NEWS

APRIL: THE LATEST HOMEWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT CENTRE PLAYERS

Developing the elite player, some would argue is a lottery with players either having the ‘natural ability’ to take them to a higher level or not. It is common to hear the phrase ‘so and so has that natural gift’. However, from experience and the knowledge about young players we have gained over the years we believe that if you work with players at a young age this is only half the picture. In order to achieve your maximum potential in any field, there are certain ‘windows of opportunity’, which must be taken advantage of. Much as there is a ‘window’ for small children to develop verbal skills, there are physical ‘windows of opportunity’ that occur at different ages, beginning at about 5 years old. In years gone by children would play football in the streets, climb trees, skip and generally play in a much more physical way than they do today. Therefore they would take care of these ‘windows’ through their play. Today it falls on coaches and P.E teachers in a much greater way to help children develop physically. Unfortunately a weekly hour and half coaching session will not be sufficient to help a child reach their potential. Elite performers whatever their chosen sport or vocation need to spend many hours perfecting their skills. Some of the boys will be able to tell you about the 10,000 hour rule, which equates to 3 hours practice a day for 10 years. In modern society no child has this amount of time to practice, which poses the question, how can we take a short cut on the 10,000 hours of practice? By giving the players at the Development Centre homework books this goes someway to increasing their practice time, however it is the quality of the homework books that is important. Firstly all of the skills that the players record stimulate the nervous system which is still developing in the players we have at the development centres (5-12 years old). By stimulating the nervous system it is like setting up a motorway to the legs as opposed to a country lane, which I’m sure is of obvious benefit to the footballer, especially regarding the players’ ‘weaker foot’. More importantly this motorway will never be lost! The skills they practice are also enjoyable which is motivating in it self. We also feel that the responsibility that the players have to show in recording their own homework, setting their own targets and looking after their own books is vital. As coaches we firmly believe that taking responsibility off the pitch results in players taking more responsibility for their learning on the pitch. The homework we give will not automatically transform the players into world-beaters but instead acts, as an important tool in helping to develop the skills players will be able to use within games as they mature. Obviously at FDS we are not naïve enough to think that all the players do their homework. The best way to judge those who practice and those who do not is simple. Those who do get far better and push on further.