Football is demanding more and more of our young players, particularly if they show some early ability and their parents are keen to see them do well in the game. The development programs, winter competitions, summer competitions, joined as they are for many by an overlapping Futsal season, just about covers the entire calender year these days.
The intention / desired outcome of development programs in football is to engage the young talented players in many more contact hours and games across a year, while upgrading the quality and expertise of those that conduct these programs.
But where do you draw the line? How much Football is too much? Many parents with children keen on football ask these questions.
They talk of the 10,000 hours to produce a player, beginning at 5 years of age and we have can seen just how effective these regimes are from a technical standpoint when we watch Japanese or Korean youth teams play in Australia. We marvel at the quality of the Singot Primary School every Kanga Cup, knowing as we now do, that this school specialises in Football and the boys train every morning before school. These countries have a far more sophisticated infrastructure in support of football than we offer in the ACT at this time.
It would be interesting to know what they know, when it comes to how much is the right amount at what age and how to deal with injury at these tender ages. This information that is a bit hard to find. Parents often fly by the seat of their pants, on one hand feeling obligated to ensure their child gets the opportunity ot be as good as they might want to be, while on the other, seeking balance across life experiences and most importantly, ensuring the child does not experieence serious injury. Sadly, we see too many young players particpating with all sorts of injuries and strapping, enduring pain / discomfort when they should not. Too oftne their time in the game is short. Coahes who refuse to play injured young players often feel the cricitism of parents, anxious for their child to be noticed and valued as a player. Adult concepts and expectations seem to impose themsleves on children in Football. It stops being fun of you get injured.
FIFA has an excellent document on injury prevention in the girls / women's game (references by the NPL - see older posts). Elements mentioned int his study arise in tonight's program.
The children between the ages of 8 to 12 years are the target of high levels of technical development - skills acquisition. They require very specific, and carefully structured training, because so much growth occurs in this period of time and so much damage can be done that has long lasting effects. They go through a further growth spurt in the early teens, which further complicates things. The FFA makes mention of this notion in their National Development Plan, in the context of selection of talented players, which can be hindered by what is referred to as the "Age Relative Effect". But the analysis seems to stop at this point.
So how much is enough training, at what age and when?
Football is played from top to bottom of the age groups in juniors / youth by girls and boys. They often play in the same team, some play up levels beyond their age, in search of the level of resistance that coaches or parents feel will sustain their development, enhance their development or make them more competitive for selection in representative teams. Parents often become very agitated if their child is not selected in a "div 1 " team, as though this is the end of their child's Football world.
So how much is enough? What is the appropraite level of resistance. Who decides? When is the risk too great?
You would think that this sort of thing is the meat and bread of a Techncial Director at member Federation and Club levels.
In this program, we have a very interesting discussion on injury in sport among jnior and youth sport, as the Paediatric exercise specialist, Denis Caine, brings us across some of the latest research.
This program is a must for parents and coaches.
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