Young Player Development in England

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Young Player Development in England
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Background

• 1997 CHARTER FOR QUALITY
• Policy document affecting all levels of football.
• Howard Wilkinson (F.A. Technical Director)
• Specific proposals for young player development
  in the professional game

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Primary Aim

• Ensure best practice with the coaching and
  education of our young players.
• How??

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How?

• 1) All Premier League Clubs to have Academies.
• 2) All Football League Clubs must have a centre
  of Excellence.
• Both to meet criteria for a licence to be granted.

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• Programme to begin 1998-99 season throughout the
  F.A. Premier League (1 Division) and the Football
  League (3 Divisions).

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STATE OF PLAY 2007/08

• Premier League 19 Academies 1 Centre of
  Excellence
• Championship 16 Academies 8 Centres of
  Excellence
• Division 1 5 Academies 19 Centres of Excellence
• Division 2 1 Academy 23 Centres of Excellence
• 41 Academies the numbers have increased every
  year.

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SETTING THE STANDARDS

• Framework for Excellence at an Academy.

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1. Facilities and Accommodation

• Outdoor artificial surface.
• Indoor playing area 60 x 40.
• Adequate medical treatment area.
• Parents Lounge.
• 4 Pitches.
• Changing rooms equal to number of teams, for
  exclusive use.

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2. Staffing Requirements
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Staffing Requirements cont

• Minimum Coaching qualifications.
• Assistant Academy Manager (UEFA A)
• Other Coaches (UEFA B)
• All to have F.A. Youth Coaches Award (Age
  Appropriate).
• Physiotherapist to be present at all coaching
  sessions and with every team at games.

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3. Registration of Players

• All players (including trialists) registered for
  coaching/games.
• U9 to U12 (1 year registration).
• U13 and U15 (2 year registration).
• At/after 12th birthday, registration allowed till
  completion of full time education i.e. at end of
  U16 year.
• Maximum numbers per age group.
• U9 to U14 (30 in each age group).
• U15 / U16 (20 in each age group).
• Travelling time
• U9 to U12 (Within 1 hour of Academy).
• U13 to U16 (Within 1.5 hours).

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4. Scholarships

• 2 year full time Coaching and Education
  programme.
• Offered at under 16.
• Possible to offer after 14th birthday.

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5. Learning Programme

• Technical i.e. Coaching Programme U9 U16.
• Educational i.e. 2 year scholarship, U17 U18.
  Technical programme and College course.

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6. Coaching Requirements

• U9 to U11 (3 hours 2 sessions)
• U12 to U16 (5 hours 3 sessions)
• U17 to U18 (12 hours)

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7. Games Programme

• Fixtures only between Academies.
• Must participate U9 U14.
• Must have at least two teams between U15 U18.
• No league U9 U16.
• U18 F.A. Premier Academy Youth League 4
  regions.
• Other competitions FA Youth Cup at Under 18
  level.
• Minimum no of games i.e. U9 U16
• i.e. U9 U16 Min 18
• Max 30
• U9 U11 small sided 8v8.

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8. Communication with Parents

• Twice yearly Technical Report to students,
  parents and schools.