In the Spanish setup, well Bar?a anyway,

The kids begin playing on 5 a side pitches. Once they can prove that they can competently hold a ball and play in close proximity then they move up to a bigger pitch. The first pitch they play on has no goals. To score they make 20 passes. The thinking being is that this improves the ball control in tight spaces. They are taught three simple things which are reinforced right up to the first team: Pass, Move, Receive.

What happens in England? Someone's Dad who thinks he has all the answers, the kind of guy who sits barking orders at the TV, pushes kids the way he thinks is right. This doesn't work.

I found from my own experience having been signed as a youth player for Norwich, released and then playing semi pro in England and Spain that the coaching in England is poor. The team I played for in Spain had much better coaches than any I've ever played for here. When I first went over I tried playing at the fast pace like we have in England and it didn't work. They just waited for me to run out of steam and beat me because technically they were better. I learned more in two years playing in Spain than I did in 15 years in England.

Posted By: Al NCFC4life, Jun 28, 22:59:14