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Well folks, was watching against the head during week and it got me thinking. One of the guests was annalysing ireland u20 side who are on course for grand slam stating it was more important that these players developed all round rather than results alone. i have to say I agreed with his thoughts. With the dreaded influx of the blanket defence system players from u16 up are playing to systems like this at a win at all cost mentality. They are not able to enhance their own individual skills as a result. ok we all want to win silverware and see our county compete for honours but the basic fundamentals of underage football is to bring these players along.
having watched offaly minors last year it was clear that players were sacrificing their games to suit the system. they had a reasonable year and credit is due to management and players alike, but are they the better footballers for it.
An example was made on the programme when ajax played a prominant dublin soccer club in a game/ tournament style match at u14 level.an irish reporter was over studying the ajax system. the ajax coach said he wasn't worried about the result rather that players were two footed and could play in different positions to which they did. they were defeated 4-2. this was in the mid 90's when ajax had just won the champions league with their own nurtured players.
when the reporter returned to ireland he was full of praise for the setup in holland as regards development of players but the response was ' but we beat them 4-2.
we are a results driven nation but is it to our detrement at underage level? any thoughts

I saw that bit myself and it's a fair enough point. The only thing I'd say to counter it though is that if you look at a group of kids playing down in the field amoungst themselves. They're playing to win too. There's always rows over the score and the like. They want to win no matter what the competition is.

If you said to those group of U-20s you can either a) win the grandslam playing a certain style that might cubbyhold you in the future or b) finish with a losing record but have developed skills that might get you a place on a professional team I'd imagine a lot of them will pick the winning.

It's probably fair enough to say let the adults worry about teaching the skills and let the kids worry about the results... because they will!!!

There are merit in both approaches.
Winning matches does breed confidence in players - but maybe this because there is so much emphasis on results.

you have to develop systems and situations at underage level where players are fully developed - eg Go Games. something else is needed for older children

making sure they get to play in variety of roles, coached and using all the skills of the games

its the only way forward