In this article, AFC A licensed coach Andrew Oakley shares his perspective on a significant issue in Australian grassroots football. Australian football is suffering from the same damaging effects by the same actions that are being studied in depth by the Aspen Institute here in the States. Andrew discusses the risks of trials, recruitment and talent identification, outlining the importance of belonging and cohesion in a young footballers developmental journey.

Every soccer player practices..... but true athletes train.  And that difference is paramount! 

A study led by UQ School of Biological Sciences Professor Robbie Wilson used analytic techniques developed in evolutionary biology to determine the impact of a player's skill, athletic ability, and balance on their success during a game.

Many players battle with the idea of acceptance by those closest to them, and approval from those who can define their next footballing move. But at what cost does this approval come? Many of these young players sacrifice creativity, problem solving skills, and even their own identity, in search of praise which is often misinformed.

Almost every single football coach will at some point discuss with their players about their work rate or intensity with or without possession from games. But consider this question 'how many coaches out their train it or demand the same from their training'?

In my daily conversations with coaches of every level, from grassroots to the professional ranks, we often talk about a topic that is near and dear to our hearts: what makes someone a valuable member of the team. What are the qualities that make an athlete recruitable? Is it speed? Strength? Skill? Some combination of all the above? Or is it something more?

This paper outlines the connections between three problems which are deeply interlinked, growing in influence, and shaping many aspects of social and cultural life, including football:

• The overly-competitive and anxiety evoking cultures of modern work & educational settings – shaping football club structures and traditional coaching practice

• Social and environmental challenges – from structural racism to climate change football is part of these challenges and may offer solutions

• Deteriorating mental health is on the rise among football players and in wider society – something that has become particularly serious in youth football.

In northern France about an hour outside Paris lies the central nervous system of the French football machine. Buried in the plush green woods of the Rambouillet forrest the institut national du football de Clairefontaine or simply INF Clairefontaine is perhaps the most celebrated national football academy in the world. Clairefontaine is responsible for refining and perfecting the technical and tactical acumen of players like Thierry Henry, Louis Saha, Medhi Benatia, Nicolas Anelka, William Gallas, Hatem Ben Arfa, Abou Diaby, Olivier Giroud, Blaise Matuidi and the recent crown jewel of the programme – PSG’s Kylian Mbappe.

“My daughter is the tallest fourth grader in her class and loves to play basketball,” said a father to me recently. “Sadly, I know that she will ultimately grow to be of average height. Since she is now only allowed to rebound and give the ball to shorter-ball handler players on her team, she will never develop the skills she will need to play basketball. After her last game, she told her 5-year old sister that she did not shoot or score because her job is to rebound and play defense, because that is what her coach told her. What should I do?”