian soccer, with seperate coaches/scouts/trainers, then they could appoint a tactical strategy to develop players and recognize talent allowing each province to focus solely on gettin they're best players in the national programs.

Or position based training designating each province to produce a certain type of player ie. quebec/striker/attackingmid bc/defender/holdingmid
and so on
then Use smaller provinces to fill the gaps

pei/defender/holdingmid new brunswick/striker/attackingmid

but thats just an idea!!!

[bettermirror]

Developing players by position and by province is a horrible idea!!! I truly hope you were joking.

....

What truly needs to occur on top of the technique-focused training is COACH EDUCATION. I have some mid-upper level training and still lack SIGNIFICANTLY in many areas. Training coaches has been left up to individual youth associations. However, these associations have very little resources to do this, and not all are as blessed with an excellent coach/T.D. such as the one I am involved with.

National and Provincial associations need to offer coach development FOR FREE and all require coaches to also meet tactical/technical-education standards beyond passing the certification courses. Ongoing upgrading and development should also be required. In the days of online communities this could be easily managed. A lot of clubs/associations do have head coaches/t.d.'s and they could monitor this for the CSA/Provincial association as these H.D.'s and T.D.'s would meet the CSA standards themselves.

The players will never come in droves if the coaches are not in place at u5-u11 to coach them. As it is the "better" coaches have to coach the older kids, but these older kids are generally too far ignored and poorly trained by the time they get to the top youth levels.

I generally tell parents to get their kids to relatives overseas to get top development if they have true aspirations of going pro. (and I tell them to avoid England)

[Jogakanata]

not joking! just a free thinker!

[SoccerNewf]

What truly needs to occur on top of the technique-focused training is COACH EDUCATION. I have some mid-upper level training and still lack SIGNIFICANTLY in many areas. Training coaches has been left up to individual youth associations. However, these associations have very little resources to do this, and not all are as blessed with an excellent coach/T.D. such as the one I am involved with.

National and Provincial associations need to offer coach development FOR FREE and all require coaches to also meet tactical/technical-education standards beyond passing the certification courses. Ongoing upgrading and development should also be required. In the days of online communities this could be easily managed. A lot of clubs/associations do have head coaches/t.d.'s and they could monitor this for the CSA/Provincial association as these H.D.'s and T.D.'s would meet the CSA standards themselves.

The players will never come in droves if the coaches are not in place at u5-u11 to coach them. As it is the "better" coaches have to coach the older kids, but these older kids are generally too far ignored and poorly trained by the time they get to the top youth levels.

I generally tell parents to get their kids to relatives overseas to get top development if they have true aspirations of going pro. (and I tell them to avoid England)

I think you are someone who is finally hitting the nail on the head.

The system also needs more advancement for players. I mean, when I was younger I could have joined a team with little to no experience and be kicking a ball around with guys who had been playing since they were in diapers.

I think a system that is modeled on the junior hockey system would be an excellent way to develop young talent. A western, central and eastern top fight junior leagues with a national champion decided from the 3. Provincial leagues a step lower, regional and then local. With 3 or 4 national centres for development of our top players. I think this would be a cost effective system that would be extremely cost effective and productive.

[canadatoworldcup]

i totally agree with you on the coaching front here in canada, we have a long list of dedicated people who love what they do (me included) with kids on the soccer field. however, we are not necessarily qualified or experienced enough to take players to that next level. and, educating these coaches (like me) who want to get to that next level will take some time. until these domestic coaches are ready and a program is established, we need someone else in here running the show at the top level. i am not sure that dale mitchell can do it for us. he is a good coach, but is the coach who can take canada to world cup???

[bettermirror]

yes, the best always have to be with the best to continue to push and develop themselves. That's where a program such as the Super Y League can come in very handy...however that's also a results-based league, but it's a start as well. There need to be many more of those clubs in Canada though to make it more viable for Canadian development.

It all must begin with coach development though. Everyone discusses player development, but that will never happen without quality coaching to keep bringing the players forward. There also needs to be incentive for coaches to participate other than to coach their own kids. I coach, and do not have children let alone one on either of the teams I coach. I do it for love of the game......simply because I can. How many others would if they had more reason??? Sadly, it often takes more than love of the game as a reason.

[canadatoworldcup]

i have a daughter, but i think 9 months old is a bit too young to be playing u18 boys and u21 men next year.

[Viruk42]

i have a daughter, but i think 9 months old is a bit too young to be playing u18 boys and u21 men next year.

That's a lie! You get her onto a field this instant, or you're fired :rolleyes:

[Macksam]

First time in the Canadian forum. For some odd reason I support Canada in Concacaf. Anyways, I hope for the good of Futbol and Canada, that Canada develops a more "Latin" style like in Spain, S.America, Holland etc... Instead of the British or Italian style, or even the American style.

Good luck and hope u make it to the world cup eliminating Mexico :)
Holland plays Dutch style total football. South American teams like Argentina adapted that style of play.