Coerver has closed in SA

beskid · Post by **beskid** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 10:13 pm

thanks for the update johnydep, i am very interested in what people have to say about the ffsa academy as my son will trial for the under 9/10 on 13th and 20th december ( southern academy ). my son has done both coerver and efi and i think that efi was better as far as coaching goes, but i think its also very important that my son plays with kids of at least equal technical ability and preferebly better. i was a bit dissapointed in that sense with efi as there was alot of kids whose technique was quite poor.
i think ffsa should have gone to clubs to nominate 3 or 4 top players for the academy similar to what they do for the state championships from under 12 up. also the fee is a factor, not every family can afford $650 on top of club fees. but credit to ffsa to at least trying to do something for the more talented kids. hopefully in a year or two it will be the best programme in sa.

Drusetta · Post by **Drusetta** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 8:46 am

johnydep - I would be very interested to hear on your thoughts and experiences with EFI and/or Junior Academy. As a junior coach myself, constructive feedback is always welcome.
Bottom line, if the junior player is ahppy and is learning a lot then the coach is happy.

beskid, to my knowledge the FFSA did approach every club to nominate players, but some clubs are not co-operating. It may be due to a lack of faith in the FFSA elite talent identification system, the fees as you pointed out; their club having its own academy or some other reason.

Whatever the reasons, I'm sure the FFSA would welcome feedback and assistance in developing and delivering these programs so it complements club football and the players develop at an accelerated rate (compared to the past).

If anyone out there has suggestions/tips on junior elite talent development I personally would like to hear them. In the absence of a unified coaches "group" I would find your input invaluable.

Nova · Post by **Nova** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:20 am

It's not about EFI or FFSA Acadamy or any club acadamy or even Coerver!
It's about "THE COACH", who's the coach and what's he like. The drills and techniques are just that and are insignificant unless they are coached by someone that my son and myself as a parent are happy with!
Personality has a lot to do with it!

deets · Post by **deets** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:50 am

It's good to see Senior Coaches put something back in at junior level as I noticed on the FFSA website the Para Hills coach is taking the East Under 11 & 12's.

I heard from FFSA he took that age group over halfway this year as well.

I also noticed Drusetta taking the east younger ones.

Well Done

soccer mum · Post by **soccer mum** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 8:40 pm

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ANY ONE TO ANSWER IF THEY HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO ANSWER.

Can anyone tell me with the FFSA development Accadamies U/11, U/12, U/13, U/14 ect does every child that trial get in , Or is it the one's that show potential to go all the way that are accepted (the elite) :?

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:45 pm

last yr it was everyone got in who got trialled but they were al quite good standard but im pretty sure this year u have to be in the best 20 or watever it is!!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:45 pm

last yr it was everyone got in who got trialled but they were al quite good standard but im pretty sure this year u have to be in the best 20 or watever it is!!

Jeda · Post by **Jeda** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 11:59 am

billy the kid wrote:One hand we talk about Elite Jnr development and then we are happy to bag the only proven method of player development Coerver.

EFi is probably the only one that will survive because (my assumption) is that they have towed the FFSA party line and they can all live happily ever after. Their success can probably be recited ad nauseum by the EFI head honchos but only with the fullness of time will their successes actually be able to be discussed fairly and accurately. Easy to cite recent trips here and there and say "we have this and that" but the proof is in the pudding.

Private and accountable acadamies will not survive as there are many institutional organisations that see this as a threat to their stakeholders ie clubs AND if its not endorsed (regulated for a fee) by them, they will ensure its demise. Why? because they ARE THAT GOOD. Andre and golden goal will plod along and have clubs bag him to the hilt but hats off to him. Vito with his Coerver and elite training set up has hit the proverbial wall (from what has been written). Its a sad loss for SA Football.

Elite comps. will not be successful because selection of who's good enough will become debatable and if a club see that they do not get a fair representation they will prohibit their players from participating.

Elite development IS NOT FOR THE CLUBS to undertake. Their focus and comitment is to the FFSA and to provide a competitive team for its competitions.

Leave junior development (for those players who want it) to private set ups who's focus is 100% player development.

I think this pretty much answers johnydeps question.

Nova wrote:It's not about EFI or FFSA Acadamy or any club acadamy or even Coerver!
It's about "THE COACH", who's the coach and what's he like. The drills and techniques are just that and are insignificant unless they are coached by someone that my son and myself as a parent are happy with!
Personality has a lot to do with it!

And Nova has added the icing

EFI & FFSA are both developing the player, whereas clubs concentrate on developing a team

If you're happy with both, choose by the Coach

Post by **johnydep** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:52 pm

The numbers were up tonight; 13, a mix of U9 & 10's.

The coaching is progressing into more individual ball skills.

All the kids enjoy it, my son likes it a lot.

It looks like it will come down to what Nova has mentioned, coach personality. I'll be beter informed by next week and will share the info.

Vagrant · Post by **Vagrant** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:26 am

I like Nova's response. A coach can be as technically brilliant as you like, but if they haven't got the personal skills they can be non effective. Kids like to challenge and compete and have fun - as individuals. A coach who gets a squad to drill, drill, drill will lose most of them.

The best coaches I have seen speack to EACH player as a person, and knows how to work and have fun at the same time.

Sounds simple...

Post by **John Cena** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:39 am

communication is very important as a coach , you can be the best player in the world and be the worst coach, every player is a individual and should not be spoken to the same way, you have to have some fun at training all it gets boring and the numbers fall, i have used a football sometimes at training so it breaks it up a bit

beskid · Post by **beskid** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 1:34 pm

thanks for the update johnydep, my son will have his first trial today.
hopefully he'll enjoy it and have fun.
jason is a great coach and has great personal skill.

Post by **johnydep** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 1:15 am

Last week; a boy with an obvious injury was having difficulty with an exercise, the coach asked him, with a raised voice, "are you lazy?" a few seconds later "or are you tired?"

The coach was shown the boys injury, nothing major, a deep bruise to the quadriceps.

The lad didn't seem to take any offence to the comment, he didn't seem rattled at all. But...... seems a bit harsh to me, these kids are only 8 & 9.

I think it's EFI for me.

Post by **johnydep** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 1:16 am

beskid wrote:thanks for the update johnydep, my son will have his first trial today.
hopefully he'll enjoy it and have fun.
jason is a great coach and has great personal skill.

How did your son go? Any thoughts you'd like to share?

Drusetta · Post by **Drusetta** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:06 am

johnydep wrote:Last week; a boy with an obvious injury was having difficulty with an exercise, the coach asked him, with a raised voice, "are you lazy?" a few seconds later "or are you tired?"

The coach was shown the boys injury, nothing major, a deep bruise to the quadriceps.

The lad didn't seem to take any offence to the comment, he didn't seem rattled at all. But...... seems a bit harsh to me, these kids are only 8 & 9.

I think it's EFI for me.

johnydep
Was this Coerver or the FFSA Academy?
If it was the FFSA Academy, which region - North, South or West?
(It can't be East because I'm taking U9/U109 East and we commence next week).

beskid · Post by **beskid** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:04 pm

He had 1 session last month second one was cancelled due to hot weather.
There were about 15 kids but only about 5 or 6 showed some potential.
I thought this was going to be for the most talented kids with special ability.
But it is just like another academy, you have kids with various abilities.
We have 2 more trainings and I hope they can attract better kids.
At this stage I have not decided if I want my son to do this.

Post by **johnydep** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:31 pm

beskid wrote:He had 1 session last month second one was cancelled due to hot weather.
There were about 15 kids but only about 5 or 6 showed some potential.
I thought this was going to be for the most talented kids with special ability.
But it is just like another academy, you have kids with various abilities.
We have 2 more trainings and I hope they can attract better kids.
At this stage I have not decided if I want my son to do this.

We've decided to give the FFSA Acadamy a miss this year.

My son likes both the FFSA & EFI, I saw potential in both but was leaning towards EFI.
I let my son choose, he couldn't so I told him to use the Nova method

So it's EFI, plus club soccer, on top of swimming lessons, piano lessons, school & friends :? Just not enough days in the week.

We'll have another look at the FFSA acadamy next year.

beskid · Post by **beskid** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:31 am

Been to the second trial, only 7 kids were there.
My son will not go to the last one. He too will do EFi and plus club soccer.
FFSA had a chance to do it right and they didn't. Will have another look at it at the end of the year, but I think it's just a money rising exercise and they are not serious about developing the most talented kids in SA.

deets · Post by **deets** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 11:22 am

I was speaking to our senior coach at Para Hills who looks after the East 11 & 12's Acadamy.

He is in negotiations with FFSA & the VSF to take his squad to Victoria for games against their elite kids at the same age.

Not sure if this will work but not a bad idea.

Jeda · Post by **Jeda** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:31 pm

deets wrote:I was speaking to our senior coach at Para Hills who looks after the East 11 & 12's Acadamy.

He is in negotiations with FFSA & the VSF to take his squad to Victoria for games against their elite kids at the same age.

Not sure if this will work but not a bad idea.

That's great

, but when would the kids go?

It would have to be after the season.

soccer mum · Post by **soccer mum** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 12:28 pm

beskid wrote:Been to the second trial, only 7 kids were there.
My son will not go to the last one. He too will do EFi and plus club soccer.
FFSA had a chance to do it right and they didn't. Will have another look at it at the end of the year, but I think it's just a money rising exercise and they are not serious about developing the most talented kids in SA.

Hey just wondering what academy was it north,south,east,west and what age group.

What part didnt you like was it that every one gets in? where is EFI?
just curious as we had some similar feelings to your comments made above. :?

pieboy · Post by **pieboy** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 5:20 pm

From past experience, the U13 Development Squad held trials for over 100 boys for approximately 35 places. Therse kids were identified at competitions like SAPSASA, Zones, Regional Academies and trials. This year the U13 Development Squad is split into a North and South with approximately 25-30 places each. Similar selection process to the previous year.

The Regional Academy is affiliated with the State, and supposedly kids are developed and identified at the Academy. The majority of kids who trialled were accepted (but there must be a limit)

Both cost $600 last year and this year the cost has risen to $650.

I look on it (Academy or Development Squad) as extra training and development and as long as the kids are enjoying it and meeting new friends who cares.

I don't know too much about the EFI, ie cost, but I assume if you are willing to meet the cost you would be accepted.
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mooroffside · Post by **mooroffside** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 1:17 am

My lad has been attending the southern one, and so far we have been far from impressed.

The coach has turned up late on all 4 occassions. Once being over 30 mins late, this led to a shambolic 17 aside game being organised. Which the coach allowed to carry on, once he arrived.

This week, there was one coach for 30+ kids. Fair play to him, he kept them occupied, but I can't see how he would have gained any insight of the kids abilities, when skill wise, they weren't really pushed.

If the numbers posted above are correct, not that many lads attending will be cut. So if its just this guy and he's by himself, I can't see much developement of the kids being done.

If this is supposedly training for the elite, it needs to raise it standards considerably, and pretty quickly. Otherwise it will be labelled a cash cow for the FFSA, which would be a shame, because the idea is right.

soccer mum · Post by **soccer mum** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 5:01 pm

Hey does any one know anything about the other acadamy that a man named Jeff Napier does or know anything about him i have heard its worth looking at just wanting some info if any one has any.

Wild Eagle · Post by **Wild Eagle** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 5:57 pm

http://www.jeffnapier.com.au

he is excellent

robinfriday10 · Post by **robinfriday10** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 9:16 pm

under 13 so called development squad that this year is being divided north south as far as i'm aware is more of state north and state south. unlike previous acadamies where you pay up you get in! trials started in dec and start up again feb. apparently kids were identified from sapsasa,zone championships and coaches were allowed to nominate if kid slipped through net, as well as paid up ffsa academies. in december there were approx 70 kids for the north which will be cut down to 18 to go to sydney in oct. i presume ditto for the southerners. last year they just took squad of 36 and divided in 2, no a or b side though. this way ffsa get to see larger numbers as u/14s gets more cut throat.
efi is available for anyone, you can train 4-5 times aweek for the one cost,good coaching ,plewnty of kiids attending in the north. i think they will be going to the extent of picking north south elite squads to play eachother reasonably regularly and then pick state side to play vics.efi is great idea and fills the void for kids just missing out on state squads.
it is also great for kids just wanting to improve their skills.any extra training can only help improvements. lots of physical preparations for the kids also, naturally with scotch coaches!!!!!LOL
have also heard good things about jeff napier ,,.

beskid · Post by **beskid** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 10:22 pm

It was south Under 9 and 10.
Great coach but I think there is something seriously wrong when the FFSA can not attract 10 - 15 kids that show a bit of talent. This was suppose to be an elite program. Of the 7 kids that were there only about 3 should be accepted but anyone that will pay $650 will be in. That tells me that it's nothing about developing talented kids and everything about generating cash.[/quote]

soccer mum · Post by **soccer mum** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:39 pm

Wild Eagle wrote:www.jeffnapier.com.au

he is excellent

Hey wild eagle i looked at site don't look to bad might have to check it out first hand, thanks for that.

How do you know of him have you had a child do his programe??

Wild Eagle · Post by **Wild Eagle** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 4:36 pm

He has been on different occasions my coaching instructor; I have a lot of respect for his style and, most of all, for his extensive knowledge of the game.

He definitely knows his stuff and works in non-threatening way, which in my opinion is the best way to work.

Beskid, I see what you mean about the academies, but how could 3 kids get developed by themselves? And what about the rest, the ok talent, the average talent, the really shy kids that seem really bad?
At this young age it's impossible to tell so I don't see anything wrong in accepting everyone: isn't better player education what we are after? Wouldn't all players benefit from the coaching and each other?
If it's good, they will all learn heaps; otherwise there would be too much pressure on the 3 talented ones, what if they drop out at 9 because they prefer cricket etc.

That level of selection is more appropriate of AIS, SASI and so on...you must still give these young ones a chance, the best chance possible

Hollygirl · Post by **Hollygirl** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:58 am

mooroffside wrote:My lad has been attending the southern one, and so far we have been far from impressed.

The coach has turned up late on all 4 occassions. Once being over 30 mins late, this led to a shambolic 17 aside game being organised. Which the coach allowed to carry on, once he arrived.

This week, there was one coach for 30+ kids. Fair play to him, he kept them occupied, but I can't see how he would have gained any insight of the kids abilities, when skill wise, they weren't really pushed.

If the numbers posted above are correct, not that many lads attending will be cut. So if its just this guy and he's by himself, I can't see much developement of the kids being done.

If this is supposedly training for the elite, it needs to raise it standards considerably, and pretty quickly. Otherwise it will be labelled a cash cow for the FFSA, which would be a shame, because the idea is right.

Mooroffside - what are you planning to do? Do you let your child continue with the Under 13 development squad or look for other options?