Over the years football has become more and more commercial. At its highest levels the game is now so professional and scientific it bears little resemblance to that played just a generation ago. This has brought great benefits for players, supporters and TV audiences around the world. A whole industry has erupted to support the game, spawning Directors of Football, Sports Psychologists, Performance Analysts and even Sleep Advisers. Clubs have poured millions into Elite Academies for those identified as having a chance of reaching the top and reaping the rewards. Young Starlets that graduate from these Centres of Excellence are paid thousands of pounds per week despite never having done anything of merit in the game. Coaches are trained and can't wait to get into the talent factories as a "first step on the rung" to a dream full time job with a club. Kids as young as nine and ten have a Golden ticket dangled in front of them and doting, eager parents hapi...
Hi Tony, first thanks for referencing Wolfie!
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I think your point about "feeling and passion" is spot on. There is an age old friction between the game as an expression and the game as a process. A system that is the expression of a coaches ideas on how the game should be played Vs the players expression as themselves as a player.
That's why we have teams, to meld the two together into a functioning outfit.
I don't know any answers. I just know that sometimes, coaches are very quick to start with "what should my session look like" rather than starting with the game. This is particularly important at young ages. The game is the starting point or it doesn't mean anything.
Cheers Tony