Dutch FA: the dangers of selecting junior teams ‘too early and too narrowly’
Player | Journey | Peter Glynn | 10.9.21
Too often the oldest players in a year group are selected for the ‘top junior teams’ with others deselected too early, says Jorg van der Breggen (pictured above) Head of Football Development at the Dutch FA [KNVB].
Learning:
- How to keep more young players involved in football programmes for longer
- The dangers of selecting teams too early and too narrowly
- The ‘birth bias’ issue and selecting the oldest players as the ‘strongest’ players
More young children should be retained in football programmes for longer, with no deselection for primary-aged children, says Jorg van der Breggen, Head of Football Development at the Dutch FA [KNVB].
Breggen, who worked as a PE teacher and academy coach at Sparta Rotterdam before joining the KNVB in 2015, currently oversees a national project focused on providing equal opportunity for young players across the Netherlands.
“We question the usually common model of team formats from the Under 8 age,” explains van der Breggen, who also has a long history of coaching in grassroots football.
“We still see a lot of the traditional approach that does not offer equal opportunities to many children. The traditional approach is exclusive in character.
“From a very early age, children are divided into teams based on current performance, with the 'better performing' children currently moving into the top teams.
“Often this means that the selected players are placed with more qualified trainers and train in better facilities. This can only increase the possible difference.”
“You have to remember the child is central at all times. It’s about their football journey and hopefully it will last a lifetime.”
Overcoming the birth-bias problem
Those considered to be the ‘better performing’ players are often the oldest players in the squad, says Breggen.
“We see a strong birth month effect, because pre-term births (the oldest in the group) have a physical and cognitive edge compared to the reference date and stand out more at that time.
“We know from all kinds of data and research that development is extremely erratic in the youngest youth phase and that no prediction can be made at a young age about possible final level as a senior.”
Avoid early or narrow selection and provide an equal offer for all players
As an alternative, Breggen explains that the Dutch national association are proposing three main principles in their attempt to provide more equal opportunities for young players:
1. No early or narrow selection in the pupil phase (primary school age) and therefore no deselection of children in football programmes
2. An equivalent coaching offer for all children, including: level of coaches, resources, training opportunities, content of the football programme.
3. A safe, inclusive, pedagogical football climate for all children
Applying the principles of equal opportunity in your own club context
Clubs in the Netherlands are encouraged to apply the principles in the context of their own environment, without prescription from the national association, says Breggen.
“We strive to make clubs think more consciously about this and let them make other choices that are appropriate to their possibilities – but it is important all children are given equal opportunities.
“This postpones selecting based on ‘level’ until an age in which an equal basis is explained for all children. Also, it is possible that this choice of whether or not to play in a selection team lies with the players themselves.”
The KNVB are working with both amateur clubs and professional academies across the country on the three main principles, explains Breggen.
“This project has now led about 100 local clubs to re-establish their policies on team layouts,” explains Breggen.
“Furthermore, we also draw this idea through the youth academies, in which we also stimulate and challenge them to start running teams later and, together with amateur football, provide larger groups of children with good guidance for a longer period of time.”
“From a very early age, children are divided into teams based on current performance, with the ‘better performing’ children currently moving into the top teams. ”
Be conscious of the problem and know when the children are born
The KNVB have consulted nationally and internationally to solve the problem of birth-bias and how to provide more equal opportunities for children. Over 150 proposals are currently being reviewed. However, all coaches can start thinking about the issue immediately, says Breggen.
“Consciousness is step one, so knowing when children are born is essential. Furthermore, do not select too early or too narrowly and offer everyone equal opportunities for longer.
“You have to remember the child is central at all times.
“It's about their football journey and hopefully it will last a lifetime. Therefore, it is essential to know and understand the target group: physically, cognitively, socially, emotionally and the appropriate football content. This is the basis for pursuing fun and development for all.”
The ‘perfect’ development environment for all children
Breggen, who spent over 10 years working as a PE teacher and grassroots coach before entering football full-time, believes the ‘perfect’ development environment for the youngest children is one where football is available whenever the children want it and coaches facilitate a safe environment based on ‘street football’.
“You should ask the children what the perfect environment for football is,” says Breggen, who acknowledges the work done by the English FA in changing formats of small-sided football as influencing the KNVB’s thinking.
“But if I had to answer I would say an environment in which spontaneous football takes place and is possible every day. Children love to play - just play - so I think herein lies the answer.
“As far as I'm concerned, this can also be at a local club - so it should be open every day and afternoon and children can come and play whenever they want.
“With this idea, you go back to the old street football principle, where everything is involved: mixes of ages and ability levels. The consequence of this is learning to play the game better with each other.
“If there is guidance in the form of coaches, they should mainly try to let the children's game ‘be’ and at the same time build a good relationship with the children.
“Together with the children, the coach can set up football environments in which children are challenged to learn to play the game better and better.
“But the environment should always be linked to the real game. So, with two teams with opposing interests, direction of play and opportunities to score and prevent goals.”
Summary:
- Keep more young children involved in football programmes for longer
- Only begin to ‘select’ children for squads when the issue of birth bias is less prevalent (beyond primary school age, as a minimum)
- Facilitate inclusive and engaging football environments where young children have access to play the game without too much adult intervention
Reflection:
- Do you know when the players in your team were born? How do you use this information when forming opinions about players?
- Within your environment, how can you keep more primary school aged players involved in your programme for longer?
- How would you describe your ‘perfect’ football development environment for primary school aged players?
