| "The individual development in the youth is more important than the team results” |
| Saturday, 30 December 2006 | |
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“If player has a problem (in his game) put him into a situation that is difficult. Even if it is bad for the team, but good for the individual. "– Danny Blind Ajax/2004 Danny Blind Youth Director/Jong Ajax? Ajax Youth Program Philosophy and Aim – To develop players from the academy to play in the 1st team Academy is important because: • Ajax does not have the money to bring in the best players • When they buy players, much of the time, these players do not work out. They played well elsewhere but do not fit into Ajax system, style and demand of the club Louis Van Gaal former First team coach did research on academy vs. players outside academy 1. Players inside academy were more successful 2. Players that entered the academy 8-12 years were more successful than players that entered the academy later on 3. 5-6 players on the first team now- entered the academy when they were 8,9,10 years old 4. Means that you have to look for players as young as possible 2) Structure of Academy/Club When enter academy every player is given 2 years to prove themself. Team Training Intensity - number of trainings F1: u9 2 E3: u10 3 E2: u10/11 3 E1: u11 3 D3: u12 3 D2: u12/13 3 D1: u13 3 C2: u14 4 C1: u15 4 B2: u16 4 B1: u17 5 A2: u18 6 A1: u19 6 Jong Ajax • Ajax starts with the F1 they play 7v7. Ajax thinks in Holland it is a big problem that they play 7v7 instead of 8v8. With 7v7 they only have 2 lines-where with 8 they can make 3 lines. • Start playing 11v11 in the E2. This is earlier than rest of Holland but their players are so good they are ready for the 11v11. • They have mixed groups (E2 + D2) so the best younger players can play up and possibly smaller players whom are older can play in their age group, with out bigger players who dominate physically. • The only age that plays in its age level is the U9 (because of size) however, play they play friendlies against U10’s. The other teams play a year up. • U14 is regional league • U15 is national league 3 Steps in Academy 1. Technique 2. Play together 3. Play together against opponent *Win- need to have the mentality and the heart TIPS Technique – Insight – Personality - Speed “If player has a problem (in his game) put him into a situation that is difficult. Even if it is bad for the team, but good for the individual. The individual development in the youth is more important than the team results” – Danny Blind Danny then gave us an example: When Wesley Sneijder was with the U15 team. When they went to tournaments he was always choosen player of the tournament, but Ajax recognized he had a problem getting back on defense. He played the number 10 and was scoring many goals. So against one teams the coaches made him guard the other team’s number 10. That player scored 3 goals and it was the only game the team lost all year. You can tell a player so much, but sometimes you need to show him. In the end it was a short term loss, but in the bigger picture it was a success because Wesley Sneijder is now playing with the 1st team of Ajax and the Dutch National Team. 3) Accommodations • Stadium Ajax Arena- (51,000) • De Toekomst (the future) 1. Small stadium field (1,000) 2. 7 fields- (5 game fields (2 of 5 ) artificial), 2 training fields Ajax Youth Philosophy • Let players play 2-3 different positions at younger ages. The positions should be connected - in lines. • Do not choose players at younger age based on position – choose them based on SPIT. Speed – Personality – Insight – Technique. 4) Day Schedules/School - Kids go to own school but receive tutoring from Ajax 5) Scouting – Players are evaluated in TIPS Technique Mastery of the ball with all parts of the body in all directions! A player must be in control of the ball at all times. Insight Intelligence! A player must have the ability to think steps ahead, to read the game and create solutions on the field. Personality The ability to communicate, be a leader, possess creativity in play, have good sportsmanship and have the grit with determination. Speed Players must possess speed over long distances and quickness in short, they must be mobile and coordinated. Ajax looks in a 80 km radius of Amsterdam Ajax has a 4 step process in the area of scouting. Because of this 4 step process the chances of picking a player that is wrong for the program is small. • Step 1: 4 different scouts look in an area/district. The 4 scouts spend there time at different areas in the district. These scouts rotate in the district and then see if the scouts came up with the same name. • Step 2: Send Professional Scout (have 6 professional scouts) • Step 3: Send Trainer • Step 4: The player gets a trial tryout. This trial is 4-6 weeks so the player can become comfortable and the trainers get a true look at the player. In the last two years have only sent 6-7 players away at this stage. 6) Coaching Staff Structure • Director of Coaching meets with coaches every Monday – at club house • Evaluates coaches by: 1. Walk around practice field – help coaches 2. Listen to talks coach gives team: practice/halftime/ect… 3. Listen to coach talk at meeting on Monday No rules for staying with a team, it all depends on different situations (coach, age, ect…) No more than 2 years, and the coach should stay in age group. Every coach has qualities that are best suited towards a certain age group. For younger kids, coach should be able to demonstrate so the kids can see. 7) Other Style of Play: • 1:4:3:3 or 1:3:4:3 • Dominate game • Attractive/attacking soccer • Bring extra man into midfield Positions are given numbers – 1 through 11 |
