Capello: put rubbish youth coaches in jail

What a great perspective on what we do at Global Futbol Training! Capello: “put rubbish youth coaches in jail!” Meaning coaches who are teaching too much tactics and not enough technique are hurting kids chances to improve in soccer.

Most of this article is quotes from Capello on youth football in Italy, but this is true for youth soccer everywhere. There are kids all over who are either getting good training or bad training. And the ones getting bad training may be getting good tactical teaching, but at the wrong age.

“You have to teach more technical than tactical.” The current Russia boss has a hit out on trainers who focus heavily on teaching tactics to young players, rather than nurturing existing skill and talent.

Big time coach ‘Capello’ on youth football/soccer

Former Real Madrid and Juventus boss Fabio Capello has suggested that rubbish youth coaches should be thrown in prison for their crimes against football. The coach recently embarked on a poor World Cup 2014 campaign with Russia, but held on to his job despite a group stage exit, which mirrored that of his Italian compatriots who were knocked out after defeats to Costa Rica and Uruguay.

Younger players being taught tactics over technique

Capello is furious that younger players in his homeland are being taught tactics, rather than nurturing talent, and suggested that the lack of substantial financial reward for youth coaches is hindering Italian youngsters.

“Youth teams should be a great breeding ground for players, and to do this you have to teach more technical than tactical,” he told gazzettaregionale.it.

“Because the speed at which the game is played today it requires impeccable technique.” This was clearly shown at the World Cup 2014.

© efks / Depositphotos.com

Youth football / soccer ages 10-11

“Sometimes I see coaches in children of 10 or 11 years old being taught tactics. I think these coaches should be put in jail, because you have to teach the children to improve their technique.”

So what Capella is saying is that the tactics should wait, because it takes so much time for players to soak up all the important technique. Players can always learn tactics later on, but the most important part is that they can control the ball so many different ways.

Pay good youth coaches what they are worth

“But since it is much easier to teach tactics… That’s the real problem of the youth. I would say that it is essential to focus on youth coaches who have passion and pay the good ones well for what they produce.

“If they are not paid in the right way then they will seek other avenues, because in this sector usually do not pay much. I speak from personal experience, because I did six years of coaching the youth at Milan. “Too many times we prefer the physical side of the game, not the technical one, we look for the speed and technical intelligence (aka tactics). Obviously these choices have not been successful.”

The tactical problem in youth soccer

This problem will always exist because there are so many youth coaches and soccer players. Soccer parents usually don’t learn about how important soccer skills are. It takes thousands of hours on the ball to really retain the skills. Look at USMNT compared to other countries like Germany, Brazil, Spain or even Mexico. Those other countries have spend more time with the ball doing the right stuff. Even though the US has so many players, these other countries have better quality to choose from. The reason is because at younger ages, they have better training. The right soccer training matters!

Re-blogged from goal.com: Miles Chambers