Young Player Development Review

The FA today released details of its extensive Young Player Development Review, including proposals for grassroots football and coaching.

Presented to The FA Board and Council, General Secretary Alex Horne and Director of Football Development Sir Trevor Brooking, delivered a total of 25 recommendations to improve the game at every level, from grassroots mini-soccer teams to the Club England set-up.

Included are proposals to change formats and facilities within grassroots youth football, to enhance the professionalisation of coaching within England, and to strengthen international team development.

New format for young footballers

Changes to the programme of youth football delivered in England are core to the proposals and are central to The FA’s philosophy that better development of players comes from increased and quality contact time with the ball, in an environment that is tailored to young player development.

Building on The FA’s Future Game plans for professional and grassroots level, the proposals are designed to further encourage a new approach to youth development in England consistent with The FA’s philosophies.

A new era of coach development

The second major theme centres on coach development and highlights the critical role they play in the progression of young players, in tandem with the increased need for age-appropriate coaching.

The FA’s investment in coach education will be coupled with the development of St George’s Park, which will be a world-class hub for the delivery of coach education in England.

Backing success at international level

Combining these two elements together, The FA will also focus on building stronger relationships between its representative international teams and professional clubs.

This includes a recommendation for mandatory player release for all England teams, alongside an intention to rationalise the international fixture calendar and a pledge to be pragmatic in the use of players alongside closer working with clubs. This arrangement is an attempt to establish a clear and consistent approach to the issue of player release.

“The recommendations are fundamental in helping us to ensure that we produce more and better English players, and that everything possible is being done to help ensure their transition into successful international teams," said Horne.

“The FA must ensure that the highest quality coaches are available to the game, and that these coaches are trained with the right skills to specifically work with young players at every age across clubs from grassroots to elite level.

“We must ensure that the clubs and our international teams are working together in the interest of the individual player’s development, and towards the ultimate success of our England teams.

“I believe that the development of future generations of the highest quality young English players is the central challenge facing English football today. The good news is that the game is willing, and as I have experienced during the consultation, is at its best working together.

“I am confident that with the unanimous support of The FA Board, alongside the hard work of Sir Trevor Brooking and his Development team, they will be delivered.”

Brooking added: “Following on from the release of The Future Game document last year these recommendations form the basis for the outlook of our national game for years to come.

“A rigorous consultation with the whole game informed the process, which was followed up with a number of workshops, reviews and technical expertise.”

The recommendations are made in response to the request of The FA Board in July 2010. The consultation process with stakeholders will now continue, combined with further Board discussion in the coming months. Recommendations will be phased in over a period of time in line with a suggested implementation plan to be presented to The FA Board in April.