Talent Identification in Germany

This post is on the DFB's approach to scouting, talent identification and the six criterion used for this process.  It is effectively their equivalent of the 'four corner' model when working with young footballers.


Overview
The German FA use a mandatory range of criteria for initial review.  This takes into account that, although a player may fulfil such criteria now, it is by no means a guarantee or predictor of talent for the future.  Other factors such as maturation, social influences and other complex factors will inevitably present themselves over a number of years.  The first task is to identify a broad range of football playing children, those being the most 'talented'.  The following criteria is then used as a guide:


Criterion 1

• Play and Game activity
• Ability to identify many elements of surprise in the game
• "Play along" in any situation - close to and far away from the ball
• Rapid detection of the game situation
• Advanced detection of situations (anticipation)
• Fast switching

Criterion 2

• Personality
• Ownership
• Self-confidence
• Risk-taking
• Positive body language
• Help/motivating players - team orientation
• Positive aggressiveness/assertiveness
• Self-criticism and constant willingness to learn
• Discipline/concentration

Criterion 3

• Playing Versatility
• Light and fluid motion
• Agility: quick change of direction and skilful
• Skilfully balancing the body/balance
• Light-footed, and with variable movements on the ball
• Game Overview - look for the situation
• Creative problem solvers

Criterion 4

• Basic Techniques
• Both feet!
• Safety on the ball - few turnovers even at speed and under pressure
• High quality dribbling
• Precise and variable passing over short/long distances
• Variations of shooting on goal with accuracy
• Positive in carrying the ball forward
• Repertoire of feints
• Head tennis/ball game

Criterion 5

• Tactical Fundamentals
• 1v1 Attacking - Positive, successful in keeping possession & "difficult to separate from the ball"
• 1v1 Defensive - (position game to make it difficult/block opponents)
• Breaking away from markers/opponents
• Working together (awareness of time and space)
• Good positional game sense
• Variations in scoring

Criterion 6

• Fitness/Physical Attributes
• Response Speed (awareness/switched on)
• Speed over various distances
• Movement Skill
• Intensive activity over sustained period (endurance)

FA and DFB - Very Similar Systems?

This blog covers a specific comment that was made by the FA's Head of National Game during an interview on grassroots football http://bbc.in/vvLKdC When this subject is discussed by the national media there is a tendency to go 'off topic' and the debate on Five Live jumped around between referees, respect, parents, coaching, the class system in football versus rugby amongst other things.

One thing that did stand out during the debate was the contribution by Rafael Honigstein (Guardian German Football Reporter).  He described the German FA's (DFB) approach to young player development which I have covered in a previous blog.  When asked about this, Kelly Simmons said that the FA have looked at the German structure a number of times and that we have 'very similar systems' in place in the form of Academies, Centres of Excellence and Skills Programmes.  This is where I would ask, similar in what way?  The DFB specifically changed their youth development model as they professed that at the time (after France 1998 and Euro 2000) the recruitment system for the German national team was something akin to a "lottery", with professional clubs running their Academy systems as individual entities.  This, I would argue is where we are similar to the DFB, the problem is this is where we are now in 2011.  Also, crucially, the DFB implemented the new system, not the Bundesliga meaning the clubs had to conform to their national associations plan.  This meant a vision and philosophy was set by the DFB and communicated through the German youth development structure.

Also, another fundamental difference is the structure.  The DFB have a four pillar system where we have one - the Professional Academy/Centre of Excellence system.  The DFB opened 366 regional bases, where professional, salaried coaches now work with some 14,000 young players between the ages of 11 and 14 in addition to the training done at their respective clubs.  We certainly don't have FA Support Bases, FA Regional Centres or Elite School Programmes, and, crucially if we do move to having an additional pillar in the Elite School Programme, these will be under the jurisdiction of the Premier League, not the Football Association.

The key and fundamental difference between the FA and DFB is the control and governance of youth development.  Cautious of the potential bureaucracy the proposals may have triggered, in particular the issues of finance and staffing- the DFB simply established and implemented a new youth development structure, meaning that the clubs had to conform.

Gareth Southgate has said himself when interviewed alongside Steve Parish that the preferred model for youth development would be a regionally based structure under the FA's responsibility.  I recall his words were something along the lines that this would not be possible now because of the passage of time since the Charter for Quality and introduction of the Academies and Centres of Excellence structure.  The Government have certainly recognised this when saying - "that although the FA govern the game, with rules that take precedence over those of the leagues it sanctions, the FA has subsequently ceded considerable authority to the Premier League"

This is the reason for my blog, do you see the similarities between the two systems?  The Elite Player Performance Plan is seen as a fundamental shift in youth development (akin to the shift in Germany post Euro 2000) but crucially it is under the financial and philosophical control of the Premier League, not the FA.  The DFB's view that the professional clubs running the Academies as 'individual entities' was part of the problem.  For me, the EPPP, although having the aim of increased contact time, more coaches, more links with full time education and the overall improvement of youth development, will it improve English players for the England National Team in the same way the DFB's changes have changed the German National Team?