The Philippines, where football is regarded by various people as a game for the rich, has seen enormous growth in recent years as many kids are beginning to embrace the sport all over the country.
However, as many kids are embracing the sport in the Philippines, and parents supporting their children to receive the best training, there are two major things affecting players development.
Inconsistency in members and inconsistency in training have been the major problems affecting youth football players development in the Philippines.
Due to the high cost of training fees, only the rich players can afford to have the regular three times of training per week – especially in top clubs in Manila where players pay per training session.
Inconsistency in club membership is another problem in youth football development in the Philippines. Players belong to three or four clubs at the same time.
With this type of attitude and behaviour, instead of players developing, they have become confused on what to do in the field because of so much information from different coaches. Some players play as a defender in one club, as a striker in the other and as a midfielder in another.
Because of the movement from club to club, youth players in the Philippines are inconsistent in their training with any club.
Because of the movement, coaches do not have time to evaluate youth players performance and monitor their development.
Football authorities want to see players development and parents certainly want the best for their kids that is why they are moving from club to club.
However, moving from club to club is not the solution to develop players. It is a problem and parents need to understand this should they wish to see their kids play at the next level.
In the part of the football authorities, there should be a rule that enforces youth players to be a member of one club for at least one year especially those clubs that are officially registered with the PFF.
This alone will enhance players development no matter the club they are registered.
richard p
Guest
enforcing the regulation on players residency in on club or moving from one club to another would be nearly impossible with the local federation or clubs inability to do so as the main reason but we're slowly getting there (finger's crossed) movement to different teams because: - costly to shell out monthly training fee (approx US $150-200) - some teams offered to train players for free IF they were talented enough to be promoted to the so called elite group within the team, if you weren't you payed to play - parents and kid's friends moved so other's followed - teams with the winningest records attracted a lot of attention (with very mixed results for those who risked moving, if you were very very talented than you played if not then sucks to be you. The very few that stuck it out in their home teams got trained well enough to be good at their position and always were ensured a spot on the roster because of their loyalty and hard work.
Lawson
Guest
Public outdoor fields with their high construction and maintenance costs are often prohibitive in hot climates. As I mentioned previously, basketball courts seem to be already in abundance in south-east asia and the south pacific and are in many ways easier to maintain. Many of these are linked to schools and are covered to provide dry playground space or are part of a multi-purpose indoor gymnasium. This is not to say stop lobbying for easily accessible outdoor football public fields, but also recognise your opportunities and your strengths with complimentary alternatives like Futsal and schools.
Lerche Njang
Roar Rookie
Great you know a lot about the Philippines! I beleive heat is not the problem because I have witness places that are hurter the Philippines and they are still kicking the ball and running. The lack of public fields is a big problem in the Philippines.
Lerche Njang
Roar Rookie
I have always said that futsal is the asnwer if Phillipines really wants to get a lot of kids involve in football.
Lawson
Guest
The Philippines problems with junior and youth development and their the elite level pathways to national programmes along with cost and facility availability are not uncommon problems. Given the availability of basketball courts, greater emphasis needs to be made of Futsal to player development and social inclusion for the outdoor sport of football! Futsal might even be the form of the sport of football that the Philippines, like other S-E Asian and South Pacific Island nations, are best placed to sustain international competitiveness in the future.
Nambawan
Guest
I have had a lot of experience going around the Philippines, and one of the aspects of local life I have noticed are the lack of playing fields facilities. In Australia playing fields are everywhere to be seen , but in the Phils the opposite is the case. The country is grossly over populated and living space is scarce and precious and so I guess land for sporting fields is in very short supply. Also, of course the climate is extremely hot and not conducive to a running sport like soccer. Conversely basketball pitches are common and that sport seems to be quite popular. I have a very large extended family network in the Phils with hordes of kids. None of them have shown any interest in soccer, but are smart phone addicts. Cant envisage soccer becoming significantly popular in the P.I.