I don't think we can replicate what Japan do in terms of developing players. Complete different culture, pretty sure JFA use coever model which is lots of technical drills and repetition. I maybe wrong.
But we are more about let's have fun and fall in love with the game, and let not have children specialise to soon they must play ever sport. By which time there most vital technical development years have past them.
But we are more about let's have fun and fall in love with the game, and let not have children specialise to soon they must play ever sport. By which time there most vital technical development years have past them.
Yeah probably alot of truth in that. I've never been to Japan, but certainly their society sounds much more regimented and less carefree. And we don't want to be like that, that's not us.
But yeah as Arsene says "If you don't have technical ability at 14 you can forget it". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8EfQZdlf0Y
Someone like Paige Satchell comes to mind when I read that statement, or watch the above vid. In her early years more a running athlete, then only later specialising with football (not moving from fooball backwater Rotorua to Auckland until age 16/17). Too late and it shows. Being found out as you go up the grades, that you need far more than just raw pace.
That why the announced deal between the Weenix & NZF (AFC Academy & NZF to follow), is a huge boost. Boarding school onsite at NZCIS for young girls & boys. So parents of young promising kids in Nelson, Napier, New Plymouth, Rororua or wherever will hopefully feel more comfortable sending their kids off to the Hutt at age 11-13. Especially if NZF/FIFA pay the cost.