Although my playing career was short lived due to a serious knee injury I somehow found myself in the right place at the right time to start my coaching career early - a 19 year old at Borusia Munchengladbach (Germany) working both with senior and youth players - then a short spell with Standard Liege (Belgium) on youth development) - then MVV and PSV (Holland) on senior player skill coaching and youth development programmes - at that time, one of the main leaders in the world. You can see a recent interview with Eddy Whyte by clicking the appropriate image on the side bar.

When I eventually returned to the UK in the early eighties you didn't have to be a rocket scientist to notice the lack of professional development in the UK. In short, the British game was still relying on the traditional 'Street Game' of the fifties and sixties to produce its future talent - but the street game was dying on its feet and no attempt was being made to replace it.

In 1995, based on my previous experience overseas, I compiled a detailed 500 page report (Grass Roots Development UK), which later became influential in the formation of the current pro club academy scheme in England.

The Grass Roots Report 1995
The following is a very brief outline of the Report content:

The Underlying Problems
A total of 35 different areas/concerns were outlined, including . . .
Unlike our continental counterparts we do not have a professional development programme in place to bring through our naturally gifted young players - we are still relying on the old style self-development processes (the street game, local leagues, PE lessons, etc), all of which have been in decline for a number of years - children now play a lot less football than in previous years - on average, 70% less than in the 1960's.

The FA have a singular coaching course, one style suits all, from 5 year olds to 45 year olds - we must introduce specialist child/youth development coaches.

All of the money spent on youth development is going into the upper tier of the game, professional clubs, and not towards the real grass roots level - mass coaching of kids, facilities, etc.

The official FA coaching manual specifically highlights the benefits of the direct long ball game and belittles any attempt to adopt the modern style possession approach - the game has moved on and players have to now be more adaptable - flexibility, not rigidity!
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .

Recommendations
A number of recommendations were put forward for each specific area of concern, the main one being, the introduction of a professional system of structured youth development, plus strongly highlighting the potential long-term effect if the existing system was not changed immediately - a large influx of young foreign players entering the UK leagues via their internal professional development programmes.


 
As part of this report I attached a new system for consideration SSD (Systematic Structured Development).

Definition of SSD

A set of basic principles and concepts which allow for the efficient control and management of a professional football development training programme; incorporating continental style coaching techniques and a step training process (individual programmes for each category) - culturally and structurally adapted for British players.

SSD There is no one perfect system - and no one person has all the answers - but you MUST accept the need for change and to move forward. What worked yesterday, may not necessarily be effective today

SSD No one system fits all. You can review systems used by others - but you MUST then adapt them for your own cultural needs and requirements. All cultures are different, so look at young British kids, and decide - what is best suited to them

Basic SSD Principles - Junior Level
*Provision of Regular Weekly Training (all-weather surface)
*Operate under strict Codes of Practice (coaches, parents, players)
*Provide a Safe and Controlled Playing Environment (making football fun and safe)
*Remove the Over-Aggressive and Bully Approach (allows natural ability to flourish)
*Improve General Fitness Levels (you enjoy physical tasks more if you are fit)
*Interaction (multi-school/areas - new friends)
*Parental Involvement (parents make the best child coaches - see below)
*Structured Development - Step Training Programme (see SSD Concepts & Training))
*Specialist Continental Style Development Techniques (enhancing basic skills)
*Foundation Based Skills (the 3 R's of football)
*Balanced Training Programme (balancing effort and rest)
*Encourage Self-Practice (training is not sufficient, you must practice at home and at school)
*Coach Knowledge & Understanding - The Development Needs of Young Players
*Coach Knowledge & Understanding - The Mental Coaching Requirements of Young Players
*Coach Knowledge - Injury Prevention & First Aid
*Child Protection (full parental observation of coaching at all times)
*Professional Advancement (ability players are given specialist training)

Initial Response to the Grass Roots Report 1995
The clubs themselves strongly welcomed the changes proposed, and indeed, some of them employed me on a consultancy basis to immediately implement a lot of the SSD areas into their existing internal set-up. However, the powers that be, strongly criticised the Report:
* Kids play the same amount of football today as they did back in the sixties
* We have the best coaching courses and coaches in the world
* We have the best youth development programme in the world
. . . . there is no need for ANY change

Soccer Kids - 1996
Although Mini Soccer and Soccer Star (no coaching permitted) are launched by the FA, there was still no concerted effort being made to address the key area of grass roots development, so in 1996 I formed my own SSD school (Soccer Kids).
To date we have supplied 64 talented kids (age 7 - 9) into the academy scheme (the highest level in Europe for a single independent football school). With the point proved, Soccer Kids now just acts as a 'starter school' - get them in young (from age 4), inject enthusiasm, teach good habits, encourage self-practice, and point them in the right direction.