This half size pitch sounds like a good idea.

It creates more pitches too.

Why did the FFA go in this path when introducing 11v11 at Under 12s, whats behind there motives?

I honestly think it just to keep parents happy. You would be amazed at the percentage of parents that are just busting to see their kids play real football on bigger pitches and for points when the kids clearly aren't ready.

My understanding was that Under 12 competitions were to be included into SSF until the AFC dictated that member Fedrations were now required to field an U14 National Side.It was deemed necessary to field 11v11 Under 12 to assist in the identification process for the U14 Side.

PS
To be selected for the U14 national Team a player needed to be in the U13 Skillaroos it is at this point that U12's are identified for U13 Skillaroos.

Edited by Arthur: 26/9/2013 02:45:15 PM

That seems silly because your best players are going to be your best players whether they are playing 9 a side or 11 a side. You would think FFA would get that.

2012 NSW rep 11's were broken into SAL and SAP. SAL was full field 11 v 11 and SAP was SSG. Both were non comp but they had a cup competition at the end of the year that included both groups of players. For mine the West SAP side was clearly the best side during the year across both comps and they ended up winning the cup comp quite easily on a full field even though they spent the season proper playing SSGs.

The FFA needs to decide what they truly believe is right for youth development. What is behind the FFAs reasoning here? That SSF is the best format for our kids development unless they go on to play for their country? Maybe the FFA should start scouting u6 games and develop an elite full sized field squad to prepare for the 2022 u14s AFC tournament?

I'm not sure about under 12s, but last year a FFA national instructor said the gradually increasing size of teams as they move up to under 12, was to appease hostile parents and other stakeholders. I'd like to see 4v4 ( 5v5 with keepers) all the way up to under 12s, then go to 11v11 like they do in Brazil. Baan advocated this when FFA TD.

With the small SSGs the are a lot of touches. Games are often won depending on skill rather than than tactics.

In cricket development they would get us playing games against each other with reduced numbers and you would perfect one shot at a time. There was a very clear perscription on how to technically develop players

However, a competitive attitude, self confidence to punch above your weight, mental toughness were all coached too through playing us in lower mens grades (at the age of thirteen and sometimes even younger)

This was done without compromise on technique. Leg spinners had to bowl over the wicket for most of their overs even if they were getting flogged and the captain had to bowl them. Field placings had to be aggressive. You had to play proper cricket shots and even if you hit a six with a baseball slog you were chastised. Players were chosen on technique rather than physique. We would get flogged at first but eventually be better than the lower mens grades and eventually the upper mens grades, some as early as 14

I have heard michael slater comment that this has changed but I'm not sure if it is true or not

Seems there is a lot of analogies that can be drawn to football coaching? Why not have 12-15 play against lower mens grades but be uncompromising in the tactics and technique and selection policy?

Why can't we have a technical possesion based game with mental toughness? Its not either or. Just takes some out of the box thinking

This comination caused australia to punch a mile above their weight in cricket.

In cricket, we have had the best coaching system in the world, which apparently other nations have followed..

We are a powerhouse, albeit in a small pool of countries who compete at cricket.

right and I was wondering if we could do something similar in football coaching, have kids (12+) play against weaker adult teams and have the kids have a no compromise technical and tactical approach. Get flogged at first but keep at it

They do this already grazor but they don't have to play them against men. They just throw them up into the next age group and they get beaten almost every week. The ones lucky enough to make the AIS side then get thrown into the youth league and the same thing happens. Here is a link to the ladder for last season:

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au//yleague/ladder

I know its not all about winning but I firmly believe losing can become a habit as well. I also believe if you're constantly out of your depth it will affect your development.

Fozz's article on the World Game mentioned that the FFA is planning to create videos of the practice content in the NC, which is why the FFA are looking for a new digital partner to not just take over the websites but also probably to digitalise the NC content.

Which again the FFA will have taken another huge step forward. =d>

Edited by Barca4life: 27/9/2013 01:48:10 PM

What the book doesn't tell you, is that it's easier to thread an elephant through a needle than playing at a top level overseas and making good money not the miserable money one gets paid in this country, you ask any player what they want to be when they grow up, is it a Plummer, No - is it a builder No - is it going to Uni - No but they will tell you I want to play for x a s I want to be a professional soccer player, many many players will be very disappointed and at the end will be un- skilled and in big trouble.

Even if one plays English Leagues One and Two, they don't make a fortune either.

When some Aussie players go for easy money in the MIddle-east, which doesn't help their career prospects, I sometimes wonder why they play pro football at all.

If it is simply money they are interested in , they might as well think about a profession from an earlier age, instead of being a pro sportsperson.

You know what they're doing? They're just boys in their twenties living the dream.

If someone had thrown $60K at me to play a sport when I was 20 I would've snatched their hand off for the chance.

Probably done it for 30 tbh.

Great stuff , Arthur.=d>

A mate and I have been discussing this a bit off forum. The difference in wages between the EPL and leagues I and 2 is amazing.

I'll send this link to him.

It seems lucrative at 20, but then it seems to dim as footballers approach 30.

Have to agree with Bozza at National youth team level results do matter, it should be do not win at all costs such as long balls etc but winning the right way including using our never say die attitude. Playing nice and losing is not achieving anything. We need the killer pass, the final third ruthlessness that the top nations have and we lack at all levels . I think we have gone from one extreme to the other and need to find a better balance in between.

Wrong nation and the wrong players if the socceroos want to get some results against the best nations the whole youth system must change better coaches, take a look at the NRL they have the best coaches in the world, why easy because it's the nations main sport and all the money is channelled this way.

So to match the player salaries of the ecl would take over four million pounds for a squad.. A league one squad just over a million pounds

Looks like we are actually punching above our weight in the a league....