National Curriculum....is it being supported at club level?

[Los Del Eague]

Just a quick roll call.

Which clubs are following the national curriculum through all their junior
ranks this coming season?
That being playing 4-3-3 and thinking about the building blocks through the ages.

I'm just interested and can't be arsed trawling through the forum.

[Huge1]

I know of many clubs who state they are following national curriculum through their juniors (and I am sure they will let you know who they are )... however importanly are any taking this through to senior levels?

[James]

isnt the curriculum for junior development. the seniors can do what they like

[Huge1]

isnt the curriculum for junior development. the seniors can do what they like

Seniors now includes U18's... (and at some clubs Reserves are effectively U20's) many of these players will be the better 15.16 and 17 year olds that are around!

[Faith No More]

Some clubs stipulate you play in a similar formation to the senior team ( 4-4-2, 4-3-3 ), they are looking to develop players for their own clubs in the future, not the national curriculum.

[AL K HOLIC]

14A last year seen maybe 3-4 clubs try it at certain points but would always throw it out if they were down, or couldn't break the opposition down.

Out from the back - 2 clubs only, comets, and skillaroos, even the skillaroos threw it out if you shut them down, and went back to long goal kicks and keeper kicks.

[matty2323]

Just a quick roll call.

Which clubs are following the national curriculum through all their junior
ranks this coming season?
That being playing 4-3-3 and thinking about the building blocks through the ages.

I'm just interested and can't be arsed trawling through the forum.

The national curriculum is so poorly laid out, attempting to enforce clubs to play a 4-3-3 formation when they're minimal coaches at national level, let alone state and junior level, that have the credentials or ability to teach it correctly, is beyond belief. Before we can even look at attempting to improve the kids, we need to improve the coaches. The FFA, and further down the chain to FFSA, need to start allocating more funds to clubs so they can 1 - train up existing coaches or 2 - employ and entice higher levels of coaching to the positions/country.

[rabbit]

Some clubs stipulate you play in a similar formation to the senior team ( 4-4-2, 4-3-3 ), they are looking to develop players for their own clubs in the future, not the national curriculum.

That statement says it all really. Who sets the formations for the Senior teams. On the assumption it is the current Coach, let's hope he or she sticks around long enough to see the fruits of their labour......that is if they are at the Club more than 5 minutes until they get herded off somewhere because they have failed..

[James]

isnt the curriculum for junior development. the seniors can do what they like

Seniors now includes U18's... (and at some clubs Reserves are effectively U20's) many of these players will be the better 15.16 and 17 year olds that are around!

imo 18's are stilled called the youth team and should be applying the curriculum. Reserves should be following A grades direction. A grade formation best suited to getting the result.

[FUBAR]

Just a quick roll call.

Which clubs are following the national curriculum through all their junior
ranks this coming season?
That being playing 4-3-3 and thinking about the building blocks through the ages.

I'm just interested and can't be arsed trawling through the forum.

The national curriculum is so poorly laid out, attempting to enforce clubs to play a 4-3-3 formation when they're minimal coaches at national level, let alone state and junior level, that have the credentials or ability to teach it correctly, is beyond belief. Before we can even look at attempting to improve the kids, we need to improve the coaches. The FFA, and further down the chain to FFSA, need to start allocating more funds to clubs so they can 1 - train up existing coaches or 2 - employ and entice higher levels of coaching to the positions/country.

but coaches also need to be willing to learn and be open minded, not have the attitude "i already know everything"

also, who is responsible at club level for implementing the curriculum?

[Faith No More]

Just a quick roll call.

Which clubs are following the national curriculum through all their junior
ranks this coming season?
That being playing 4-3-3 and thinking about the building blocks through the ages.

I'm just interested and can't be arsed trawling through the forum.

The national curriculum is so poorly laid out, attempting to enforce clubs to play a 4-3-3 formation when they're minimal coaches at national level, let alone state and junior level, that have the credentials or ability to teach it correctly, is beyond belief. Before we can even look at attempting to improve the kids, we need to improve the coaches. The FFA, and further down the chain to FFSA, need to start allocating more funds to clubs so they can 1 - train up existing coaches or 2 - employ and entice higher levels of coaching to the positions/country.

but coaches also need to be willing to learn and be open minded, not have the attitude "i already know everything"

also, who is responsible at club level for implementing the curriculum?

Junior co-ordinators I gues, if they are worth their salt.
many aren't, but can't be too hard as they are all volunteers.

[johnydep]

Just a quick roll call.

Which clubs are following the national curriculum through all their junior
ranks this coming season?
That being playing 4-3-3 and thinking about the building blocks through the ages.

I'm just interested and can't be arsed trawling through the forum.

The FFA Football Curriculum is a guide only for clubs, it is mandatory for all FFA controlled Development teams.

This will be the way until club coaches have full licences and get paid a proper wage. However, do we really want every club in the country teaching one formation. After all, the FFA Football Curiculum is more than just a document about a playing formation. Our Senior coach has asked all the junior teams to follow the recommendation. Though we have been pushing it for two years. But we use education, rather than making it mandatory.

If the governing bodies want the whole country to follow one system, they should be bombarding clubs with literature, video and personal visits.

But please take note; the FFA Football Curiculum is bigger than 1:4:3:3. It has plenty of other more important information, and the FFA has released other documents to add to it.

It's a step towards uniformity for the nation's coaching and playing structure.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) today announced another new landmark initiative with the unveiling of a new National Football Curriculum (NFC) which has the long term aim of improving the skill level, quality and performance of Australia’s top players and teams.

“The National Football Curriculum is the next important stage of the Talent Identification Development Review and the National Football Development Plan that was announced in November 2007,” said FFA CEO Ben Buckley.

“It sets the blueprint for the quality and style of Australian football for the future and aims to significantly improve our skill levels.

“It is the first time we have had a national curriculum which sets the basis for the development of all young players and coaches, whether at community or elite level.

“The key objective is to create a talented player development program that emphasises skill and sustains international success for generations to come, as well as a coach development system that produces quality coaches who are able to implement the curriculum and realise similar goals.”

The NFC has been developed by researching best practice in talent development and identification in football and other sports and tailoring it to football in Australia.

The evidence-based curriculum has been developed by FFA’s National Technical Director, Han Berger, following on from preliminary work by the previous National Technical Director, Rob Baan.

Berger, who started in the role in January, will oversee implementation of the NFC.

“The new national curriculum recognises two streams of development,” Berger said.

“The first is for talented players who aim to play the highest level possible, and the second is for community players who just want to play the game and enjoy the sport.”

Berger said the NFC is for male and female footballers aged between 6-19 years, from those playing Optus Small Sided Football to the 11-a-side competitive environment.

The guiding principles of the NFC are:

• - the approach is ‘game-related’ rather that ‘isolated’, which impacts all training and exercises
  - an emphasis on skill development
  - a proactive style of playing that corresponds with the Australian competitive psyche
  - the mandating of the 1-4-3-3 formation for all FFA controlled development teams (eg. Qantas Joeys, Westfield Young Matildas) as the best developmental model, and the best structure for the proactive playing style
  - the integration and mutual dependency of physical conditioning with football training so that they are not separated

Berger has consulted with all national coaches, institute coaches and state technical directors as well as member federations in developing the curriculum.

Berger said that, as part of the implementation process, a number of actions are required to ensure compliance to the curriculum. These include:

• - It will be mandated for national development teams and for programs under FFA (and member federation) control
  - Each state/territory will appoint a technical director, funded under the FFA’s new Member Federation Charter, with said director reporting to the National Technical Director
  - Coach education programs will be reviewed to reflect the NFC
  - Specific levels of coaching qualification will be required for all higher level coaching positions (National Team, Hyundai A-League, Westfield W-League, National Youth League, institute and state technical directors)
  - By 2010 each state/territory will need to appoint at least one ‘Skill Acquisition Trainer’ whose role will be to ensure that skill development programs for talented players are universally implemented
  - Football clubs, schools and academies will be accredited and rated. Adoption of the Curriculum will be a pre-requisite to accreditation and rating

Additional material will be added to the NFC to assist coaches and clubs with the ongoing implementation.

[Los Del Eague]

It is much bigger than just the formation JD
But.....if a coach's sole aim is to try and support the kids they coach to progress
to a higher standard, then with the elite pathways all following the 4-3-3....
I think its important that the kids understand the formation and the
roles of each player/position.

The building blocks are the foundation to Berger's plans to develop better players.

Thinking about the idea's Berger sets out whereby training is game related and has an emphasis
on skill development, how many coaches actually tailor their training around the game
and how many tailor it around old school drills where fitness comes 1st?
30 meter lofted pass.........timed runs etc etc?