Youth development roadmap or how to create a successful youth system October 10, 2003

Finland 2003

The recently concluded FIFA world U-17 championship held in Finland and won by the Brazilian team presents a good opportunity to look at youth development.
Recent financial difficulties plaguing world soccer has again focused the clubs' attention on the pros and cons of having and investing in youth development. The question has been asked whether there is a magic bullet formula for a successful youth system.
By looking at different systems and countries one can get an idea of what may be working.
Ajax probably are most famous for their youth system. Local or homegrown and foreign youth are recruited and go through a complete system of training that includes education and discipline. Winning is not emphasized nor is the idea of finding the next superstar. Teamwork is the key and players who don't follow the requirements will be told and reminded of it.
In Germany the system is even more rigid, to the point that some have complained that it is detrimental to the point of destroying talent. The lack of many high quality players to come out of that country seems to indicate that a less strict system is perhaps required, one where the youngster can be more free to show his talents.
Some clubs see youth investment as a way to go, either because of necessity or just because its felt that it's the right thing to do. Some smaller clubs in England for example have setup youth academies that, with some support from the football association, benefit both the club and the development of players for England as a whole.
A few of the European elite take a slightly different approach, Italian champions Juventus have scouts find promising youth then the team proceeds to buy full or partial share in the player. He is then allowed to play in another, usually smaller, team until he is deemed to be ready for the bigger stage, Fabrizio Miccoli is one such example, having joined the Turin giants after a stint at Perugia.
One cannot speak of young players without mentioning Africa and especially South America. Most kids there grow up playing the game on the streets without any restrictions or hindrance. Skill is nurtured without any thought to discipline or a pre-determined plan. Kids, often poor, are spotted and brought to clubs' attention and stars are born at an astounding rate.
Is there a way to spot talent at an early age? Is it right to expect a young perhaps not even teenaged child to be able to respond to training and other requirements? Tough questions with no definitive answers. Its probably best to let a kid find his own way with minimum restraint because skill can be learnt at a young age and the rest such as physical ability can be taught and perfected at an older age.