If We Don't Try To Plan And Don't Start To Plan...We Will Fail by Steve Darby: 2009

Steve Darby's extensive 2009 blueprint for Thai football

IF WE DON’T TRY TO PLAN AND DON’T START TO PLAN… WE WILL FAIL.

By Steve Darby

All the elite footballing nations that regularly appear in the World Cup Final have long term development plans in action. To be successful (qualify) for the World Cup finals in 2014, 2018 and 2022 Thailand must start to put into place programs that include:

Talent identification

Quality coaching

High level competition

Education programs that target nutrition, life style and psychological programs

My research taken from official FIFA technical studies has shown that World Cup Teams are usually made up of mature players between the ages of 25 and 30; there will always be exceptions such as Owen, Messi, and Rooney (or Teerasil). Or at the other age spectrum of Baresi or Zoff, quite often Goalkeepers are the exception. However logic points to programs that are targeted to improve the elite players who are in the 25-30 age brackets DURING A 4 YEAR World Cup cycle.

I have spoken to many Thai Coaches and international players and listened to their opinion and advice. There is a great deal of knowledge and talent within the Thai Football and education community. What I have learned is that no one person has all the knowledge, there needs to be a synthesis of all the people involved in football, administrators, Coaches , sponsors and of course players.

To give it a simplified name, Goal 22  could be a Football THAILAND initiative aimed at laying down the foundations required to give our elite youth footballers the highest chance possible to succeed at the elite level as adult footballers. Goal 22 would aim to develop the next generation of Footballers who will compete at the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and 2022

When examining world’s best practice, that being youth academies in developed footballing nations such as England, Japan, Germany and Spain and Italy, we fall below the required standard particularly in organization and facilities. The reality is that they have far greater financial investment in facilities and man power.

All academic and football research into the area of expertise clearly identifies that there needs to be at least 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to become an expert performer.

It is generally agreed in the Thailand football community that our elite players are not currently developed in an environment in which we can compete against other countries throughout the world. Whilst some truly great players have emerged, this may have been through sheer talent or luck. Also the numbers have not been sufficient to make great teams.

We need to develop a National Curriculum which highlights a number of gaps in the development of our players. All of these gaps relate to technical development. From attacking creativity to the tactics of defence. All require a huge amount of technical development. Not for one or two players but for the whole team. Time is the most important ingredient for technical development. One cannot expect to kick a ball a few times in training and expect that during the game you will be successful. Learning requires a permanent change in behaviour. Repetition is critical to make this permanent change. Time is the investment and the environment must extend and challenge players to excel.

THAILAND must make some real changes to our current structure in youth development in order to give our best players the best opportunity to reach the same levels of competency as our counterparts elsewhere the world. It is pointed out by many Thai Coaches that our players lack the physical qualities and game awareness needed to be successful in international football. Whilst technically Thai footballers are excellent. Also potential world class players have been produced such as Pyapong, Zico, Tawan and Surachai

Therefore THAILAND must create an environment that at the very least replicates what other countries do in the delivery of successful youth programs. From experience and observation all over the world, it is clear that technical proficiency and game awareness result from a long term football development plan implemented and monitored by the Association with the support of clubs, governments and of course corporate sponsors. 

Players must train at least 4 times per week for over ten years in the youth phase. In addition, regular competition is structured to reinforce the skills and tactical components that are learnt through repetition on the training field. 

The strengths of our competitors are numerous. They may not have the numbers of players we have, but they often have facilities and most importantly the money. 

Our strength will have to be our passion and love of the game.

It is obvious that we have very successful Grass roots programs, illustrated by the number of players both male and female that we have. Therefore the next step may be to direct our financial and human resource investment to the best of the best, the elite young player. This requires careful identification and nurturing of the best players in the best environment. We must continue to learn and implement the principles behind the world’s best youth programs. The final step is to exceed them. We must anticipate footballing trends and teach our players accordingly. 

In order to deliver a quality youth development program four (4) principles of youth development must be considered. These are:

1. The best players: The starting point is critical to the end product, identification is key. It must not be a victim of nepotism, a poor boy must have equal rights as a rich boy.

2. The best coaches: Football educators not just football coaches, playing experience vital.

3. The best facilities: You will not develop good players on poor pitches. Maybe use artificial surfaces?

4. The best football curriculums: Sound education practices including Sports Sciences and Strong links with Universities

What we can control is; effective identification, training time, quality of coaching, development program structure, curriculum and cost.

We must aim to be world leaders in the implementation of development initiatives with limited resources. We must be creative in our approach and must maximise our talent pool. The best interest of player development must be at the heart of the football community. Creating an environment that will positively affect performance is an issue that eludes many of the best clubs in the world. The English Academy structure is constantly changing as they don’t feel they have got it right yet.

However Associations and Clubs that have succeeded share a number of common elements. These include identifying the best players, providing an environment that focuses on technical development linked to appropriate competition

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

2014 World Cup

World Cup qualification for the 2014 World cup will start in 2012; hence the Thailand National team should consist of:

Current national players aged between 24-28

The SEA Games team

The best players from the U19s

A continued search for Thai origin players playing professionally overseas

These players are in many cases already identified.

What is needed now is a planned competitive program for the national team with a detailed physiological program for the individual players. It is apparent that only a few TPL Clubs are physically developing the players in the best manner.

2018 World Cup

Players will need to be identified who are born in the years 1988-1994

1988/89/90 will be developed through the TPL and regional league and current national team Programs

1991 Players could be trained in the WORLD CUP 22 program for 1 year on a regional basis

1992/3 Players could be trained in the WORLD CUP 22  program for 2 years on a regional basis

                                   

2022 World Cup

Players born between

1994- 2000

The identification

U10 – born 2000 & 2001 

U12 – born 1998 & 1999 

U14 – born 1996 & 1997 

U15    born  1994 & 1995 

WORLD CUP 22 TRAINING PROGRAM

Football THAILAND could provide players with a training environment specific to their geographical region facilitating an easy option for parents to access player development.

The many benefits of a WORLD CUP 22 Program include:

International recognition (and possible funding) for Youth development 

Access to year-round elite training, coaches and competitions for free

Minimal effect on clubs (maybe 42 players per age group to be selected)

Training within a periodised program integrated with a specific long term Football Development Program

Game specific skill development for players

Integrated social, cognitive and emotional development

Professional development opportunity for coaches working with elite athletes on a full-time basis. Leading to Coach talent Identification and career paths for Thai Coaches.

Improved regional selection process through daily contact with the best players in the best environment

Country Development Scheme for outside of Bangkok

A good plan will improve our chances of success. We owe it to our young players to give them the best opportunity.