Australia at the FIFA U17 Mens World Cup - A Football Development Storm in the Making

Sourced from http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/craig-foster/blog/1063007/Versleijen-has-to-g

There is so much to say when it comes to the "effective" development of young players under the age of 17 years of age.

The FFA National Football Curriculum and Development plans embrace the period from when our players start particpation in the game till the time those talented few get to play in Australian Under 17 mens team, otherwise known as the Joeys.

At the Capital Football level, all development responsibility, within the current FFA National Curriculum, stops at the age of 15 years of age. The ACTAS responsibility is really all with ACTAS, Capital Football have next to nothing to do with it (leaving aside a financial contribution). After ACTAS, it's hands off at the ACT end of things at this point in time.

But the focus of this Post is the performance of the Joey's ( Australian Under 17 Mens) at the current U17 Mens World Cup. Nevertheless, member Federations have a big input, via the FFA NAtional Curriculum) into the technical competence of the players that find their way to the AIS and Joeys squads. They are supposed to the best of the best at age.

And this is where the drama begins!

The Joeys appear to have under achieved at this Under 17 World Cup, I say "appeared" because I am not so sure this is true. I am yet to be convinced and its one band wagon I would not get on in a hurry. Depends very much on how you measure success and what you are able to articulate as teh underlying problem(s).

The suggestion that the Joeys have under performed opens up a pandora's box of Football youth development issues that go to the very core of the FFA National Curriculum and Developments plans - and then to each member Federation with regard to their respective efforts in delivering quality development programs at age, performances at the National Junior Championships and later at the NTC Challenge (ACTAS).

The raw data from the last few U17 Mens World Cups looks like this:

2003 Round 1
2005 Round 1
2007 Did not qualify
2009 Did not qualify
2011 Qualified - Round of Sixteen.

Looks to me that on the face of it, the Coach and the supporting processes got them further than anyone other effort since 2003. But is this a reliable measure of "development"?

Read on, this is an interesting story and one that should give us pause for thought in repsect of two things - what we are doing for development of all players under Under 16 players in the ACT and what we might hope to do for ACT players from 17 to 20 years of age.

AIS Head Coach Mens' Football, Jan Versleijen Speaks to the Nearpost Local

The AIS Head Coach of the Mens' Football Program, Jan Versliejen, made time to talk to the NPL about the Nara Ichijo FC team that played several fixtures in the ACT last week, including one against the AIS.

Jan also speaks to some very important subjects including player development, coaching methodology, what you need to do to have a chance of being suceesful at the higher levls in the game in Australia, what makes the Japanese players so good, what can we learn from them and the importance of letting the game be the teacher.

Jan Versleijen talks plain good sense! Have a listen, you won;t be disappointed and have a think about just how big the challenge is in order for Football in Australia to move into the top echelons of the world game.

Download the Podcast here:

Head Coach of the AIS Mens Program Gives Some Very Good Advice.

The Head Coach of the AIS Mens' Football Program, Jan Verssleijen discussed the performances of the Nara Ichijo team with the NPL.

Jan is a highly experienced and contemporary international standard Coach who is always willing to share his knowledge and experiences in Football. Jan has been involved in football development and coaching in Japan for three years. He knows what he is talking about.

In the interview to be broadcast next Tuesday, Jan uses the Nara team and Japanese football to illustrate some crucial aspects concerning the development of the game and the players in Australia. It shoul birng you back to reality and help adjust your expectations around your son or daughter in Football!

In addition, Jan makes some very interesting and informative observations concerning coaching in the modern era, consistent with the direction in which the FFA is moving with Coach Education and Development. Now this has very particular meaning for many in the ACT for those parents and supporters who are watching coaches (particularly in the Premier League and Rep teams - well a few of them) and perhaps wondering why some of these coaches are not as noisy on the sideline as was the practice (and still is for many) in recent times. You know the sort - the coach that wants to script every movement of every player and makes the mistake of thinking that constant haranguing (and abuse) from the sideline is a meaningful contribution to player development, effective performance and the game in general.

The change preferred in coaching style means that coaches have to do a lot of work constructing the practice sessions - always with a ball at the feet. That's where the effort must go. No more gratuitous fitness training thankyou. The game is for the players.

Jan's message -
Let The Game Be The Teacher

Make sure you listen to the program or get to the Podcast. It's too good to miss.

Japanese Under 17 Squad From Nara-Ichijo FC visits the ACT

These opportunities don't come along often enough in our region. Go and see them play! 

Japanese touring side Nara-Ichijo FC from Canberra’s sister city of Nara arrived in the capital on Saturday morning for a series of fixtures.

Schedule

Monday 22nd March – v Canberra FC under-16 (Deakin Stadium), kick off 18:00

Monday 22nd March – v Canberra FC under-18 (Deakin Stadium), kick off 20:00

Tuesday 23rd March – v ACTAS (AIS), kick off 16:30

Tuesday 23rd March – v AIS (AIS), kick off 20:00

Wednesday 24th March – v CP HPP under-17 (Hawker Football Centre), kick off 16:00