Could we learn some lessons from the French soccer development process? Here is some food for thought. This transcends soccer!
At Clairefontaine- National Training Center for French Football Federation:
- Emphasis on experimentation and creativity not matches. Access to top coaches
- Value on unstructured play
- 7 year olds play no format larger than 5V5
- No child slotted into one position until teenage years
- Individual technique emphasized through age 16 over tactics
- Coaches need to be quality demonstrators
- Yelling at players not tolerated
- All training must be fun