Newest Issue of Inside SOCCER

[futsal]

Hey guys,

Thought I'd point out that the newest issue of Inside SOCCER is out Check out the attached cover.

http://www.insidesoccer.net/current-issue/

It's probably the only soccer publication still affordable at $5 and the new design is quite nice. It also appears that Toronto FC defender Marvell Wynne is also a part-time proctologist as seen on the cover with patient Cristiano Ronaldo.

Enjoy

[tmcmurph]

quote:Originally posted by futsal

Hey guys,

Thought I'd point out that the newest issue of Inside SOCCER is out Check out the attached cover.

http://www.insidesoccer.net/current-issue/

It's probably the only soccer publication still affordable at $5 and the new design is quite nice. It also appears that Toronto FC defender Marvell Wynne is also a part-time proctologist as seen on the cover with patient Cristiano Ronaldo.

Enjoy

Too funny. If only Marvell's right arm was by his side it would be the perfect picture! That and what a freakish vertical does CR have?

[squid2]

Alfons and leekoo do a terrific job.

[VPjr]

quote:Originally posted by squid2

Alfons and leekoo do a terrific job.

I second that...I look forward to getting my hands on a copy of Inside Soccer whenever I can.

[futsal]

Here is a very interesting read you should take a look at. Jim Cannovan wrote a piece that is now on the insidesoccer.ca website.

Not Good Enough

In a detailed position paper presented to INSIDE SOCCER MAGAZINE, Jim Cannovan outlines his definition of a soccer academy; the steps he believes are needed to make an academy system work on Canadian soil; the role of academies in Canada, academy objectives, leadership, and vision.

Jim Cannovan

Jim Cannovan serves as Director Technical at the

Ontario Soccer Association

So what’s an academy? What does the word mean?

Webster’s states:

An academy is a school offering instruction, training in a specific field.

One could suggest that this definition could be simply adhered to if we choose to operate a soccer academy in Canada. But we cannot adhere to a simple dictionary definition.

FIFA’S definition of an academy:

An academy is an independent, legal entity whose primary, long term objective is to provide players with a long term training through the provisions of the necessary training facilities and infrastructure. This shall primarily include, but not be limited to football training centres, camps, schools etc.

The distinct difference between Webster’s and FIFA are in the words “the provisions of necessary training facilities and infrastructure” and that’s where we misuse the term Academy in Canada.

ACADEMIES IN CANADA, WHAT WE PRESENTLY HAVE

Across Canada we have countless groups using the term academy — some very serious entrepreneurs charging thousands of dollars per player per annum, some others charging considerably less.

But none of them can fulfill the basics of the FIFA academy recommendations — that being the provisions of “necessary training facilities and infrastructure”.

With exception, none of these academy groups have their own indoor and outdoor facilities. Most are renting small amounts of space at under-sized public locations.

One such group goes as far as to state in their mission statement that they are dedicated to develop world class players on a regular basis.

How can anybody develop a Canadian player to a world class level if they do not have acceptable facilities or competition, summer and winter?

Some of these people have been in the academy business 10 years and making a good living, without having developed a quality player, far less, a world class player.

The present academy competition is very poor. The academy groups have not been granted specific Provincial/National acceptance. The academy groups with exception have relationship problems with the youth clubs.

What we have in Canada is: Not Good Enough!

CAN ACADEMIES BECOME REALITY

As someone who believes in the academy concept, I really believe that we have the expertise to make the academy concept work in our country.

Once we acknowledge that what we have presently is unacceptable and not working, we must establish working relationships with Major League Soccer, United Soccer League, other pro leagues, and fellow Academies to create the best possible competition.

Next, we must realize that if we want our new academy accepted as an entity, we must go about the business of setting a high standard on and off the field.

There will be non-football political boards in opposition to this new venture, but we must get on with the task at hand of creating this new academy world.

THE TRUE CANADIAN ACADEMY

If we ever decide to move forward with the Canadian Academy concept, the role I see the new academies playing in Canada will be as a feeder system for our National teams (NTC) and the MLS and all professional teams in North America as well as Canadian and US scholastic institutions.

A true academy should look like this:

Mission Statement

Canadian academies should provide highly professional, supportive, effective and innovative programs that empower soccer players / students to improve their level of play.

Vision Statement

Canadian academies will ensure that their players/students are given strong values and skills to allow them an opportunity for higher education through scholarships or professional playing opportunities.

Objectives

To provide professional leadership in the interest of administering and developing soccer programs and further education.

To maintain and run an elite facility, summer and winter.

To promote international relationships for players/students.

To establish a strong National / professional working relationship for player/student opportunities.

Leadership

All Canadian Academy staff must all be qualified to a full “B” License minimum level or European equivalency.

Student ratio, player/student to staff will be 1 & 10.

Canadian Academy Head Coach must be full-time and be qualified to an “A” licence or European equivalency.

Goalkeeper Coach must be full-time and be qualified to an”A” licence or European equivalency.

Doctor on call during all practice sessions and games.

Qualified Trainer/Strength and Conditioner Coach, full-time.

Facility Manager for both indoor & outdoor facilities.

Qualified Physio on site, full-time.

Program

Both Gender programs.

Program schedule will not collide with player/students academic program.

Canadian Academy player/students will attend 4 practice sessions per week (2 hours)

Ratio of game to practice will be 4 practices to 1 game.

Dress code to enter Canadian Academy and travel with teammates will be enforced.

100% attendance expected , 75% or less attendance will be scrutinized.

Canadian Academy will provide Harassment classes/Police checks/H1 N1 info, policy & procedure in place.

Facilities

Canadian Academy members will have ownership to both indoor and outdoor facilities.

Facilities are expected to be full field size.

Sports rehab clinic in facilities.

Class room availability in facility.

All necessary equipment for all indoor and outdoor activities on site.

Necessary liability insurance for staff/player/students and facility.

Doctors room.

Fitness room and equipment on site.

FIFA AND THE 6 & 5 RULE

At a recent FIFA technical meeting, there was dialogue regarding world changes of how clubs and associations will be doing business along the lines of player signings within respective countries and leagues.

In England, approximately 60% of all players have foreigners being employed. The best five teams in Europe – season ending 2009 – had 55% of foreign players. Liverpool FC employ as many as 90% of their staff from outside England.

The Italian media recently wrote that Serie A was a league in decline — a veteran league, the oldest in the world, in terms of it’s players. Very few young Italian players ever get the opportunity to make a team.

European governments have complained to FIFA, asking them to react to the thousands of young men walking the streets of European countries, out of work. They are being linked to criminal activities.

These young players have been brought to these European countries by unscrupulous agents/scouts to try-out for specific teams. They were not successful in making the team but they never returned home.

Now FIFA has been asked to react. Will FIFA react? If they do, when would such a rule come into effect?

I believe the 6 & 5 will be one method of them reacting to government pressure. The 6 & 5 appears to be as simple as demanding that a professional team should have 6 home grown players on the field and 5 foreigners, making up the on field team of 11.

I think that will force these professional teams to invest more money into their own academies as they will only be allowed to have so many foreign players.

HOW DOES 6 & 5 IMPACT ACADEMIES

The need of these European teams to invest in their own home grown talent through their academies will be very obvious if and when the 6 & 5 rule kicks in.

They will NOT need to invest in North American scouting as they would only be scouting foreigners, unless of course there is an absolute diamond available from North America, then they would need to follow a very strict ancestry trail.

There is also evidence to state that European clubs need an Academy structure.

The schools football and youth football does not exist as it did twenty years ago. Youth academies will fill this void and the cost will be what will entice them to move forward with this initiative. Most of these larger teams already have a semblance of an academy.

In Canada, we need an academy structure if we are to survive as a soccer entity. We need to establish a true academy structure fed by academy scouts taking the best kids from the youth programs, that’s if there is no club split, house-league & Academy.

These academies will replace National Training Centres and our National team coaches can scout National hopefuls in a competitive academy environment that will see private academies compete against professional academies and possibly semi-professional academies .

DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT

It is very clear that we must do something different if we are to keep our game alive.

Is it time to have 2 groups of soccer people, House league & Academy? If all youth clubs are approximately 85% house league, can we split up the remainder into geographical academy areas?

The house league is controlled by the people who believe that these players should be a social non-competitive soccer group, playing in-house club soccer and their coaches educated in-house.

The remainder of our players would be Canadian Academy players/students attending the academy — age specific competitive coaching sessions and games.

They would:

Follow a rigorous academy schedule.

Live in a very serious soccer environment.

Be coached/educated by qualified people who have completed a Long Term Player Development educational program.

Have academy standards and facility standards well met.

Players/students would have all the academy benefits, school and professional opportunities.

[futsal]

One of the Academy Directors asks Jim a straight up question:

Hi Jim,

Since you sound like you have the answers in your article below. I wonder why you have not initiated a proper academy system in Ontario for the last 15 years you have been the technical director of the OSA?

Thanks,

Bassam Naim

Academy Director

www.anbfutbol.com