Yes, Youth Football is much more than Football.

It’s very, very challenging.

Ratios of Performance over Development or vice-versa, as the Development of Technical or Tactical Skills, the improvement of Physical capabilities or, even, Learning to read the Game and how to deal with all the aspects that surround Football – Brain or Mental Training; or, on the Performance, winning at all costs.

This is a common-ground for discussions worldwide.

Yes, preparing for Professional Football is away from being a fair and easy challenge.

When you work for many years at Youth Football, you see it all – players that were the best in the region/country at the age of 12 and that after only 2 or 3 years are average; players that were substitutes until the age of 13 or 14 but then became top-professionals footballers as adults; people that came from nowhere and surprised everyone with their quality; severe injuries that completely eliminated the one’s chances of becoming professional; parents with expectations that are unrealistic; and so on.

But, also, you see the great majority leaving football.

Sooner or later.

Most of them, the great, great majority, leaving Football to dedicate their life to do different things, but still love the Game, still play it with friends, or when they have a chance.

Only a marginal part – and that’s the hardest part – leave Football in pain, somehow suffering with Football, people that completely lost the interest in the Game.

Thank God, those cases are rare.

But, these stats must make us think.

If the great majority of the young players that are TODAY playing Football at any level in the World will never be Professional Players, what are we developing then ?

Does it means that we focus our full attention on the cultural, environmental or learning elements that Football possess to teach only the social aspects ?

Does it means that Football is no longer important, because 99% of those players will never reach higher levels of Performance within the Sport ?

Where does the right answer lands ?

Here’s how I see Youth Football: A Team of 3!

Which 3?

Simple: The Club – The Players – The Players’ Families

Why is important to unite these 3 Stakeholders?

Because they are the decisive elements in the potential success of the Player, both on the Personal or Professional Development, as a Footballer or as anything else he or she pursues.

And, most importantly, the moment that one of these elements isn’t happy with other, or understands that other is not giving their 100%, the relationship starts deteriorating and it’s a matter of time before it ends.

Sooner or later, again.

Therefore, is very important to clarify the roles and expectations of each of the elements.

Some key elements for discussion, for me, are:

• Competition is important, but creating a Winning Mentality is different (and more important) that winning games, or Leagues.
• Transparency is key, always. All stakeholders must know the why behind what’s happening on the field.
• Methodology is important, but it’s subjective. Having a Plan is important, crucial and makes things easier to monitor and control. But it’s basic, in all honestly. Everyone has it nowadays. What differs the Real Madrid FC, the FC Barcelona, SL Benfica, the Liverpool FC, and all the others? The Plans are definitely there, don’t you think ? So, what’s the difference in becoming professional ?
• Network is key. If one isn’t connecting with other Institutions, creating an environment for development, it can be challenging when thinking about growing and developing. It goes from providing different platforms for Players to grow inside or outside of the Club (ie. Schools, Universities, etc), to use the word of mouth to improve Conversion rates of new Players or, even, to create potential paths for Career Development in Football (ie. Exclusive access to trials at bigger Clubs, invite or organize Scouting events, etc).
• Attention and Care are basic elements of any business function. Yes, there’s the business side of Football and we must face it unbiased, as a normal aspect of life. Do you want a good Service? You want good professionals? It should be expected that it must be paid, right? Then, why do people tend to face it (in Football) as something unfair ?

There are definitely more that could be added here, but these ones are the ones that immediately come to my mind when speaking about Youth Football.

Just as Football, it must be seen as a Team Work, where everyone pulls to the same side, with the right level of intensity and where everyone is accountable to deliver their task.

Managing expectations is another crucial part of the Process.

However, if the above are done diligently, it’s almost an organic theme – no extra-pressure or overwhelming excitement with anything, either good or bad.

Again, these are all basic things, easily achievable.

Or should be.