Engligh Soccer-THE IDENTITY OF A NATION

In this series we cut through the cliché’s and generalizations. Fans often say “they wanted it more,” or like to blame one personnel decision as the defining factor in a result. The answer is a lot deeper than that. A professional soccer player you watch on television is at the end of a life long journey. Years of practice, diet, coaching and living a positive lifestyle results in a player reaching the elite levels of the game.

The environment we are in as people shapes us, at work you will find behaving a certain way will get you the results you want. It is no different for a soccer player, the coaching philosophy and what behaviors are sought will develop the psychology and ability of a player. In each nation throughout the world, this will differ, that is what makes soccer truly the world’s game.

Here we look at England, the 2010 World Cup saw an England team draw criticism from all corners. The so called “arrogant mentality” reporting to have hurt them glory, this attitude is simplistic and off base. England has strengths and weaknesses that are influenced by their youth coaching system and surroundings after they reach the elite level.

STRENGTHS

England produces quality athletes and players with a good level of tactical awareness. This shows through when England perform. Youth soccer in England is results oriented, teams play in competitive games and structured leagues from ages as young as nine. A youth team will turn up and play with a referee and a coach on the sidelines heavily invested in the result. It is not uncommon for a coach to be pursuing a career in coaching and starting with a youth team, the team then becomes a step on the ladder and winning things is seen as relevant.

Such an atmosphere can bond teams together and instill a desire to win in receptive players. “Getting stuck in,” and being a ball winner are rewarded in the culture, and as such players of limited technical ability but with the ability to do the hard work can ascend.

A youth player in England will also watch a lot of the game. Team field trips to watch the local pro team are common, and blanket television coverage allows young players to watch games and learn about the game without realizing it. The added role model element helps motivation and enjoyment, players in school yards across the country pretend they are Wayne Rooney or Steven Gerrard after they score a goal. Powerful childhood memories come from this.

A youth soccer player who excels in England will be given the facilities to succeed. The country has 92 professional teams in an area smaller that the state of New Jersey, and each team has youth academy and community coaching. Players will be given technical coaching in a structured environment as well as advice on diet. As a player gets older, academies will introduce lessons on lifestyle and succeeding in the professional game.

WEAKNESSES

The strength of competition at such an early age is also a weakness. This environment being created at such a young age has an impact on the players. Immediately a sense of success and failure is installed, and poor performance is punished with excessive time on the bench. For this reason, players who cannot impact results find themselves in a negative cycle very early. They need time on the field to improve, they do not get it because they are not improving.

Youth coaching in England has been traditionally team based. Teaching group concepts and teaching a player how to excel in a team environment. This leaves England behind some of the major countries in terms of individual ability in possession of the ball. A player like Joe Cole has tremendous technical ability on a par with any country, however the likes of Cole are few and far between. Often a player such as him is encouraged to play safety first, or sacrificed in favor of a player who puts more work in, and wins more tackles.

ELITE LEVEL

The safety first element of youth coaching in England shows through in the play of the English national team. While teaching at a seminar, Jeff Tipping of the National Soccer Coaches of Association (NSCAA) reported some interesting statistics. It had been noted how many times an attacking player received the ball with his back to goal, and turned 180 degrees to face the goal and attack the defender. When Portugal played England in Euro 2004, Portugal players did this more in that one game, than England did in their entire tournament (four games).

This finding shows that the safety first mentality of playing the first pass is common in England. While turning and attacking carries a greater risk of losing possession, it is crucial to breaking down good defensive teams. A fear of failure must be eliminated, and a culture where players will not receive criticism every time they touch the ball installed to improve this, and create more attacking flair.

People may cite Wayne Rooney as a counter to this point, but you cannot ignore that Rooney is a fusion of both elements, with a huge work ethic and good work rate. How would a player with attacking brilliance, but limited defensive ability such as Robinho have turned out in the English system?

The fans and media can hinder England, but to use it is a permanent excuse is silly. Wayne Rooney can travel to London with 80,000 fans booing him and put on a super show, the words of England fans do not cripple the same man. The answer lies in more focus on individual ability in possession, and removing a fear of failure. By producing more quality players, the play of the national team will improve.