The Youth Development Model in

Belgium

SINGAPORE - Coach SG - Conference 31 October 2018

Michel SABLON

Technical

Director

Royal Belgian FA

FA of Singapore

The Diagnosis

Drawing up the balance after EURO 2000

SCRATCHING JUDGEMENT !!

NAT. YOUTH TEAMS

Eliminated in

First Round of

EURO 2000

NATIONAL TEAMCLUB FOOTBALL COACH EDUCATION

UEFA Ranking

-17yr & -19yrs

between 25 - 30

Old fashioned

No Regulations

• To many older players

and foreigners.

• No youth input

Page | 2

Need for a DEEP – SEATED VISION based on a holistic approach !!

Page | 3

Development of a New Vision

Deep seated vision Strategic Plan Actions

Legacy

Where are we now ? What do we want to achieve ?

If you don’t know where you are going to , you will end up somewhere

else !

* * * *“Vision without action is a dream.

Action without vision is simply passing the time.

Action with vision is making a positive difference !”

J.Barker

Mission Statement : The Belgian FA is implementing a long term youth

education program with focus on the individual development of the

player , managed by high qualified coaches with appropriate UEFA –

licenses at all levels.

Page | 4

Mission Statement

Enhance

youth development

Improve the

development of

Clubs Elite Youth

+

Nat. Youth Teams

Coach Education

1. Analysis of the current competition formats

Do the competitions come up to the expectations of the stakeholders ?

(players, coaches, parents , referees, clubs , school authorities,

etc.)

Scientific study by a university on actual competitions and proposal

for new competitions formats based on the requirements of all stakeholders.

Working group youth coaches making football SWOT analysis

Decision making process: Dpt. Regulations - National and regional leagues

-

Technical Committee - Exco (final approval) !!Page | 5

Strategic Plan for Youth Development

Page | 6

Strategic Plan for Youth Development

2. Analysis of the physical efforts in youth age–categories in

accordance with the age-related physical abilities.

Decision making process : Dpt. Regulations-National and regional

leagues-

Technical Committee - Exco (final approval) !!

Are the actual competition games in harmony with the physical

abilities of the children in the different age groups.

( = Comparing ! )

Scientific study with 2 universities + report on the different

types & intensities of efforts.

Filtering by a working group of youth coaches and specialists on Physical

Education + Evaluation + Recommendations

(= Measuring )

Page | 7

Strategic Plan for Youth Development

3. Analysis of the formats of the games

Scientific study with a university on the different types of small sided games

2 <> 2 - 5 <> 5 - 7 <> 7 - 8 <> 8 - 9 <> 9 - 11 <> 11

Recording & analysing 1500 hours of games in the different types +

Comparison with leading countries for youth development in Europe

Conclusions discussed in working groups composed of Youth Coaches

“ Do the current playing systems enhance the players’ technical and tactical skills “

Decision making process : Dpt. Regulations-National and regional leagues -

Technical Committee - Exco (final approval) !!

RESULTS OF ANALYSES

= Composing Global Youth Development Plan

Decision making process : Dpt. Regulations-National and

regional league s-

Technical Committee - Exco (final approval) !!

Verification by the group leaders FINAL VERSION

Discussion in Plenary Group :

- Team of experts ( 19 ) : Nat. Coaches, Professional Coaches, University Professors

- Instructors Coach Education ( 18 )

- Instructors Topsport centres ( 3 ) - Individual youth educators ( 11 )

- Regional Coaches ( 5 ) - Directors of Youth

Academies ( 20 )

Subjects divided into sections + conclusions to compose the

Final Youth Development plan

Page | 8

Strategic Plan for Youth Development

And now ???

Youth Development Plan approved with (minor ? ) modifications

IMPLEMENTATION

Clubs 1st Div.

(Directors of Academies)

2nd,3th,4th Div.(Presentations and practical sessions)

Regional level / + 1 year

+ Quality label FA

Based on Quality Control(Labels – defining level of

Competition

80 Examiners + Managing

structure

National Youth Teams

Playing system 4-3-3

Principle of transition

of talented players

Minor importance to

the results

Critical PathwayTargets of progression per team

EC -17 and -19 / 1st r./elite/final

Coach Education

structure

NEW content

instructors

Full application of the

Uefa Coaching Convention

+ Immediate action

2100 candidates for

Basic C-course (free!)

- No copy paste

- Vision should be long term based + immediate decisions

- Full support from FA and Management needed

Page | 10

Conclusions

- National youth teams -17 and - 19 in Top 10 UEFA

- High number of talented players in Top Competitions

- National Team = 1st in FIFA world ranking

- National Youth Teams : a lot of young talents

“ When everything is going smoothly, the danger is behind the

corner !”

Page | 11

Results

UEFA EVALUATION VISIT AUGUST 2013

11/10/2018

Dries Mertens (PSV °87)Thibaut Courtois ( °92)

Moussa Dembele (°87)

Steven Defour (°88) Axel Witsel (°89)

From Elite Youth to international level

UEFA EVALUATION VISIT AUGUST 2013

“THE REAL DIFFICULTY LIES NOT IN DEVELOPING NEW IDEAS BUT IN ESCAPING FROM THE OLD ONES “

John M. Keynes

THANK YOU