Misconceptions & Fallacies About long-term players development Curricula & Failures of Soccer/Football Coaching Licensing programs:By Elvis J. Goes

It’s been 36 years and counting since I first started my football (soccer) coaching education and coaching journey. At 56 years of age I am still learning, studying, translating foreign language football literature into English, attending football seminars, coaching education workshops and yes, still coaching.

I grew up in Goa, a tiny Portuguese territory in India, where football was the only sport during those days, perhaps introduced by the 450 years of Portuguese presence in Goa. Like in Portugal everything revolved around football on and off the field in Goa.

Usually my Sundays or weekends were spent watching my dad’s favorite team Vasco SC, in the middle of the afternoon and then post game visit to his favorite pub, for the post game discussion with his buddies which lasted until midnight sometimes.  Anyway, the game analysis was so intense and detailed, every moment of the game was broken down and cross-examined and re-analyzed. Looking back I can say that these were true learning moments in my youthful life about football.

I often wondered, why none of these men took up coaching football? Now I can answer because coaching football (soccer) is not easy! In fact it’s one of the most difficult professions, and requires your undivided time, with in-depth knowledge not only about the game but much more. In fact it goes beyond the football field and training grounds, as a Professional Coach you are in the thick of it all. On one end managing the players and their often crisis and on the other hand often managing your own crisis. It’s never ending job and often very volatile profession because unlike a government job or a career path, in football you can be hired and fired at a moments notice! That is if you do not win games and trophies. I think it’s a profession that demanded the most out of you, at least in my situation, as I have been on both side of the aisle as I have worked for Corporate American as well as professional and amateur football in the coaching.

My opinion, my football knowledge, my suggestions and recommendations are based on my experiences of playing, coaching youth to seniors and studying the game of football through formal licensing programs, attending seminars, mostly reading coaching books, observations of different professional team trainings and coaching in USA, India and now in Portugal.

Going back to my main reason why I wanted to write about this important yet a bit controversial subject, which is misconception of youth development, skills acquisition and the failures in Licensing Programs? Because, It is frustrating to see that even today, more so than ever before lots of fallacies, half-truths, and myths are passed on by some individuals and some countries to the less informed individuals around the world. It’s exciting to see fancy drills, quick ball movements and whole lot of football jargon on social media platforms now a days. Does these mean it’s what your players or athletes need? Are these fancy drills and exercises telling us the whole truth of a comprehensive football development plan? Does it teach all the moments of the game as in a football game? If you feel yes, go knock your socks off! if not take a time-out and research them and see what is that your team or players need? or find out what is a Long Term Player's Development Program entails...

In fact even today, or in the past in India or USA or many parts of Asia, as I travel for football related work or coaching workshops. I noticed that if you have a strong command over the English language and a sound football terminology, and claim you were a youth coach or player at one of the top clubs (names dropping) even with very limited knowledge of football long-term players development program, you still qualified as a coach and likely hood of getting a job over a more experienced, knowledgeable and seasoned professional from non English speaking individual from countries like Portugal, Spain or Brazil or south Central America. However, it’s fast changing today, top clubs and federation who are truly looking for authentic and effective footballers development solutions are employing coaches with sound long-term players development methodology and understandings with time tested and proven strategies.

I started writing this document for two reasons; First, why USA is failing to develop top quality world-class footballers? And second Why such half truths and fallacies are continuously being promoted in several Asian Countries? By certain countries who has such a strong hold on the so called football education…

I feel that a country like USA if cannot develop top world-class youth football players year in and year out and miss out on World Cup qualifications, and Olympic qualifications year in and year out, it’s means the youth footballers development program is not working or maybe there is a flaw in the way football is run (youth and professional competition) in that country, whatever the problem they will need to figure it out. (My immediate reaction is Franchise Football clubs system is good for making money not developing footballers- that's a short answer but long answer is a document we will have to research and write someday :)

Compound that by 1000 times and you have a country like India, with absolutely poor football ecosystem, poor footballers development programs, unprofessionalism, unknowledgeable administrators about football game who are In-charge and running the football federation and associations ...what do you think is the outcome of the country’s players development? Zero! Nothing good can come out of it! At least USA can claim many top world-class footballers over the years. As for India with 1.3 billion people it’s hard to imagine that they are not able to produce one top footballer they can export to top UEFA leagues. Now, that’s a pity! and a shame!

I strongly feel that one reason why this disparity in development of players in these countries is that the football licensing process (football education) is flawed, biased, inadequate, and certainly not all-inclusive to the point it should be stopped or revamped and some other process of coaching qualifications (education) should be introduced. I also think the licensing program lacks the fullness and is too mechanical and artificial the way its delivered, and to compound it further. In USA, it was mostly delivered and executed in the licensing program by coaches who in my personal and professional opinion had limited understanding of footballers development or the game of football in it’s totality. Or perhaps something more deeper than what appears on the outside, such as not a well thought out and designed curricula for those countries without understanding their historical, cultural, their physiological, psychosocial, and temperamental understanding of these players in these countries. (It was cookie cutter one size fits all- imported and implemented)

We all know that “The game” is the best teacher (USSF Slogan) and the game will tell you if the coach is good or bad or if the teaching methodology is working or not. But sometimes egotistic, know-it-all, narcissistic individuals who are coaching educators, judging others based on such a subjective topics and telling other hopefuls they are not good to coach or fail them at this licensing programs is outright wrong and someone should put an end to it (This is happening quite often at USSF as well as AFC licensing programs).

There are three main misconceptions and misunderstandings about youth football development programs as per my experiences and findings (I am sure you will find lot more flaws as you research this further).

First: The licensing program made us believe that coaching is about conducting these progressive fancy drills or so called exercises with specific grid sizes or markers placed at certain distance or what not! In fact most of the licensing programs will fail you if your corresponding grid size for your topic was incorrect based on so called their strict requirements or even worse if you forgot to make your coaching points to show you are knowledgeable (the opposite is true in football coaching). It’s a pity and for lack of words travesty of footballers development process. So, if you are licensed coach that meant, you were taught with a very unrealistic drills or exercises, flawed system and you were told to make unnecessary coaching points, impractical observations and use a famous phrase like “freeze” or “stop” to stop and make your coaching points. If the kids are playing football and enjoying it and if the objectives are met why interrupt it.

Second: I observed that the biggest issue in some parts of Asia or even USA is too many different football methodologies, too many different views of the same simple and beautiful game without a proper understanding of that countries football background. Often not having a consistent curricula and different conflicting views about how, why, what and when to teach the youth players without an end goal or objective as a specific game model or philosophy to follow... Football can be very complex and complicated game, and yet it’s very easy to play, its creative, allows an athlete to make his or her own signature moves, allowing a player to bring his or her character and personality to the forefront. It’s easy to play because one can play the game anywhere and everywhere, requires no top gear or goal posts and everyone and anyone can play, basic requirement a round sphere object which we refer as a football, and hence it’s such a hit (favorite pastime) among young poor youth all over the world to play this game to get out of tough circumstances.

I feel that Football (soccer) poses a unique challenge to the American coaches, because there is a contradictory issue which plagues soccer in USA. Most of the American sports are designed for a coach who can ask for time outs and call plays from outside to plan a strategy but in football (soccer) one cannot call time-outs and stop the game or call plays as they do in American football or basketball. Now, add to the confusion coaches in USA are taught to teach the game of football (at the licensing programs) with stoppage with a term they use “freeze” Or “Stop” To explain the coaching points and give feedback to the players. If you ever watch youth football (soccer) training or game in USA you will notice that the youth players are told at every moment while playing what they should do or where to move and so forth including constant instructions from the coach and parents to shoot or pass! (I was guilty of this 8 years ago)

The biggest problem with this kind of coaching is, we are made to believe its the best way forward. The very unique features and characteristics of football and footballers is the creativity and autonomy of the players who are performing these often amazing skills and moves to dazzle the audience. One cannot teach the game creating artificial activities which are promoted at the licensing programs. Countries have a difficulty producing creative midfielders, or creativity attacking players. Why, because the creativity and dribbling skills and moves which are a part of an holistic process which is not possible when the main focus of the entire curriculum is focused on telling the youth or teaching the youth with mechanical and artificial situation. The biggest issue I had with the entire licensing program or coaching education curricula’s is that they make it sound so objective and make you believe that its the only way to coach football. When football is a creative game with a whole lot of unpredictability and subjectivity, how can it be only pass or fail grade and who made these instructors so high and mighty and all knowing?

Even the best coaches in the world can loose a game, or two... they may have great overall winning averages but it goes to show you that nothing is certain in the game of football then why pass or fail in the licensing process? Why because it’s the same process as education systems, nothing but a weeding process, designed by a few countries who are hell bent on convincing you that this is the only way. (Lets stop here on this issue as its too sensitive and controversial). The truth is you need a little bit of everything and a whole bunch of things outside the game, which nurtures a youth players to be the world best. Most importantly every youth players needs to be allowed to express his or her creativity and abilities so the selection of exercises are very important and has to have an holistic approach, with very little or no constant guidance from you as a coach! You are just a facilitator and mentor to guide them through this adventurous journey.

Look at the top athletes for the last 12 years... and two individuals who have dominated the scene Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo... then look at the top coaches who have been most successful in getting results at club level...Klop, Mourinho and Guardiola and finally look at the top clubs and countries who are producing world-class footballers? Including the top players in EPL or LaLiga, or other top league’s around the world and European continents? Where are they from? What system of development did they come from? Are they English speakers? And what is their football background? Will answer all your questions about why some countries are propagating false narrative about youth football development or coaching methodology. It will give you a fresh perspective of what methodology you need to follow...or implement at your club level or team level or individual players levels. The false information is allowed to perpetuate the football coaching community by certain countries because they use the back drop of their previous success, their country league success and because they have very strong marketing campaigns which are working overnight to convince the coaches and players around the world that they know what is right, right for you... just be aware!

Here is some food for thought: there is more to long-term players development programs, than the fancy drills or skills development drills. Do not waste your countless hours running the fancy drills unless you know what is your system of play or the game model or style of play or your philosophy before you want to teach your team or players.

Also, I want to go on record to say that ... please don’t stop the skills (techniques) development exercises, in fact encourage your athletes to do it on their own. Just understand that no drill or exercise exist in Isolation or vacuum as football is a comprehensive game, where every second you are making decisions on the field where to move, or where to pass, how to pass, who to pass, when to dribble, when not to dribble, where to dribble, when to shoot or not? And list goes on and on...so if you want to develop players let them play football and there are many fantastic developmental systems which are working at the moment in South and Central American countries, Iberian countries and a handful of European countries who producing different kind of effective complete players.

Here is a brief description to get you thinking in the right direction... First: Football is a game played with 11 players who has a specific role to play on the team, with assigned duties and requires specific physical, mental technical and tactical functional skills to perform each of these roles on the field. So, would you hire a doctor to do accountants job or for that matter hire an accountant to do an IT job in a company? You get my point! Teach them in each game moment but don’t forget that moment changes instantly in a game. Also many quality youth players are misplaced in the formation stages, because many coaches needs to get results at the youth levels so the big guys are either playing in attacking positions or defensive positions or best goals. What is left over is distributed in odd places on the field with very limited roles to play.

Second: The second most important part of playing football is decision-making with and without the ball and having the skills and athletic abilities to do it. The youth players if not allowed to make mistakes and their own decisions early in their developmental stages of growth the correct relationship between him/her and the ball, the team mates, the opponents, and the Goal or Goalkeepers. This becomes a challenging situation as they become older because they can’t react to the situation and look for the stimulus from the coaches or look for that cone marking to make a decision because they cannot think independently because they are numb and can only react to the objectives of the fancy drills which you as a coach made them do. By the way it becomes very predictable for the opponents to close down and win the ball possession. Did you teach them offensive moments but instantly switching (transition) to defensive positions? And vice versa! Well maybe or maybe not! Did you show and tell them where to go and what to do? Basically took away their independence? Do some soul searching!!!

There is some truth in doing a drill to teach a skill or technical components of passing and receiving, or shooting or ball control however don’t be overly critical if a youth player receives a ball in awkward body positioning yet, makes the final outcome effective, don’t go to your coaching manual theory of correcting that athlete. Every decision-making that takes place on the field, it has to be allowed to come thru his or her own autonomy in a wholesome manner. I want to conclude this statement with a disclosure, creating a situation or an environment as part of youth or senior’s development in so called activity or exercise to enforce a specific moment of the game or what in Portuguese football methodology they refer as offensive organizations or defensive organization or defensive transition or offensive transition. This is different than what the licensing programs at many countries and individuals are promoting and teaching.

Third: Running fancy technical tactical progressive functional training drills just because you saw them on internet or just because you were told to do it at your licensing program to develop a defensive organization or offensive organization does not mean it suits your players or your team or your system of play. In this case you need to go to the first principles first to know what will be your style, model and system and does this historically, culturally, or physically fit your players or do they have the mental or physical aptitude to play that style of game. Especially Some of the lower ranked countries in Asia, Africa and Middle East suffer this pandemic of trying to play a style of game that does not suite them. Because most of them employ foreigner coaches, who 100% of the time has to show results so the teams end up playing a more direct style of football and less risky the overall outcome is limited and certainly no long-term players development there.

One country in Asia at the moment has found its style and rhythm to play a system and style that perfectly suits them... it’s JAPAN! As for countries like India or USA and many others they have still not figured it out and until then it’ will be a challenge they will need to overcome thru trial and error!

Here are the two examples of recent games I watched USA vs. Northern Ireland USA won 2-1 and second India vs. UAE India lost 6-0. A brief game analysis of the first game...USA played a predictable game and patterns but more suitable to their athleticism with quick movement off the ball and fast transition from offensive to defensive moments and vice versa and were successful. Also many American players are skillful and quick off the ball. My fear is It will not work that well against the Spanish or Germans or Italians or French because it’s predictable and these top countries will change the rhythm of the game which Northern Ireland failed to do... it’s my opinion because I lived and played in USA at different levels and I saw first hand the coaching methodology of majority of youth developmental clubs. One key issue is USA is too vast with too many coaching methodologies and styles confusing the players and it will be always their strength and weakness.

On the other hand Indians played a more direct style of game which they are not designed for nor capable off... and lost 6-0, further analysis can be made to say that Indian players where poor equipped to handle the pressure when in ball possession and lacked the skills, confidence and collective actions of movement with and without ball to keep the possession and lacked one key skill called “dribbling”...this can directly correlate to the youth developmental coaching and playing style Indians have decided to play. Which in my professional opinion does not suite the Indians well. I was born and raised in India and I have had the privilege to play throughout out that country so I can say with certainty India is completely off the mark by appointing foreign coaches, especially from UK, or East European Countries partly because India do not have the kind of players at hand at the moment to play that style of football.

I would like to conclude my discussion with this short insight on the team that has won the most number of World Cups… In my earlier days I was a huge fan of Brazilian football and their dazzling foot skills with the ball, in fact I feel the best modern day Brazilian national team was the World Cup winning team of 2002 in Japan and South Korea.

The team was made up of many top quality players but mainly, the three R’s of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Rivaldo! These three players literally would destroy defensive formations with their individual foot skills and dribbling moves including that of mighty Germany’s in the finals of the World Cup. This gave the Brazilian’s an uneven advantage because most of the teams were so cautious to press Brazilians high with a fear that, should the ball get past their defensive midfield formations and into the hands of the 3 R’s they knew disastrous end awaited them on the other end. Which proved to be a no-win situation for most of the teams that played Brazil in that world cup.

However, what worked in 2002 was not going to work in 2014...Brazilians were brought down to their knees by the Germans in one of the worst defeats Brazilians have every suffered in the history of World Cup! This is a great story to research why it happened, who was the coach and what was the Brazilians strategy going into this 2014 game... and it will answer many of your questions as a coach who is preparing a team or players to play competition football.

In conclusion I would like to say to you that take your time and research the Portuguese, Spanish, other south Central American countries including East European countries. About their footballers development programs and training methodologies. Even though African produces lots of quality players, in recent times. However, these players are transformed into top quality players in European countries after that unpolished diamonds are brought here, why because the European footballers development curricula is a well balanced and thought out process which many countries in Asia, North America and Middle East will need to see if it fits their footballers…

Good luck with your journey as a footballer and a football coach. My disclosure is this is my opinion and I’m entitled to it, just like these people who bring the fallacies and half-truths to us... Coming soon! The Portuguese world-renowned players development guidelines. No more secrecy in long-term players development program curricula it will all be revealed!

Elvis J. Goes, President International football academy de Portugal www.ifapt.com www.thefootballstop.com