The development of a young player is never achieved in isolation. Regardless of coaches opinions, feelings and desire to be seen as the key driver in the development of a “top” player it is never just a coach alone. The biggest influence in a player’s life is their family and particularly one of the parents. Could be both parents but generally one parent is more instrumental that the other in doing what is required. Today’s blog won’t go into dealing with the parents of young players but they are without doubt the biggest influencers on their decisions and attitudes.
Many times I have heard coaches say “he is one of my players” as though its a mystical bond. I always think unless the player is your son or daughter then you as the coach has had an influence in the player’s development. It could be a profound influence that impacts across their life in many ways but it could also just be an influence in football.
In a 24 hour period the player sleeps for 8 hours, some of them seem to sleep for 12 hours, goes to school, plays with their friends, talks to their parents, eat, drink, rest etc. Their attitudes and desires are honed in each of their environments. These environments impact upon their football development. As an example a young man who is now striving to be a professional player struggled with his fitness for a long period of time. A lot of people talked to him and tried to get him to physically sharpen up. He had just moved into a flat and was flatting with his mates. The nutrition wasn’t the best to be fair but also the capability to eat correctly for a footballer was seriously curtailed by a lack of money.
That influence was the key impact on his ability to move onto the next level. Interestingly now that he is in a better paid job his fitness levels are no longer an issue and he does all the right things to be physically prepared. His attitude, desire and skill was never in doubt it was just lack of money and the environment he was in that was the biggest influence at that stage. So many influences have to be right in the development of a player let alone developing a young man or woman of character.
This quote from Pele is fantastic especially if you remove the football aspect and talk about life:
Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing — Pele
I could well imagine a young women who wants to be a world class scientist needs to have the same attitudes etc as a young woman who wishes to represent her country in football.
Colombia 2011
When we were in Colombia for the 2011 FIFA U20 World Cup we were invited to play against one of the top Cali academies. Unfortunately due to the heavy workload and niggling injuries that we had picked up from all the travel and the camp in Los Angeles we had to turn down the chance. The coaches did accept an invitation to attend the academy and view the players in their environment.
It was one of the most surreal experiences of our lives. We had to drive for many miles through some of the poorest areas of Cali. Colombia is very different to New Zealand, as you would expect, with what we would classify as slums and shacks dotting the hills and alleys. As an aside they are some of the happiest people I have been lucky enough to meet as they have a real willingness to embrace life and to love family and experiences.
The police in the van were quite concerned and spent the whole time with their hands on their guns and looking very nervously around. Apparently it was very rare for a policeman, let along a tourist to ever be in those parts of Cali. As always on these tours in countries that aren’t as safe as you would like you just trust that the people tasked with keeping you safe are doing their job.
We arrived at the “academy” and looking around wondered what we had turned up to. The front of the building was a home, albeit a fairly large and impressive home and we couldn’t see any pitches. We were taken around the back of the house and there was a training area that could only be described as rough. The field was the type of field that many parents of young players in NZ would refuse to let them play on as too dangerous. We watched the boys play a game and the level was outstanding. They were at a level that I have only witnessed at some of the top academies in the world. They moved the ball at speed and their touch was outstanding. This was on a pitch with little grass, patches of mud, clumps of weeds and mainly dust. Of most interest was the desire and willingness of the players to work hard and the level of commitment was outstanding.
Players from that academy go all around the world to be professional players. Their influences are very very different to ours but the biggest influence is their parents are required to make an enormous commitment to move the entire family to live in small shacks around the field with the prospect of employment in Cali being almost nil. Without the influence of the parents then no matter what the player, coaches or academy desires it won’t happen unless the parent commits totally.
The development of a player, like any other young boy or girl, is never a single influence and for every player it is different. Look at the influences and factors in their life for any reasons as to why they may be struggling.