French Football Federation
France’s emphasis on youth development:
The federation has a calendar and program for each coach in each region to follow, ensuring continuity throughout the year. Once a year all the coaches in the country are brought together to look at last year’s program and make their recommendations for the method of work for the next year.
The absolute, number one requirement in France is good technique. The players must spend two hours a day, five days a week on their skills. They must have the skills to play quickly and creatively. Ball mastery is stressed, this being the ability to “pass and control”. French coaches also look for players with personality, players who think of their teammates, who have team spirit as well as fighting spirit. One game a week is played with their club team. Physical play is not stressed as the players are maturing at different rates. They have very specific requirements that each club must adhere to in regard to the education of their players:
1. Respect for the players
2. Respect for the player’s education
3. Respect for the player’s families
4. Respect for the club team
The above mentioned regions must not be so big that the player’s cannot see and spent time with their families, friends, and club teammates on a regular basis. As an example here in the U.S., it would not suffice to have Region 2 players living and training in California. When the players are training, nothing is scheduled prior to 4:00 PM due to school.
Player Development Philosophy:
1. Ages 6-7 must play in 4 versus 4 games in order to develop
2. Ages 8-9 train 3-5 hours a week in the fundamentals
3. Ages 10-11 must be playing 7-9 aside games\Ages 12-16 must be in regional training center perfecting the fundamentals
4. Age 16-19 must be in the professional club’s formation center and working 10-15 hours per week
Principles of Training:
1. Training must be fun
2. The focus must be on attacking skills
3. The players must train with passion
4. The players must work with humility
5. The players must be educated to play the game
6. Trainers must include a philosophy of life
7. The trainers must be patient with each individual player on their development
8. Clubs must maintain a high quality of coaches
The development of coaches and a surplus of talented players:
Aiime Jacquet
Even though there are many talented players, the French federation sees it’s most important task in the development and education of coaches. They are very specific and demanding on the training of coaches. If the coaches are well educated, they know that soccer success will follow. At the Paris training center, the federation has educated over 19,000 coaches, with the 400 best coaches being invited to the center for three weeks, twice a year. Aime Jacquet’s most important job is to make sure these coaches receive information from the federation 340 days per year. They educate two types of coaches: 1) those at the professional level who deal with the stresses of winning and losing, and 2) those at the youth level which may stay for 10-15 years in the same program.
In coaching courses the coaches are given as much experience and information as possible. The coaches are placed in different situations in the field and given various topics to deal with. The emphasis is always on the individual’s technique. The French Federation feels that it is important the players are allowed freedom to express themselves. It is vital that all coaches are able to demonstrate techniques at a high level so they have the same feeling toward the ball as the youth. At the end of one week, the coaches are given a team to train and play matches with. They are assessed in all areas including psychology, pre-game, half time, etc. They feel that in order to become a high level coach, one must begin by working with youth players or they will be severely handicapped in their own developmental process. Understanding the youth process is an important part of the coaching evolution.
Psychologists are brought into the coaching course and work closely with the national team coaches to educate within the teaching of skills. The psychologists never work with the players, only the coaches
France has an abundance of talent because of the work these coaches have done. The Federation has outlined the development of all the coaches from the earliest years to the top level. They present this plan to all coaches to ensure that they are equipped with the proper information. It has taken over 40 years of work to get to the coaches to buy into this program and achieve their current level.
What can the US and other Federations learn from the French Philosophy?
Photo Credit: Copyright © 2005 David Monniaux
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