“There is a paradox that holds the football world in place, the selflessness of good-honest people that nurture players, and the selfishness of elite football that takes all the credit for the success”

​It is without doubt that grassroots coaching is slowly and surely challenging the status quo of “the elite”. Every weekend mums and dads go out in force to devote their time to the development of young footballers across the country. It is this commitment that is most admirable about the grassroots coach. It is the prerogative of most of these coaches to provide a fun environment for their kids, focussing upon growth and development.

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The disparity between development football, and performance football, is lessening all the time. As we go through this transition from old-school coach-centred coaching, to the more autonomy-supportive child-centred coaching, I feel it is important to not only analyse the mistakes of the past, but to also focus our attention upon what was good about the previous old-school approach.

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Looking back on the success of the class of 92’, it is vital to the future success of English football, that we understand what was good about the old-school approach. Having researched Alex Ferguson, I come to the conclusion that the players regarded him as a father figure. He was a firm manager, and despised the arrogance of the modern game. It was his brutality and resilience that gave him a bad reputation in the over-reactive press. Underneath the thick Scottish attitude was a humble, intelligent, and honest man, who gained the respect of his players through offering his support. He was simply a man of strong principles.

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In modern football, characters such as Sir Alex Ferguson barely exist, mainly because the players are given more power. Football has become a money-making machine, and the players are at the forefront of the wealth that football clubs exude. This can be seen across the board in elite football, with players given their every need without having to lift a finger. We have moved from a brutal culture, to an over-protective culture, and the next transition needs to encapsulate the two.

​Many believe that money has ruined the game. The game has become more about making money, and less about the people that are involved whether coaches, players, support staff and even fans. There is an arrogance about elite football, that’s puts its nose down on the people who have provided the foundations. This is a reflection of the lack of introspection and self-awareness that exists in the UK, but also the majority of countries in the world.

There is a paradox that holds the football world in place, the selflessness of good-honest people that nurture players, and the selfishness of elite football that takes all the credit for the success.

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For real change, we must first develop a culture of respect, open-mindedness, and ambition. Then have the knowledge and understanding to recognise the strengths and weaknesses of each player and how to improve them.

Lastly, we must be able have the tactical knowledge to understand how everything works together, ensuring that players have both freedom and structure. This process starts within grassroots as we are not slaves to the money-making process of elite football. Coaching my own grassroots under 14’s team, I am hugely excited for the upcoming season given it will be our first at 11-a-side.
Whilst I feel I have a good understanding of the game, it is my ambition to mix it with the best, and so seeking to learn more about the game, as well as my own strengths and weaknesses will be vitally important to our success. It is this commitment to our own self-development which will have the biggest impact upon this much needed cultural shift.

Guest Writer
Joseph Dean-Bryson
Joseph is a mindset coach and grassroots coach. For more info on mindset coaching please follow Joseph on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/charactercoaching/

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