By Decentric - 1 Aug 2012 12:26 AM
FFA Technical Director Han Berger says Australian football needs a shake-up, writes Fox Sports' Simon Hill
By Simon Hill
FOX SPORTS July 26, 2012 5:28PM
FFA Technical Director Han Berger has issued a stark warning to Australian stakeholders in the world game, particularly those charged with developing the next generation: implement change now or Australia will be left behind in its bid to become a power on the global stage.
Berger, who has been in the job for three years, says there is still much confusion as to what the National Curriculum is designed to achieve. So much so, that he is currently writing a second, updated version, due to be released at the end of the year.
“Fundamental change is never easy,” says Berger. “New processes do take a while, but I’m not sure we’re moving fast enough.
“Youth development is still all over the place, and the general level of youth coaching is still very poor.”
Berger admits he himself is partly to blame.
“I assumed certain knowledge levels and understanding when writing the curriculum,” he says.
"The first version was about the philosophical approach, but some haven’t been able to grasp it. Others understand, but aren’t keen to implement it.
“Version two will explain everything I took for granted, and how it relates to version one. It will be more in-depth and practical - exercise sections will be included.
“Last time I presumed that if they understood the philosophies, the coaches themselves would be able to design the drills.”
Berger’s vision is of a unified system of development from the A-League down.
The National Competitions Review - unveiled only last month - has been designed to create a level of elite clubs under the A-League with the proper structures; “Pathways to develop players from under-12s upwards,” as Berger puts it.
“A licensing system will ensure that these clubs (the current State League clubs) have accredited coaches, junior teams down to under 12s, a football plan, and a Technical Director,” Berger adds.
“The A-League clubs should have the same structure and in 5-10 years time, every A-League club should have its own youth academy.”
But putting all that into place doesn’t only take time, it takes money. Who pays? Berger doesn’t have the answer, but he is unequivocal in his stance.
“We have to make a choice,” he says. “The game is only sustainable with these structures in place.
“If Australia cannot build a real football culture, then progress will be difficult.”
“At the moment, people don’t work together. At State League level, youth coaches move around and take players with them, or clubs try to offload kids overseas because they smell money, or are linked to private or overseas academies. Where is the pathway?”
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Progress has been made in coach education, with FFA designed courses replacing the generic qualifications presented by regional body AFC.
“AFC have approved our new courses and, along with Japan, we are the only AFC member federations which are allowed to run its own courses instead of the generic AFC ones,” says Berger.
“But educating a new generation of modern coaches is a time-consuming process and it will take time before we see the result of that.”
The Japanese of course are the regional benchmark. The Blue Samurai are Asian champions, their women’s team World Cup holders and their under-19 side thrashed Australia 5-0 recently in AFC under-22 Cup qualifying.
Berger was in Sumatra to watch the Young Socceroos campaign, and believes Japan's year-round football is a huge advantage (he’d like to see all NYL teams follow Newcastle Jets' lead and play in the local state competitions), but it’s their long-term plan that really makes the difference.
“They have a 50-year strategic football development plan which aims to win the World Cup by 2030, cut into various steps with timelines and objectives along the way. They are very structured in what they do.” says Berger.
And so, Berger implores clubs, coaches and administrators to put the plan for Australia’s long-term future into place. Now.
“If we are serious about being a leader in the world game, then we must implement these changes and create these conditions. If we are unable to, then we must revise our aims.” says Berger, whose updated version of the curriculum will have as its sub-title: “Roadmap to World Class”.
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By Decentric - 29 Oct 2012 9:28 PM
Steelinho wrote:
However, this can be countered with better coaching throughout the country. The better and more widespread the coaching, the less we need these "talented player pathways," the more we'll see these players become elite through natural development and the less chance we'll have of missing those players for the new generation of A-League/Socceroos.
At least, that's the dream.
Sage comment, Steelinho.
This is how I perceive things too. The state FFA Game Development Officer, who is also the state head SAP coach, also believes in this mantra.
The better skilled Aussie club coaches are, the better for players. Ultimately, the SAP/Skillaroos Program was conceived by Berger, because he didn't trust a lot of coaches to deliver what he wanted them to.
I'd like to think that our Community Football Program is augmenting the SAP/Skillaroos, except that we are providing opportunities to players regardless of ability. We also teach some explicit technique too, unlike the SAP.
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