Some Junior / Youth Development Issues

This program is broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) across the Australian Cummunity Radio Network, on Tuesday 19 July 2011 at 7:00PM.

This program is very much about the development of junior / youth players. Not surprising, since we have just concluded another fantastic Kanga Cup and with that has come the realisation for many young players and parents that there are lots of good players beyond the boundaries of the ACT, particularly from Asia. The Around The Grounds, grand final special edition is at  http://www.capitalfootball.com.au/userfiles/KANGA%20CUP%20-%20GRAND%20FINALS.pdf

The two Korean teams (under 12 and Under 13 age groups), based as they are on Primary Schools that specialise in Football, were as ever, a delight to watch and so well disciplined and polite in all their dealing. So much to admire. The obvious visible difference is the much higher level of individual technical skill. The Head Coach of the AIS Jan Versleign spoke on this difference last week.


It was also interesting to note the difference between some interstate teams and ACT Div 1 Club teams at age. The Under 14 boys demonstrated just how advanced the top level age teams were by comparison to the best ACT club age teams in the Cup competition. This is not a criticism, just a fact and it points out how important the Kanga Cup is, because we get a chance to play these teams. It would be good if we had more of these opportunities, particularly for our representative age teams.  This is not news, but it does underscore the development gap.

We are getting better, but again, as we observed in our last program, the changes required by the FFA National Curriculum and Development plans will take several generations, not a quick fix. So, does it look like we are making progress here in the ACT? How can we make it better?
Picture beow is the ACT 2011 Under 14 Girls team (will publish the U15 team photo as soon as it arrives)

During the Kanga Cup, most of the best of our Under 14 and Under 15 Girls represented the ACT at the FFA National Junior Championships in Coffs Harbour. This is a very important Football competition where the best at age play for their State. Important conclusions are draw with regard to the implementation of the National Curriculum and Development plans. The senior womens' coaches do take note of emerging players at these competitions. In the case of the ACT girls, several made the "ALL Stars" teams for the final exhibition match. The one thing that is gleaned by coaches and parents alike, is how much "effective preparation", and I stress the word "effective", is undertaken by each State development process. All reports thus far indicate that the young ACT players gave their very best. Well done all the players and coaches and many thanks to parents of the players for their tireless support.
Were our Under 14 and Under 15 Girls squads as well prepared as they might have been is one question?
It seems unlikely and that requires some explanation.

The other question is how we can improve for 2012?
Our preparations / forward planing should have already commenced. It would be a good thing for CF to hold a parents forum for the parents of players in these teams and glean as much information as possible for 2012, a survey would assist, but holding a parents forum would be best. Parents like to know that what they have expereienced can be of use to others, and perhaps their own children if they are in representative teams again. And do it quickly because parents are already on to the next thing with their children.

The tensions that surround the talented junior players can be oppressive for the player and confusing / frustrating for parents. Every parent wants the best for their child and so it is in Football. But it s an expensive business for a family with a talented player and much more so when there is more than one child to provide opportunities for off a tight budget. Then of course, what is the best development opportunity for the child, in the context of every other little thing that goes on at school and so one. Not simple. How much is too much training, and what is the best training at age and how and who can or will provide it and at what cost. The preparation of ACT teams for the Nationals is swept into these considerations and often not reported on well by parents (or young players). This is the landscape travelled by the parents of emerging athletes in all disciplines and Football is no exception.

With these questions in mind, I have selected excepts from two interviews the NPL has conducted with two very authoritative sources – Aflred Galustian and Shinji Ishubashi of Coerver, and George Huitker the Director of Co-Curricular of Radford College. They speak on aspects of the development of the young Football player. The starting points are different, but their points of intersection and agreement are many. They  give pause for thought among all parents of players. Draw your own conclusions.

Once again, well done to all that played in the Kanga Cup 2011 and the U14 and U15 Girls ACT rep teams at the FFA National Junior Championships.

Download Podcast here:

National Junior Championships - Girls Under 14 and Under 15 - Can We Do More For Our Talented Players?

The following is sourced from the Northern NSW Football Facebook website.

The "Nationals" are over for our ACT representative teams. They did as well as may be expected. But can we do more for our young talented female players?

The Under 14 Girls held their position in Group A for 2012 and the Under 15 Girls finished second in Group B and will remain in Group B for the 2012. Clearly the players and coaches have done well to hold the line, as it were. What will next year hold, given the steady progress in other states?

A question - Can we do better in 2012? And another - Why do we keep asking ourselves this question?

There was disquiet among some parents for the lack of effective preparation prior to (and I don't mean a few short weeks out from the championships) the commencement of the championships in both age groups, as there was concern for a continuing lack of depth in playing strength in the Under 15 age group ( a deficiency identified last year in the Under 14 age group but not remedied) and, the inability to get all the players to training sessions due to competing Club competition, Club tours and development opportunities (leaving aside the ordinary illness and other family matters that always arise).

There are a lot of competing demands on these young players and where does ACT representation sit in that hierarchy of opportunities?  Perhaps the most surprising complaint / concern expressed was the lack of preparation games / fixtures  for the squads prior to the Nationals. If true, it must have placed our representative teams and their coaches in a position of significant disadvantage, given the extensive preparation undertaken by the big junior football performers such as NSW Metro, Victoria and Queensland.

I can recall one notable exception to this pathology in recent times in junior girls football - The ACT Under 13 Girls of 2010, coached by Colin Johnston. Colin has extensive experience in junior player development, he develops good football habits among his young players, he was the coach that made all the difference at Woden Valley SC as "technical director", the very earliest practitioner of small sided games in the ACT that I can recall in community based club football, he trained lots of junior community based coaches in his methods (which were much of what is the national curriculumum is today in these age groups) and set standards that are copied by other Clubs. In this area of football, his knowledge and experience dwarfed anything resident at Capital Football in its time. The results of lengthy and well directed preparation, which included in excess of thirty matches (and they traveled to get them - all supported by parents of the players) resulted in a superb performance at the Nationals last year, high technical points assessment, several players in the All Stars and one of them subsequently selected for the inaugural Australian Under 13 Girls team, while he was awarded the task of coaching the All Stars team in the final fixture (take that to mean a big thumbs up from those that know Football). This was the standard for all our future efforts! Nothing less is required in order to be competitive among the girls and boys age groups at a National competitive level. So it can be done.

However, back to that question(s) - Can we do better in 2012? And another - Why do we keep asking ourselves this question?


The NPL Local will ask these and related questions of the CF Technical Director when he gives his promised second interview. Royston is smart football fellow - he will have answers. What is it we are not seeing or do not know on this subject? If there is a better way ahead, what is the plan and how long before it gets going? We need to know.

Here are the final table results for the Championships:

Final Report - From The Girls Under 14 and Under 15 National Junior Championships

Two parents (Eddie Senatore and Simon Kravis) of players in both teams have kindly forwarded the NPL progress reports from Day 3 of competition.

Day 5  - Competition Summary

Simon Kravis, the NPL roving reporter of previous NJC reports sent this report on both games

• ACT Under 14 Girls - third in Pool A
• ACT Under 15 Girls - second in Pool B

Fri 15 July Report




On the final day of the Championship, the ACT Under 15s met WA in an evenly matched contest that ended a 1-1 draw, placing ACT second in Pool B, behind Victoria. WA opened the scoring after 7 minutes when Leigha Bullock floated a free kick from the side into the top corner of the net. ACT strikers Olivia Gurney worked well together and individually to create chances in the next 5 minutes, but it was Natalie de Marco who levelled the score for the ACT with a well-read run into a defensive gap and a full-stretch tap from close range. Play moved from end to end with neither side containing the other for long. Sophia Stewart delivered a good strike for WA from a very tight position that went just wide and a few minutes later Leanne Pompeani did the same for the ACT.
The ACT opened the second half well, with Olivia Gurney and Thalia Backhouse rattling the WA goalposts from quick counter-attacks and poorly cleared corners, whilst at the other end a cross from Jessica Darmago was sent just wide by Laitysha Wyatt, who a few minutes later drew a good save from ACT keeper Phoebe Worth. WA continued to threaten from set pieces, but as fatigue set in, both sides offered the other long periods of possession, but neither were able to capitalise on the opportunities.

The Under 14s played NSW Country from Pool B as their final match on Friday afternoon, in a game which did not affect the ladder positions of either team. ACT made a tentative start on a damp pitch, and NSW Country were dominant from the kickoff, winning almost all of the contested balls and placing four shots on goal in the first 15 minutes, with the ball seldom in their half. As in the NSW Metropolitan game, ACT seemed most likely to spend the game in pursuit of equalisers, but the situation changed abruptly at 25 minutes when Hayley Armstrong tapped in a cross from Julia de Angelis in the first ACT shot on goal. Five minutes later Julia de Angelis extended the lead to 2-0 after a free kick from Brigette Calabria was poorly cleared, and the ball remained in the NSW Country half until the half-time whistle.
In the second half NSW Country pushed hard on the right and the ACT defence were not able to move the ball foward. Amanda Stevenson was finally successful in driving the ball home for NSW Country from a goalmouth melee after 10 minutes to take the score to 2-1. ACT keeper Georgina Worth saved well over the next 15 minutes as wet and cold conditions reminiscent of the Kanga Cup set in and all but the hardiest spectators retreated to the covered area. NSW Country had two excellent chances when Alexandra Scobie outpaced the ACT defence but she sprayed her shots wide. The game slowed as players tired and came to a scrappy end without a change to the scoreline of 2-1 to the ACT.

Competition Summary

The ACT Under 14 and Under 15 teams performed well overall, with the Under 14s coming third in Pool A, behind winners NSW Metropolitan and Victoria in second place, and the Under 15s coming second in Pool B, behind Victoria. Under 15 Pool A winners were also NSW Metropolitan. The first team in Pool B each year moves up to Pool A and the last team in Pool A moves down to Pool B. As the ACT Under 14s were not last in their pool, they will compete in the Under 15 Pool A against NSW Metropolitan, Victoria, Northern NSW and Queensland. The Under 14 Pool A for next year will most likely comprise NSW Metropolitan, Victoria, South Australia, Northern NSW and Queensland next year, based on the results of the National Youth Championship for Girls Under 13 held in Canberra in April.
In the Under 14 age group, goalkeeper Georgina Worth, striker Caitlin Cantrill and utility player Emma Bestek were selected for the All Stars team. In the Under 15 age group, strikers Thalia Backhouse and Olivia Gurney were selected. The All Stars teams were picked by a technical assessment team led by NSW Institute of Sport coach Alen Stajic. The All Stars teams played the Pool A winners in each age group in a 40 minute exhibition match at the end of the tournament.
Under 14s coach Pat Mills commented: "The team played exceptionally well, with pace and passion. The standout game was against NSW Metropolitan, where we though we might scrape a draw, but we nearly got a win. I'd love to have been able to prepare for the championships for 12 months as they do in NSW." Under 15s coach Michelle Aurousseau said: "We exceeded expectations with the girls we had. They all stepped up to the mark and played really well as a team. Only the game against Victoria didn't go their way."

Competition Overview

The ACT teams’ performance maintained their age group rankings from last year’s tournament and whilst NSW Metropolitan won both age groups, this year’s Under 14 team were narrow winners in a very even competition, with winning margins of a single goal in most games. With draws against the ACT and Pool B winners Queensland, they are no longer as far ahead of their competitors as they once were, although they are very well-endowed with talent, most notably through midfielder Alycia Macqueen, who was named Player of the Tournament. Victoria improved its ranking from fourth to second place and their 5-0 loss to NSW Metropolitan was mainly through a single defensive flaw in the first half. Midfielder Beatrice Goad and striker Marianna Anthony were always threatening. In the second half Victoria did not concede any more goals and were dominant for much of the period. Queensland will be returning to Pool A with two very fast strikers (Talitha Doro and Sunny Franco) and a strong defence. The ACT Under 14 team owes much of its success to the general athleticism of the team, which allowed it to break quickly, exploit defensive errors and disrupt attacks. The Under 14s also had very solid goalkeeping and an industrious midfield. Northern NSW remain the most intimidating team in the age group, through their size and physicality. Their powerful forwards Tulia Palozzi and Kally Ann Lewis can deliver winning strikes from anywhere in the forward third, but they did not always receive the service to make the best of their talents.

In the Under 15 Pool B, the pace of the ACT strikers Thalia Backhouse and Olivia Gurney delivered most of the goals, but often their support was too far behind and whilst generally solid, the defence was vulnerable to set-piece attacks.
The schedule of five 80-minute games over the week for each team gave good value in terms of game time, but took a toll on the players, with most teams looking in need of a rest on Friday. The pitches and facilities were very good, and the officiating was generally firm, with little rough play. The loudest cheer of the competition was for Northern Territory Under 15s when they scored their first goal. The closing ceremony was held in cold and wet conditions, with most of the non-winning teams leaving after their members had received individual recognition. It was also marked by the winning NSW Metropolitan teams helping themselves to the two trophies for photographs rather than waiting to have them presented. This detracted from the atmosphere of the occasion.

Day 4 Update From The Girls Under 14 and Under 15 National Junior Championships

Things are drawing to a close at the NJC for our Under 14 and Under 15 Girls teams. They have both performed well according to reports from up North. More on this with their return to Canberra. Final positioning will be confirmed today and while neither team will win its age group, we all hope that some of the ACT girls makes the "All Stars" teams for the final exhibition game. More to follow as soon as we get it.

Two parents (Eddie Senatore and Simon Kravis) of players in both teams have kindly forwarded the NPL progress reports from Day 3 of competition.

Day 4 Results

• ACT Under 14s - Draw 1-1 (ACT v NSW Metro)
• ACT Under 15 - Win 5-1 (ACT v Tasmania)

Simon Kravis, the NPL roving reporter of previous NJC reports sent this report on both games

Westfield Football Federation Australia National Youth Championship for Girls BCU Stadium, Coffs Harbour

Thu 14 July 2011

The ACT Under 14s drew 1-1 with NSW Metropolitan this morning in a fast, open game with strong competition for every loose ball. The ACT defended resolutely, with midfielder Julia de Angelis providing the defensive linchpin with tireless running and concentration and striker Caitlin Cantrill harrying the NSW defence with her speed and footwork.

The game opened with a period of complete dominance by NSW, who had yet to concede a single goal in ladder games in the Championship. Despite this impressive record, their performance had been inconsistent with the team failing to extend a massive 5-0 first half lead against Victoria in the second half. In the first 10 minutes NSW had four shots on goal, two from free kicks conceded in sometimes desperate defence, with NSW midfielder Alycia Macqueen orchestrating attack after attack. ACT at this stage looked as though they would be chasing the remainder of the game, but an innocuous seeming pass from Ruth Kravis near the half way line initiated a twisting run from Caitlin Cantrill that finished with a narrow-angle shot slipping past the NSW goalkeeper to give the ACT a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. NSW pressed hard in response and sent a shot over tha bar after 30 minutes, but the short-passing ACT game allowed them to retain the initiative.

The second half opened dramatically with a clumsy tackle from the ACT resulting in a penalty after 3 minutes, but ACT keeper Georgina Worth parried the kick from Hayley Evans. ACT striker Caitlin Cantrill collected a yellow card soon afterwards, and NSW drove a free kick into the ACT net but the goal was ruled offside. NSW piled on the pressure with a stab from Ruby Mosca at a well-placed cross just missing the ACT goal, but the ACT defence worked well. A fine high save from Georgina Worth kept NSW from equalising at 15 minutes, but but a few minutes later a short pass found Rhianna Pollicina unmarked in front of the ACT goal and she slammed home an equaliser. The period after this saw both teams and many spectators throw all their efforts into clinching the game, but the 1-1 score remained at the final whistle.

The ACT Under 14s will be placed 3rd or 4th in the Group A ladder, depending on the results of games played on Friday.

The ACT Under 15s faced Tasmania later in the day. The Tasmanian team this year came exclusively from Hobart, with a population of just over 200,000 people.The team had played together in the Southern Premier League in Tasmania this season, and this cohesion helped them to deflect the ACT for the first half, assisted by poor finishing from the ACT strikers, and give them a 1-0 lead at half-time when Bella Young tapped home a well-delivered cross from speedy striker Stacia Hutchinson. The second half saw ACT assert themselves with an equaliser from Eloise O'Brien from a Thalia backhouse cross after 2 minutes. This was followed by a strong solo run and finish from Olivia Gurney to take the score to 2-1, with a further two goals from Thalia Backhouse and another from Olivia Gurney. The ACT defence faced little challenge in the second half, but Emma Kirk and Siena Senatore were effective in stopping Tasmanian attacks and the game closed with a final scoreline of 5-1 to the ACT.

Day 3 Update From The Girls Under 14 and Under 15 National Junior Championships

Two parents (Eddie Senatore and Simon Kravis) of players in both teams have kindly forwarded the NPL progress reports from Day 3 of competition.


Day 3 Results


For the ACT it was all hard work:

ACT Under 14s - Draw 3-3 (ACT v Northern NSW)

ACT Under 15 - Loss 3-1 (ACT v Queensland) - this was a cross over game with a very strong Group A team. ACT reported to have played well.


Simon Kravis, the NPL roving reporter of previous NJC reports sent this report on both games


Westfield Football Federation Australia National Youth Championship for Girls BCU Stadium, Coffs Harbour

Wed 13 July 2011

Both the ACT Under 15 and Under 14 teams played Victoria this morning. The Under 15 game was disappointing for the ACT team. Despite having the better of the play for much of the first half, they were unable to keep possession or mount coherent attacks for the remainder of the match and went down 4-0.

The Under 15 game started on a dew-soaked pitch under cloudy skies, and players from both sides found it hard to keep their footing. ACT started strongly, with Olivia Gurney pressing hard from the outset, with a shot from her going just wide after a few minutes, but it was Victoria who opened the scoring against the run of play after 20 minutes, when Candela Ferrerya Bas struck from a well-delivered corner.ACT responded with long-range shots from Thalia Backhouse and Olivia Gurney, but without any follow-up to collect spills or rebounds. Victoria extended their lead to 2-0 after 30 minutes when a cross found the feet of Claudis Dimosi in front of goal for a simple tap-in that seemed to surprise even her. Just before the break, Thalia Backhouse netted for the ACT from what looked like a goalkeeper spill, but the goal was disallowed.
Victoria asserted themselves more after the break, with Candela Ferrerya Bas directing a header just wide from a free kick, and Natalie Laboska looping a free kick over the defensive wall and past ACT goalkeeper Rebecca Luttrell to take the score to 3-0.ACT pushed forward sporadically but were unable to retain possession against an increasingly confident Victorian midfield, despite a nimble performance from ACT's Monica Cerro. Victoria added a further goal from Elaina Vatcky just before the end to take them to solid 4-0 victory.

The Under 14 game was very close-run, with both teams moving the ball around well, but the Victorian defence proved more solid to give them the game 3-2, with the deciding goal only coming in the last minutes.
ACT found themselves under immediate pressure from the start, with three shots on goal in the first 10 minutes, which were well handled by goalkeeper Jessica Giovinazzo. The ACT then rallied and their tenacious forward line of Maddie Whittall, Samantha Roff and Caitlin Cantrell harried the Victorian defence and netted the ball after 15 minutes, but the goal was narrowly ruled offside. Further chances from Hiwot Johnstone and Caitlin Cantrell followed, and with the ACT defence largely successful in closing down Victorian strikers Marianna Anthony and Beatrice Goad, the ACT seemed well placed to take the lead in the second half.

However, this did not transpire. ACT narrowly escaped conceding two goals in the first 5 minutes through defensive errors and then conceded a penalty after 15 minutes which was calmly converted by Jessica Pitts. ACT equalised a few minutes later when Hayley Armstrong drove home a cross from Bridget Calabria, but almost went behind again when a loose ball trickled outside rather than inside the ACT goal. A poor Victorian goal clearance was pounced on and slotted home by Caitlin Cantrell to give the ACT a 2-1 lead, but ACT were again saved from losing this lead by defender Hollie Massey sweeping the ball off the goal line after the goalkeeper was beaten. The relief for the ACT was short-lived, as Jessica Pitts struck again from a goalmouth melee to bring the score to 2-2 with 7 minutes remaining. With the tension drawing shouts of encouragement and advice from all around the pitch, Victorian substitute Lani Murdoch struck 2 minutes later to give Victoria a 3-2 lead which they maintained despite valiant efforts from the ACT.

Tomorrow, the Under 14s face up to NSW Metropolitan, who currently top the Under 14 Group A ladder, while the Under 15s meet Tasmania.