I have an idea that could be a revolutionary change to drastically improve the quality of footballers in Australia for the future.
Let me just say that if I was a few years younger, I would write this into a multi-page proposal and take it to both the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and Football Australia (FA).
But hopefully, this article may filter through to APL in some form, and I plan to send this to the Central Coast Mariners ownership as an idea.
The USA even more than Australia does not have what you could call, traditional pathway development programs for players, nor any real structure for quality training. Given most training is paid training it varies in cost, quality and time.
But at the same time, Major League Soccer (MLS) has grown to such a size that it needs players of a certain quality.
Further national and state bodies’ development systems were confusing and often conflicting. When the COVID-19 pandemic came what systems they had were starting to fail.
The MLS decided to take matters into their own hands, and even though I am not totally across the finer details, essentially they developed a template to train players from under-13 through to under-19 (but I don’t know why we can’t start at under-9s).
My understanding is teams from around the USA and Canada could apply to be a part of “MLS Next” – and if accepted your club is then formally associated with the MLS.
Additionally, the club is seen as providing excellent training among other things.
Beyond this, if a club has an outstanding player, the player can seek recognition by an MLS club, and from the next year MLS will pay for the local club to provide extra training.
The reward for these clubs is that the MLS will get to see the rising talent, and the players and their parents will look to these clubs.
The system was started in 2020 and to date has 143 registered clubs spread across the country.
This means 143 high-quality training academies and from what I can make out they do not involve a mega cost to those that play there.
This is an interesting concept, as any parent wanting to improve their child’s training is often overloaded with who is good or bad, and the cost and travel are often prohibitive.
The MLS recognition provides parents, players, and the club, confidence in the training.
From what I have been able to read so far, it’s difficult to meet the MLS standards and they are audited to ensure they maintain standards.
Let’s call our system: “ A-League Ready”
Australian player development is similar, in that there is little consistency and a high cost – and how do you as a player get both good training and the attention of key professional clubs?
In NSW, many Associations with their rep teams, I assume would apply. Many private schools I think would apply, as well as former NSL teams.
There would be many park clubs that have both a committee and parents capable of coaching would also apply.
My personal example is I was at a club, and in my over-35 team we had two former coaches at lower levels in the NSL, both had managed under-18 teams for NSL clubs.
As a committee, we developed coaching nights, advanced coaching for the better players etc.
I can see many clubs wanting recognition, as to gain this and be audited on a regular basis would be difficult.
(Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
But the advantages would be huge.
First, it would be a reasonably priced development program. Second, it would be spread Australia-wide. Third, it should help in connecting the player base to the league. And fourth, it will provide a number of quality players for APL and Australia.
It’s affordable, achievable, and workable and that in itself is a huge advantage.
Australia can also adopt its own way of using the system and not have to copy line by line what the MLS does.
Another development by the MLS is playing MLS Next teams against each other, this part is a bit complex, say as a local club you gain recognition and only have say 20 players, you can train those 20 players and have them play in organised MLS Next games.
Further A-League Ready teams could play each other at prearranged times on local grounds.
To date, it’s seen as an outstanding success in America and Canada. There is no reason a system similar to MLS Next could not work in Australia.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Why would they want to “buy other clubs good young players”? Do you ever wonder which clubs are blocking a domestic transfer system in Australia? Do you think CFG, err City, could be one of them? City don’t want or need competition from other development pathways, the MLS Next model as Mid describes it, they just want to skim what they need when they need it.
Waz
Roar Rookie
and tbh is is what it looks like when CFG start to lose interest The planned changes to FFP mean satellite clubs become a cost not a benefit. Lets see where City go now, without any crowd to speak of and reduced tv money.
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
But the NPL academies already run alongside the A league ones. Training 3-4 nights a week with fully qualified coaches headed up by an audited and approved program run by the qualified TD under the Aus curriculum. They have sport scientists and physios, track player data……The only real difference was that The roar were able to pick the best of all the NPL players for their squad, so the level of play would have been higher at the A league academy. But that would be no different from an MLS academy compared to the MLS next club. I am not having a go at you here mid. I have 3 boys all involved at NPL FQ1 level. One in the FQ academy. I am very interested in all things youth development and find a better way to support my boys. Perhaps I just misunderstand the concept???? But NPL training is a good level. Especially when FQ have a very promising elite pathway running alongside that not only identify top talent around the state but then coach them regularly, track their progress and maturation upto ag16 giving A league clubs and national selectors detailed knowledge of the best 100-150 player in each age group (14-16 I think) when it comes to selection time. If your plan can do all that and be free or at least lower cost, I am all for it. But with Aleague clubs skint, I fail to see who pays for this other than the parents again??
Waz
Roar Rookie
You would think. But CFG view football through a unique lens - the only teams that matter is the ones in sky blue. And the only not country that matters is the UAE. A failing Australian youth system with failing professional clubs will drive players to City … that’s my point. They’re quite happy to see the A League's on life support, it suits their purpose. If Mids model were adopted they would face competition for good young players which they don’t want.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the reply. I understand they might not care about Australian football and only care about City, but more players = more money.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I agree with what you have written because City can buy other club’s good young developing players - Talbot, Tilio, etc who they can still further develop and sell on. And they can sell their own as well. That’s double the money.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
While I have difficulties with CFG, I don't think you can single it out in the way you have. I see it this way: "[A-league/NPL club] don’t want Australia to develop good players, they want [A-league/NPL club] to develop good players." Surely Marconi, South Melbourne, Roar, etc, etc spend money to boost their own club and if it has a flow on beneficial impact on the wider Australian football ecosystem then that's an added bonus. Surely.
Waz
Roar Rookie
CFG don’t want Australia to develop good players, they want Melb City to develop good players.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
How its different to the current system HHHHHMmmmm they can actually run along side each other.... However, it offers that professional will watch these games, and the clubs who run it should be training near MLS academy level....
Midfielder
Roar Guru
BT Sometimes I wonder if people and I am not having a go at you.... but if the system is for clubs .... the word is clubs.... it does not say private academies... Good for your model, ..... what this model is the kids playing in at will be watched by professional scouts and further the training is suppose to be at near MLS academy level,,,, In the article the second link, showed one of the new teams, they have 5, 000 players and are playing each week....
Grem
Roar Rookie
At least we have Aloisi coaching WU and Emerton working with Macarthur. Bresciano, Lazarides and Grella will have involvement with Perth. It would be good to have more of our golden generation involved with football in Australia. Anyone who played in the EPL should not have any money issues.
Brendan
Roar Pro
We’ve lost Cahill to the Middle East. He’s rolling in the dollars now. … So YES! Cahill could invest into the A-League. Years ago, Graham Arnold ploughed money into the NSL’s Northern Sprit team.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I don’t understand why City Football Group would not support junior development. The more young players they can sell the better, I would think. Can you explain why you don’t think that?
Grem
Roar Rookie
Or Cahill
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
I would 100% agree that the youth system (at least on Qld) seems to be on the right track. FQ have done a good job (albeit painful in process) to shuffle the football landscape over the last couple of years to create a connected working Football pyramid. Again, sometimes their decision making and execution leave a little to be desired, but I think they have a solid vision of their elite pathways. The kids are phenomenally good at FQ1 level, especially when you then see FQ's TSP (Academy) in action. Holy Moley, those kids have skills. Good players are being produced at a high rate, but I think you are right Waz, with lack of funding and resources compared to the rest of the world, it will never be enough until real investment is made into these kids. I also feel the priorities in coaching (possession at all costs) is stifling those real "X factor" players that make the difference at international and tournament level. All countries can keep possession, or play disciplined enough to keep the goals out, what we need are players willing to run at the opposition, break the line and force opponents to break structure and scramble. We dont have too many of those anymore.
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
I might add to this, that my oldest boy is involved in this set up (u15) and the concept is really good. Sometimes the execution leaves something to be desired, but the framework is solid. I can see how this system benefits both the kids aiming for the elite end of football, as well as Bne Roar and in turn Joeys, Olyroos and Socceroos. A great way to deal with the geographical nature of the state of QLD too. I would add though, it is still a “user pays” system only available to the kids who parents can afford it. And costs went up….substantially this year!
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
Sorry Mid, but I dont see how this is different to the current set up. Other than the fact that the A League clubs dont contribute to the costs of juniors (understandabley as they struggle to keep themselves afloat). We have a local A League team, lets say the Roar. Then you have 10 FQ1 clubs in Brisbane (which are all NPL clubs with strict rules on high coaching levels, back room staff, curriculum and training plans….In fact we had an FQ rep out at our club last night assessing our club’s acadmey training practices) producing talent that the Roar can keep tabs on. Other than getting the Roar to connect more with the clubs and get to know the player by sending out their coaches regularly, I dont really see the difference?? Am I missing something? I would also say that I was sceptical when the Rosr dropped their youth program, but can see how that now fits better with FQs talent ID program, Which in concept I really like. Being that football is a world of “who you know” Having A League clubs run their own Football Academies I feel excludes a great number of kids that may be late bloomers, as teams generally close up shop around under 13 or 14 not seriously looking at bringing in new players. If you dont get selected at age 13 for an A League academy, they are far less likely to consider you at 15 or 16. (same with NPL clubs I might add).
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
Great article Midfielder! There are so many things that the MLS are doing right and here in Aus we can definitely learn from them. There are also more similarities with Aus and the US than similarities with Aus and Europe, the main ones being huge geographical area and football not being the number one sport. Thanks for writing the article.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
If the model is you look at fee paying academies and chose the best from there then its no good. I proposed a much better model and it would only cost 2 milllion a year. You do totally open scouting trials and then you pick the 50 best players in each age group and fund their training at their closest NPL club and academy at about 5000 a year. The age groups would be from 11-17. This effectively bypasses the NPL rego fee barrier. The US is funny in that it they pay sports scholarships for college which even includes accomodation though the sports training is not full time. The problem with that is while its excellent for womens football and was behind a lot of world cup players, male football being the highest standard sport in the world and requiring intensive skills training from younger ages its a waste and the best players go straight to pro teams at young ages.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Let’s start with the basics: youth development in Australia is not broken, two World Cups and regular youth players breaking through demonstrate that (but it can be improved). The next observation is the biggest challenges facing youth development are resource related: playing space, money, and coaches. The MLS also suffers from a shared Australian problem, it too has a “pay for play” model entrenched in its pathways, and also lacks football scouts skilled in talent identification - both of these mean talent slips through. The Australian system is going well despite these limitations, but I believe we are being outpaced by Asian rivals who take soccer way more seriously than we do. Would an MLS-Next like system work here … there’s no reason why it wouldn’t but the question would be is it necessary? I would say it’s unworkable today with many A League clubs lacking facilities, funding, coaches, and scouts to make it work … Adelaide are probably the closest to doing something like this, Roar tried a similar system pre-COVID with a network of partner clubs but the thing came unstuck over … you guessed it … money. So nice article, not sure the APL would have any interest in it - and even if they thought it was a good idea Melbourne City would kill the idea … if it’s good for Australian football it’s not good for CFG after all :crying: