25 Apr 2024 16:01:45
I hold my hands up and say I didn't believe this when I read it first and had to go and check it from another source . Of all who enter Football Academies at 9 yrs of age only 1% ever sign Professional Football forms . Less than half the 9 yr olds are still with an academy at 14 . Important to note clubs running academies have more players providing opposition to the players they may have some expectations as they need this backup to develop those who may have a chance.
Worldwide out of 250 billion 130,000 make it to Professional level.
25 Apr 2024 17:49:58
There are even some of that 130,000 where you struggle to believe how they made it. I suspect of the majority who 'drop-out', many have great ability and talent, but are rejected because of issues with stature, attitude and application, discipline, fitness and mental strength and of course like any other entertainment industries, it all boils down to someone's opinion where faces might not easily fit.
I don't think there are many of us who grew up with players with great skill and potential, who actually made the grade.
25 Apr 2024 18:32:12
Maybe the academies are over coaching the kids and stifling their natural abilities, and throwing the babies out with the bathwater and keeping the ones that fit the profiles of what they perceive as a player of the future.
25 Apr 2024 18:55:33
I'm sure that does happen aindoh. Can you imagine Pele, Maradona, Jinky, Best, Ronaldinho etc etc in a Youth Academy? Their talents would have been stifled. Mediocre players can be coached to improvement. Real naturals are special and they embrace and light up the game with their skills.
26 Apr 2024 06:51:35
My son’s under 10s at Queens Park. I wouldn’t say the training was strenuous, but it’s very much the coach will explain a drill once and they’re expected to pick it up quickly. I’d also say it’s heavily based on attitude and work rate they’re expected to play, at that age in every position bar goalkeeper, and if they’re hurt they’ll never be coddled they’ll be expected to get up. In my eyes makes sense because you need to be ready for that physicality. I also had to fill out forms about my own height ect and they’ll look at parents to see what height and build they are to determine the kids. He’s also had to do cognitive tests on the computer, so a 4 by 8 grid will show on the screen with arrows point different direction, it’ll flash off then flash on and he’s to pick the arrow that’s changed direction. I could barely do it. The standards are just very high and they no longer look at age groups under the age of 12 unless they’re exceptional talent.
26 Apr 2024 10:07:10
Sounds like Queens park might be throwing the babies out with the bath water.