Youth Development: Emulating Brazil’s “Mass Production of Players”

By: Laurie | December 12th, 2007

Let’s talk youth development..

When England failed to qualify for Euro ‘08, it got people talking about what needs to be done for the future. Since the US faces a lot of the same issues, if on a different scale, we could learn from the discussion now going on.

One of the more interesting articles I read on the topic was an interview from a couple of weeks ago with the current South Africa coach, the Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira, where he talks about how England could learn from Brazil’s approach to the development of young players.

Brazil is an interesting case, because the country is busy populating the best teams in the world with their players. A number of the top European sides boast at least one Brazilian on their rosters, and there are more Brazilians players in the Champions League than any other nationality. (France, which also has a strong youth development system, is second.)

“We have a mass production of players,” Parreira said. “I call it the factory. When a player is nine, he is already being evolved by a club. At 19, he has already had 10 years’ organised football. That’s why Brazil have so many good players, playing in the first division of Brazil aged 19.” …

“There are no street players in Brazil any more. Players are built in clubs. This is the strength of Brazilian football. It is not about Pele, Kaka, Ronaldinho – it is about the system that produces them. This year we will transfer 1,300 players abroad. Ronaldinho at Barcelona and Kaka at Milan are role models for young Brazilian players to follow.”

What do you think? Should the Red Bulls start signing nine-year-olds?

Another recent interesting interview was with Alfred Galustian, the international director of Coerver Coaching, a coaching program. Okay, sure, the director of a for-profit coaching program has a vested interest in saying that players could benefit from his knowledge. But what he says rings true.

“I feel that English players are technically weak when compared to the Spanish, Italian and the French. The Spanish defenders for example are so comfortable on the ball when compared to, let’s say, John Terry or Micah Richards. Technically, they are far superior than the physically robust English defenders. It’s got to do with the fact that in England, the emphasis has been largely towards speed and physical strength rather than skill.”

The “speed and physical strength only” criticism is also frequently leveled at MLS, but even moreso.

But the US is starting to move in the right direction. One example: The US Soccer Development Academy. Its goal, according to U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati, is to “shift the focus of our young elite players from an ‘overburdened, game emphasis’ model to a ‘meaningful training and competition’ model.”

Sounds promising. Think it will bear fruit before the 2010 World Cup?

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Laurie

Matt, you've hit the nail on the head in a couple of areas.

Many of these youth teams are run by men whose sense of accomplishment is tied up in their youngsters winning football matches. As a result, the kids who are selected to play for teams at this level are often those who have developed faster than others and stand out through their physical prowess rather than their skill.

Yes! It's the same in the US. I think US Soccer is recognizing this and trying to move away from this model, which will be a good thing.

I didn't realize futsal was big with younger kids in Brazil. I've never seen an actual game, only highlights, but it has to teach incredible ball control because that surface is completely unforgiving. It never occurred to me that futsal could be an answer, but you may be onto something.

Alex, you're right about the egos. There's also the fact that the top clubs throw so much money at kids to be benchwarmers, they don't have to develop beyond a certain point.
Matt

In England, players are "signed" at the age of 9 - my cousin (goalkeeper) was scouted by Manchester City when he was about that age. They're not allowed to sign professional terms until 17, but at 12 they have to sign an agreement not to play for anyone but the professional club training them.

Regardless of whether you're in England or Brazil, if you're signed by a club at 9 or 12, you'll turn into a fairly good player. The problem, I think, is the difference between the kind of players that are scouted in England - and presumably America - as opposed to Brazil. Most youngsters are spotted playing competitive games for a local youth team. Many of these youth teams are run by men whose sense of accomplishment is tied up in their youngsters winning football matches. As a result, the kids who are selected to play for teams at this level are often those who have developed faster than others and stand out through their physical prowess rather than their skill. This is especially noticeable after the kid turns 12, as English youngsters, for reasons known only to god, play full 11-a-side football on a full-sized adult pitch at that age. This generally results in the team with bigger players winning.

In Brazil, on the other hand, kids are often spotted playing Futsal, and that game is used in training throughout their youth. It teaches superb ball control and precision.

I think the problem in England is the context in which players are scouted for the clubs rather than the training they receive there. There's a reason English players tend to be strong but skill-less, and it's the way kids are forced to play up to the age of 12 or 14.
Alex

i feel like england and the US are in the same position...both arent really that good and failed mat the world cup...england's big problem isnt all the imports...its that there 'great' players have 'great' egos...someone has to yell at them...bench them...and even kick them in the a$$...no one is greater than the team...somehow if beckham plays they have a shot at winning...before the world cup...how was everyone worrying about rooney's foot...wtf...whats the big deal..he still played and still got nowhere...and the biggest dissapointment euro 08....i guess the best way to qualify for tournament is to host it...

living here in the US ive seen alot of soccer fields...and kids playing...so the youth academys are starting to kick off in my area...i dont know about signing 9 yr olds to clubs...especially in the US where kids would rather do other things such as play other sports...football (american)...basketball...and baseball..all these sports are televised on major networks..soccer isnt that important in the US for 9 yr old to b signed to clubs...unless ur a special exception...not like brazil were they bleed soccer..
James

Chivas has a great youth system, after all they are the backbone of the Mexican national team.
Mac

lol, parental pressure
PocketKings

My son is only 5, and finished his second year at AYSO. AYSO is a great way to introduce the game, but when he is somewhere between 8-10, I'm taking him to the Chivas USA youth academy. He can still play AYSO, but I know that there will be a strong youth development program at Chivas USA because they follow the same concepts as their parent company - Chivas Guadalajara.

And who knows... if I can find a club team with a good Brazilian coach, I might take him there too!

My only disappointment is that the kid kinda likes playing defense. I wanted him to be an attacking midfielder. Maybe I should send him to an Italian Club!!
Dave's Football Blog

Maybe not before 2010, but 2014 ought to be interesting.