InstantForum.NET v4.1.4Better Soccer Coachinghttp://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/soccerforum/forums@bettersoccercoaching.co.ukSat, 22 Nov 2008 13:10:14 GMT20http://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/soccerforum/Topic484-4-1.aspxI am afraid I have to take up some of the comments regarding the Dutch Soccer Structures by Swift 1. It is true that we have only ever won a major tournament; the European Championships in 1988. That was 14 and 10 years after Holland reached the World Cup finals in Germany and Argentina respectively and 10 years before we reached the semi finals in France. Also the under 21 Dutch team were European Champions in 2006 and 2007 respectively.<br><br>As to the coaching structures I firmly believe that the Ajax youth academy for decades now is a show case of educating young players and bringing them to the top of the league. Players of the caliber of Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and Ronald and Frank de Boer are just a few of the many examples of players from that youth academy. The Dutch Soccer Association is implementing a new plan, coming into effect this week, that will take the most talented players from 11 years of age and bring them together in regional "Soccer Universities". In total 12 to 14 regional centres will be created under the scheme. Participation is both from the professional clubs and clubs from the amateur leagues. This is an integrated approach that focuses not only on the players themselves, but also assists in the (further) development of coaches. <br><br> I don't think it is an accident that coaches like Leo Beenhakker, Dick Advocaat, Guus Hiddink are internationally recognised as world class. At the last World Cup we had 4 Dutch Coaches (Leo Beenhakker, Dick advocaat, Guus Hiddink and Marco van Basten) All this points to the fact that a country of barely 16.5 million inhabitants has proportionally a high representation at various levels in international soccer. This can only be achieved in my view by having the right structures in place that not only develops the players but the coaches aswell. <br><br>As you may have gathered I am from Holland and proud of my nation's achievements in Soccer. Looking at the English players, eventhough there is a large contingent of forreign players in the English Leagues, it is obvious that talents like Rooney and Walcott plus more established players like John Terry, Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Owen etc have had to come from somewhere. I don't know enough about the actual structures in England to be able to comment, but you have produced some outstanding soccer players. Perhaps it is the structure and organisation surrounding the national team that was the problem and stopped England from being involved in tournaments when it really mattered. Who knows, under Fabio Capello you may get the success that England is clearly promising.Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:50:28 GMTRudy289http://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/soccerforum/Topic484-4-1.aspxI would just like to comment how refreshing it is to see France who only a couple of months ago were supposed to be our (Englands) role model for youth development go crashing out because they just werent up to the task!!</P><P>This again proves that no country has some secret coaching formula to create world beaters its just simply a case of generations of players happening to come through at the right time - and the next generation are obviously not so great and wonderful except people like Nasri and Ribery but every team has a couple of good players regardless how great their youth development is!!</P><P>Dont for one minute think i dont agree that a good structered coaching system is not a completely good thing but as soon as England fail in anything yet a foriegn side do anything then they are wonderful and we need more work.</P><P>Are you honestly telling me apart from maybe three top seeded countries in the Euros other countries there has players to the class of Gerrard, Ferdinand, Owen, Rooney, Terry, Ashley Cole etc etc etc etc yet are Greece better because they qualified and we didnt of course they arent. Anyone who knows anything about football has to realise that over 90 minutes ANYTHING can happen and the game is way to scrutinised and over analysed.</P><P>Two weeks ago Holland werent given a chance in the Euro's then they had two good results and i heard said the other day its down to their academies...WHAT?? We all know about the famous Ajax youth set up but how successful have Holland and Ajax been in the last 10 years?? nothing exceptional, ok Holland reached a world cup semi but so have South Korea and Turkey, no disrespect to those two but again just because of a couple of good results in a tournament doesnt mean they are perfect!! Holland have had two good results now their whole countries structure is brilliant?? I would love to hear what our press would think of Cappello if England had performed like Italy have, yet there not hammering Donadoni and over analysing what every coach from grass roots upwards is doing!!</P><P>So just imagine if Scott Carson hadnt accidentaly let a ball slip through his hands and we had drawn 2 - 2 with Croatia and qualified would our game still be in such a bad state??? </P><P>The only thing wrong with the English game and football in general is over analysing, </P><P>Coaches of Britian keep up the good work and ignore the rubbish about our players havent got technique etc...............NONSENSE!!Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:23:55 GMTswift1