No Guarantee

The development of a soccer player is a long process in which players progress gradually from a simple to a more complex involvement in the game. This progression requires proper guidance and direction from quality, knowledgeable, licensed coaches. This process cannot be rushed, but players should always compete at a level that is both challenging and demanding. I believe that there are eight elements that are essential for proper player development.

1) Competitive Training Environment that is demanding, challenging, varied, motivating and stimulating on a regular consistent basis.

2) Quality Coaching to help, guide, direct and assist players through their youth careers. Coaches must continue with their on going education.

3) Competitive Matches against teams that will push the players to their maximum capabilities.

4) Quality Referees who understand and can interpret the laws of the game.

5) Facilities that are numerous and of a high quality.

6) Proper Equipment - Boots, Shin Guards, Balls, Proper Dress, Inflated Soccer Ball.

7) Political Pipeline of Administrators, Politicians, Coaches and Referees that when making decisions and policies consider if it enhances the development of the player.

8) Player Identification System that can find the top players and place them in the appropriate level and program.

There is no guarantee that a player will reach his or her potential, but at least we must give him or her the opportunity to become "The Best They Can Be".

In the words of Bobby Howe, US Soccer National Director of Coaching Education, "soccer is an art not a science and the game should be played attractively as well as effectively. Soccer is a game of skill, imagination, creativity and decision-making. Coaching should not stifle, but enhance those elements".

"There is no magic formula or short cut to successful development, coaching at youth levels is all about working with players to improve performance, not about recruiting players to build teams to win championships. Soccer is a player's game and the players should be considered first when political, administrative and coaching decisions are made".

The Beginnings of Barcelona's Superstars

By Mike Woitalla

The world's three greatest players have a few things in common.

Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi all stand barely 5-foot-7 tall. They're teammates at Barcelona and they all came out of the club's youth program.

The trio finished tops in voting for the 2010 FIFA Ballon d’Or, the world player of the year award won by Messi.

VIDEO OF INIESTA IN HIS YOUTH


2010 World Cup champs Iniesta (age 26) and Xavi (31) joined Barcelona at age 11 and 12, respectively. Messi (23) arrived from Argentina at age 13.

One person who had a close eye on all three of them during their youth days is Albert Benaiges, the coordinator of Barcelona's youth teams, which spawned seven players who played for Spain in its World Cup final win.

After the Ballon d’Or honors, Benaiges recalled his impressions of the trio in their early years.

“No one back then knew they would be world-class players,” he told Germany’s Kicker Magazine. “For sure, Messi’s great talent was already apparent. Also in Iniesta and Xavi one saw early on that they offered something special -- or else we wouldn’t have brought them in.

“But anyone who says that when he saw those three players at age 11, 12 and 13 he knew they were future superstars is a liar.”

Benaiges says that it’s at age 16 when they can predict if a boy might mature into a very good player.

“Before that age it’s nearly impossible,” he said.

Benaiges does recall that Messi was incredibly fast with the ball. That even at 11, Xavi almost never lost the ball. And that Iniesta was a sensitive, considerate boy – shy but always willing to help others.

Messi, during one year, played for teams at five different levels within the club – and never complained whether it was with the A team or C team – always giving his best.

Regarding the type of training Barcelona youth players receive:

“Technical skills we can improve up till the age of 13,” Benaiges says. “But every pro was born a soccer player. Instinct and game intelligence we can’t create. Both of those come within.”

Asked what is trained, Benaiges responded: “Only technique and tactics, not fitness, which they can catch up on later.”

The ball is the focus:

"The most important aspect of our program is always ball work. In all the exercises they do, whether it's physical preparation or any other kind of training, the ball is always there."

(Mike Woitalla, the executive editor of Soccer America, coaches youth soccer for East Bay United in Oakland, Calif. His youth soccer articles are archived at YouthSoccerFun.com.)