When ever anyone criticises the NC they are attacked and everything they say is listed as complaining but I think there are some valid points made. and yes I would like every kid aged 8 to 12 given exactly the same training each week and no that does not stop coaches from extra training or being creative. It does however insure that every player is given an equal opportunity to develop. I have always been in favour of a national skills test.
so don't throw out the baby with the bath water. as for the FFA they well supported Edwards as did the machine that make up the system. and he has loads of qualifications.

I am no great fan of the FFA, but I believe the NC provides a reasonable blueprint for youth coaching and development, as long as the coaches involved in implementing the system are half decent. The idea of a National skills test has merit, but you still need coaches with the capacity to encourage kids to apply these skills in game scenarios.
My issue is with some ex-players like Katholos who seem to believe the game owes them a living. In comparison, there are a number of ex-NSL players in Sydney who have carved out careers in coaching across a number of years since their retirements. I'm sure not all of them are devotees of the new Dutch system, but many have gone on to do the National Coaching courses. The few that I have talked to about it have commented on how challenging and informative the courses were. Katholos is quick to dismiss coaching certificates, but based on what? His playing days? In the 80s?
As for the FFA youth set-up; I see your Edwards and I'll raise you an Okon. Okon seems to be the perfect example of what Katholos believes should be the norm. He was also one of Australia's best and most technically gifted players. He retired in 2007, and is handed the Aussie youth u18s job in 2008 with no coaching experience. He is still in the national youth setup in 2014, and his Aussie youth teams are still not qualifying, and apparently, still not playing at the technical or tactical standard that we all hope for.

Good well thought out arguments except for Edwards, Edwards should never be allowed to coach in Australia again.

1. He sends his sons to reading out side the system then holds the system up as a perfect example.
2. Claims to like the 433 but his sons play in a country that predominantly plays 442.
3. Nepotism gets his son a job at Perth glory and this is the worst sin yet. It is Nepotism in every age group in every team in every club in every zone that is the last bastion of the bastards that have and are holding the game back.
He needs to be made an example of.

I know it is hard ( a top coach I know just lost a friend and assistant because he would not select his son over a better player.)but that is why he is a top coach he is willing to make the decisions others are not.

I agree with you on Edwards.

Edwards was always rubbish, claimed that he would play the curriculum way at Perth Glory, he did the exact opposite. at least Okon has got his team playing some good attacking football, he just lacked the experience to handle certain situations in games whether it be tactically or poor man management skills leaving our certain players i.e Amini at under 20 WC last year.

I think the FFA treated their youth teams for coach development not just for player development i blame Han Berger on that one.

This needs to change, the question is do we have enough quality coaches who have the experience to prepare teams with limited time? Not many i feel...

At local level I see good coaches hammered down by the system all the time ie Gareth Edds




unfortunately all the bad ones are kept on at every level.

This is the big problem at grassroots level the things getting taught (if they are at all) are not being applied in game scenarios at your every day Sunday morning grass roots games. It is still about winning at sub U12 level even though there is no table kept. It is great running the drills and following the NC though I doubt this is being done to any great level but the boys need to play it during a game. From my experiences this is not happening.

There has to be a better way to manage and assess the SAP stage.

I agree, but in a way, game day should just be the icing on the cake. It should be about replicating game situations in training, so the kids train at the same (preferably higher) intensity, speed, and physical contest level as they would on game day. Sure, do the drills, but then encourage the kids to implement theses skills at training in game situations.
From what I've heard, too many coaching sessions seems to be either about giving the kids a ball and letting them run around randomly like chickens with their heads cut off, or conversely, endless drills where kids play brilliantly at half pace against cones but strangely fail to replicate this on game day.

This is because the NC is not being followed and your points are valid. This is why when game day comes they revert to the easiest way to win because when the pressure is on they cannot do the things like holding the ball in tight situations instead they are too busy clearing the lines.

No point in preaching one thing and then game day doing something else.

Its not the coaches it is the parents if little johnnie scores a goal to the detriment of the team and style of play and the coach points it out he is picking on the kid. Parents all want their kid to score every game from every position.