Saturday marks the one year anniversary of the National Curriculum’s revised edition. There won’t be a celebration but outgoing FFA Technical Director Han Berger will leave his post comfortable with what he’s achieved.
The original curriculum was released in 2009, but Berger and his army of TDs identified a number of issues that were too big to ignore, hence the revision.
In 2012, Berger told Fox Sports’ Simon Hill, “I assumed certain knowledge levels and understanding when writing the curriculum.
“The first version was about the philosophical approach, but some haven’t been able to grasp it. Others understand, but aren’t keen to implement it.
“Version two will explain everything I took for granted, and how it relates to version one. It will be more in-depth and practical – exercise sections will be included.”
So has version two cut through the teething problems in the key areas?
Emphasis on improving quality of coaching
2014 marks the end of the curriculum’s first phase of minimum coaching accreditation. It has been a year of concession for coaches to gradually complete higher grade badges, with a growing emphasis on improving the quality of coaches across the country.
From 2015, there will be increased minimum requirements for coaches at NPL, state and national training centre levels.
From next year, technical directors and first grade coaches at NPL clubs must hold an A licence, while Under 19/20 coaches must hold a B licence, and a Youth C licence is required to coach from Under 14-16.
It will also be compulsory for state team coaches to have completed the Youth C licence course, while female NTC head coaches will be working towards their A licence, which becomes mandatory from 2016.
The curriculum’s revised edition has been lauded by less-experienced coaches, who have reported an improvement in their training sessions as a direct result of the templates provided.
Football NSW Technical Director Alex Tobin insists there has been a warmer reception to the current curriculum than the previous version, which should see young players benefit from a higher standard of coaching.
“The fact that version two was much more detailed in terms of session planning has actually helped. We are working with coaches on the fact that a session needs to be prepared a certain way as per the national curriculum,” Tobin told The Roar.
“That was a theoretical proposal in the first national curriculum and a lot of coaches who didn’t have experience writing their own sessions perhaps struggled with the concept a little bit.
“Version two is much more broad and detailed about those sessions and basically gives them living examples and that’s been a great benefit. I’m glad it happened and it has made easier.
“If you don’t know of a training session to take and you’re an Under 8s coach, there is a model laid out for you and you just follow the process and you work on it as a coach and get better at it because you’re practicing.
“We have evolved into an acceptance (that anyone can coach) and that’s certainly not how elite programs should work. We’re getting closer to 100 per cent coaching accreditation guidelines.
“We’re mindful of the fact we need more accredited coaches. Some of our better accredited coaches, for whatever reason, aren’t necessarily involved in NPL or SAP [Skill Acquisition Program].
“What SAP and NPL should grow into is eventually to become a place where the very best coaches want to work and they get paid accordingly as an elite coach at an elite club.
“That environment currently doesn’t exist but over time that will improve.”
SAP improvement
While the majority of the football public are concerned with the top level (A-League and Socceroos), the curriculum was very specifically targeted at the Skill Acquisition Program (SAP).
It references the example of Japan, “who started their football development plan 20 years ago with the results only now starting to become visible”, as a clear directive to focus on nurturing the next crop of Socceroos and Matildas.
Immediate success is appealing, but what Australia has previously lacked is a clear platform for kids to follow from an early age. A results-driven mentality has been replaced by a thirst for development and National Curriculum 2.0 appears to have yielded results over the last twelve months in NSW.
“Technical Directors at NPL clubs, FFA etc. have all said the improvement of under 12s coming out of SAP, in terms of what it was a number of years ago, is extraordinarily high, which is great,” Tobin said.
“That means that of the 30 licensees, though not all perfect, the majority are trying to do the right thing and the improvements are in the technique of the players because the emphasis is on the development more than it was in the past.”
Another identification of the revised curriculum was to bridge the ‘wasted space’, that previously saw the football season take a mere six months. SAP programs have increased to 40 weeks, with three training sessions during the week and a game on the weekend in a bid to follow European models at a similar age group.
It means kids can no longer split the year into two different sporting seasons, but have the benefit of remaining in tune with the game all year round.
Pathways
While the rebirthed curriculum can’t be directly credited for the success of Tony Vidmar’s Joeys at the AFC Under-16 Championships, it is the tip of the pathway structure that Han Berger has made the goal.
The Australian Institute of Sport program has been lowered from Young Socceroos age (U19/20) to Joeys age (U16/17) and enabled Vidmar’s youngsters to head to Thailand after a successful season together in the Capital Football NPL, where they finished fifth in the first grade competition.
The allure of the AIS has been criticised in recent years, with fewer top level players having graduated from what is now labelled the FFA Centre of Excellence, but Tobin believes it remains the Holy Grail for young players to further their professional ambitions.
“Our view is that there are better pathways staying in Australia than once thought,” he said. “The idea is that you can be involved in the AIS, go to the under 17s and within a very short time of that move into the NYL, A-League and beyond.
“The 1 in 100 players that moves overseas early and makes it gets publicity and that encourages the next 100 to go for it. But I’ve seen the 99 that don’t make it and you don’t often hear about that side.
“If you have a pathway, then not going along that pathway isn’t the way to do it. If the pathways are there and obvious to everyone, there is no need to go elsewhere.”
One element of the pathways focus outlined by Berger’s curriculum that must be improved over the next two years is to integrate A-League clubs into their respective state NPL competition.
2014 saw Perth Glory, Newcastle Jets and Brisbane Roar’s National Youth League teams partake in the NPL, while Central Coast Mariners Academy again featured in the NSW NPL.
The aim is for all A-League clubs to have a clear pathway set out through the junior ranks, which has thus far proved a stumbling block. It is one of the blocks from the revised curriculum that remains unchecked, but is necessary to lift the standard of competition in the NYL and, subsequently, the Young Socceroos.
Women’s football focus
As I wrote last month, the women’s game has been a big beneficiary of the curriculum’s new direction, with the introduction of nationwide development officers and a coaches mentor program to improve the standard of girls’ football and establishing clearer pathways to the top.
The program is a sign that the curriculum is working, but it’s far too early to gauge whether the desired results have been achieved.
Football NSW Institute took out the NSW NPL Women’s 1 grand final to suggest things are headed in the right direction, particularly at youth level.
“We have to get the women’s game up onto the same scale as the boys and the men’s game as quickly as we can,” Tobin added. “The numbers state that should be a priority, with the number of girls playing increasing.
“The opportunities for girls are not where they need to be in a club space, mainly because there are some traditional models out there being followed. From my point of view, there is equality (in potential for both sexes) but what I would like to get to is a point where clubs believe there should be equality in their ranks and they should run as many girls programs as they do with boys.
“W-League has changed that space, but it needs to be longer. It’s a very short season so that raises some concerns about the opportunities for the girls that make that squad.
“Over time, extending that would be a priority and working with the women’s NPL in the same space as men’s would change things as well.”
Challenges for the new FFA TD
An announcement on Han Berger’s successor as FFA Technical Director is imminent, with Romeo Jozak, who became linked with the job by Football Central last month, appearing to be the ideal choice.
Whoever steps into the role, it is unlikely they will find cause to revolutionise the current curriculum, with 2014 having shown signs of development and improvements made along the lines of the paper.
It seems coaches and players have become more receptive to the amended version and the focus will likely be on reinforcing the current teachings and promoting greater uniformity across all age groups.
Although conjecture will remain, this looks to be the best model to push Australian football forward, with results hopefully seeping through within the decade.
Berger will undoubtedly endeavour to give the new TD a greater understanding of the task at hand than what he was given, with the Dutchman admitting in 2012 that he overestimated the knowledge of Australian football coaches.
Thus, you can see his fingerprints over the improvement in the standard of coaching at youth level. His vision of a unified system from the A-League right through the football system remains a work in progress, but the last twelve months have proved the message of the curriculum is now clear.
The Bear
Guest
Great idea.
The Bear
Guest
How very macho of him ;)
Batou
Guest
Exactly Ben (and Fuss). The article that Ian W posted above about Tom Byer in Japan quotes him as saying the same thing. It's all about bringing the level of all players up, consistently, which then presents the talented players with more of a challenge and pushes them to continue improving. I'm not sure how the author of that article managed to decide that NHK is a Japanese toymaker though....
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I would disagree. A number of these exceptional talents may emerge, true. The true benefit of the curricula is to have the A-League flooded with talent akin to Culina and the NPL laden with talent akin to Carle. It is depth across the entire spectrum of football that we seek. From the Socceroos to the local park. Each level stepping up. Yes, we may unveil a few shining lights along the way, however it's the quality of the bench that best determines the quality of a side and ultimately the success of the national curriculum.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@cookyjar Beautifully put - you get it; others don't. A strong & vibrant education system is not about producing the next genius. It's about creating an environment where best practice teaching methods are used to deliver repeatable lessons & produce the highest quality educational outcomes for each person. If we lift every child's learning (not just football, all aspects of learning) it will be far more beneficial for Australia, than trying to create a small group of high achievers every 50 years.
AZ_RBB
Guest
I think he meant the U16 game....but regardless.....COYW!!
Punter
Guest
That is what I thought Matthew was saying in regards to extending the olive branch!!!!
Cameron
Roar Guru
Never. He was more about click bait.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
The game is being shown live out here on Fox (as is the other semi) so I assume a stream is available
The artist formally known as Dave
Guest
And while I'm at it, and kind of in relation to Midfielder and Ian Whitchurch's comments, perhaps the FFA should write into all future tv contracts that all contracted commentators/panelists etc must be working towards their coaching licenses too? That could only help to raise the standard of commentary surely...
Midfielder
Guest
Near match time go to the Drive Bys fans forum .. I am sure they will have one http://www.westsydneyfootball.com/index
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
IGood idea, but 'd use a carrot not a stick, and tell clubs "For every one of your players who gets a coaching licence at any level, you get an extra $x of room in your salary cap."
Midfielder
Guest
Real from 442 should be interesting tomorrow... From 442 FFA CEO David Gallop will deliver a “State of the Game Address” at 11:00am AEST this Thursday. http://t.co/bJJkjh9BfF Part of the address was in the smh today http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/unity-player-development-money-top-the-agenda-for-aleague-20140916-10htfd.html#ixzz3DY56m0iZ Unity, player development, money top the agenda for A-League Bringing "old soccer" back into the tent – and making some money – are top of the agenda for the A-League's boss in season 10. On Thursday Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop will make his annual state of the game address. He sees the empire he and many others have built finally achieving stability. After years of excitement and expansion, of establishing the code as a major player in the Australian sporting scene, Gallop believes now is the time for introspection. He has identified three key challenges for the season: reunifying the top tier with the grassroots, fixing youth development and making some money. "The development of the A-League was a critical step, but we've now evolved to the point where it was important to go back into the state league system and develop opportunities to make sure that those clubs and the players they develop feel connected to the top tier of the game," the Sydney-based Gallop told Fairfax Media during a whistlestop visit to Melbourne, where he announced the winners of this year's NPL finals series would gain automatic qualification to the FFA Cup. That announcement, and the Cup – which sees A-League and grassroots teams competing against each other in a knockout format – are important parts of a strategy to heal a 10-year-old wound. The league's founding in 2004 created bitterness among established clubs in the old National Soccer League. "A lot of great soccer people become a little bit disengaged with the A-League," says Peter Kokotis, general manager of the NSL's oldest and most successful club, South Melbourne. "It was quite devastating obviously for most of our fans. It'd be no different for any huge club that's used to playing in the top league and then finds itself in another league." Through the FFA Cup, Gallop is hoping to bring the disengaged back into his tent. "I think that disconnection has been there, but certainly in the last couple of months we've seen a really great spirit developing through the FFA Cup. "It's an important connection point between the grassroots of the game and the professional level." Bringing the clubs back into the fold is important because, like it or not, the A-League is almost totally reliant on them to develop talent. The FFA has so far chosen to have its premier competition focus almost solely on winning fans and sponsors, with few clubs putting time and money into operating serious youth development pathways. That has meant the clubs have had to lean on NPL teams to develop and nurture talent. The lower leagues in effect act as a feeder system for the A-League clubs. If that is to continue, and the quality of A-League players is to improve, Gallop knows the lower-league feeders need to feel like they're a valued part of the main game. "It's an important part of developing players. The more high-quality competitions you have the better players you produce. That'll produce better players for the A-League and ultimately for the Socceroos. "It's recognised by the technical experts that having development pathways from under 12s right through to senior ranks within one club is the right way to go. "We don't have that across all 10 of our A-League clubs. Those junior pathways at NPL level remain a really important way of bringing players through; and ultimately we want to see those types of development academy systems in our A-League clubs as well." If Gallop has plans afoot to deal with his first two problems, his third is a little less in his control – how to deal with the A-League's unlikely collection of private owners. The owners inject the revenue the A-League needs to run – but in exchange, Gallop finds himself captive to the whims of a group that includes mining magnate Nathan Tinkler and Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Gallop surely will be thankful Clive Palmer is no longer involved, but he still has many balls to juggle and many people to keep happy. And the best way to do that is to make sure they realise a return on their investment. "Our priority at the moment is to continue the commercial consolidation of the competition and making sure that the investment that the owners have already made continues to bear some fruit," Gallop said. "We will certainly look at expansion down the track but it's not on our current agenda."
The artist formally known as Dave
Guest
If we're talking about swelling the ranks of qualified coaches quickly, I'd like to see the FFA make it a compulsory part of all A-League player contracts that you must be working towards your coaching licences, (i.e. whatever level you've already achieved, you need to be working towards the next one). This would quickly add to the pool of qualified coaches, with perhaps an added bonus of more tactically aware players. And if its more youth coaches in particular that we are after, then perhaps the FFA mandates that you gain those first, before moving onto the senior licences. The FFA could even charge the current players full price for their coaching courses, and use that to offset/subsidise the cost for anyone from the general community undertaking the courses voluntarily. This would be similar to many occupations where you are expected to undertake ongoing education. It wouldn't necessarily mean all these players went onto coach in later life, but you'd have to think plenty of them would. Admittedly I haven't thought this through much so feel free to poke holes in my theory...
Phutbol
Guest
Anyone know if there is a stream of the game available?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
A nice review, Mitchell Grima - thank you. Tonight we'll have on display an early example of the quality we hope to produce year, after year, after year when Australia's u16 team plays North Korea in the Semi Finals of the u16 AFC Championship. The Joeys have played 4 consecutive matches in this tournament, including a highly entertaining 4-2 win against Japan, and have qualified for the 2015 u17 Fifa World Cup in Chile. Japan who had represented Asia at the past 4 consecutive u17 World Cups misses out. Kick off at 11:00 p.m. (AEST). PS: In relation to someone's comment about producing the next Kewell, Viduka, etc... A codified curriculum is designed to take the guess-work & subjectivity out of education. So, the learning process is not dependent upon one guru teacher (coach) at any given learning institution (club). Rather, the Curriculum sets out a a template to guide all football educators across Australia. This makes the process repeatable.
Realfootball
Guest
Exactly the kind of article we hope to see more of. Well done, Mitchell.
Griffo
Roar Guru
One thing I think the FFA could do that would have benefits and give a boost to development is to reduce their cost of coaching courses. Not all clubs can or would subsidise the costs. Swelling the ranks of licenced coaches who would be available for youth development can only be a good thing. Comparisons with coaching costs in Spain, Germany and England and available Pro-, A-C level indicate there is some correlation between high costs and coaching numbers. There is a chart for Germany on what they wanted in terms of licence levels for their academies and what they had (more high qualified coaches) was put down mainly to the low cost. Giving a moratorium on cost here would allow more coaches to enter the C-level ranks, and those on C-, B- and even A-level the opportunity to go in excess of the minimum requirements of coaching levels. As one of the few AFC nations allowed to run their own, accredited coaching courses it is possible for the FFA to train other AFC coaches at full price, but we should be quickly raising the number of coaches here and getting them into development.
Midfielder
Guest
FF Sad post you just made shows in many ways things have not changed all that much at all ... The local team I was associated with was lucky and had four former NSL players two of which had gone on to coach at junior NSL levels and another coach who coached an U 18 NSL team.. Between the five of them with 3 graded coaches we used to hold regular coaching lessons, watch matches and provide written and verbal advise, offer to come to training to assist ... This was over a 7 year period and year on year the only people who turned up and invited us to their coaching nights were advanced coaches ... I recall one particular match when the CB in an U 14 match had the entire right hand side of the park free and two very easy passes to make with the other side having all its defence on the left ... a striker came towards the CB with the coaching SCREAMING just hit it long to player X on the left who was marked by three of their players ... I said to the coach something like ... pass down the right and you are at goal you have three players unmarked and even if you just play it there you will open up space on your left ... He turned and said we are coming first and the kids like winning so FO with your club advise ... latter on I heard the same coach saying we should leave this club they interfere so much ..
Mister Football
Roar Guru
yeh, well, the next time the socceroos have the equivalent of a kewell, dukes, cahill and Schwarzer in the same team, that would be pretty damn good (and maybe the equivalent of a Zelic and Okon having just retired as well)