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Kevin Clark
Based on what I’ve seen at Derby County’s well respected academy and sessions run by top youth coaches such as Terry Westley I would make the following observations about youth football in Scotland (East region):

1. The kids are put into competitive 11 aside football too early. Most 12/13 year olds aren’t ready for it and need more time at seven or even five aside. Just ask any Brazilian coach!

2. Any top coach will make it clear that youth football, right through to U21s, is about player development and not about winning matches. Sadly, most youth teams are set up to win matches in every aspect of coaching and playing. One consequence is that selection becomes all about size and not ability or potential.

3. It is widely accepted that good coaching of technical skills is critical from age 7 to 12 for most kids. After this age, they don’t learn anymore but develop what they already have. Consequently most English club academies want kids at this age. I was surprised at the results of the survey which showed that the junior club coaches believe kids shouldn’t go to the academies until 15/16. It’s too late by then and places the entire key development phase of players with potential in the hands of junior club coaches.

4. The top clubs (Hearts/Hibs) don’t do enough (any?)coaching/scouting in the community. You have to spread the net far and wide. Good academy set ups have several development squads and run after school coaching sessions for all young kids in various locations throughout the season using well qualified coaches. This increases the scouting network for the club and helps roll out good coaching practice into grass roots football.

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John Frame
Since 2003 school pupils have been prevented from playing football for their schools by Youth Initiative Clubs.

As a member of the East& Midlothian and Lothian Schools FA feel that this is a totally unacceptable situation and has negative impact on the pupils involved and the game in general.

School Football is in a clearer position to see the impact than Club Football as once the boy has been taken from his Club they do not see the player any more during his time at the Professional Club - at school these boys are part of our community and we see them each and every day.

At my own school since 2003 we have had 16 boys who at one time or another have been part of this Professional set up and the vast majority of these players have been “encouraged” not to play for the school. Of these sixteen players two are currently Under 13 and still attached to Clubs - out of the other 14 only 1 spent more than 18 months with the Club before being released – in other words used to fill jerseys. This situation is not unique as in the East & Midlothian Schools area in the same period only 7 players out of over 75 spent more than 18 months with a Club before being released.

What concerns us in particular is the damage being done to these players educationally and socially by the Professional Clubs actions. We see all the time young boys coming to High School and not settling in as well as expected as they cannot take part in their favourite activity and in many cases these boys can drift away from their peer friend grouping and become isolated. We are also aware that pressure is put on these boys not to take a full part in a school PE programme.

Those who are released often find it very hard to rejoin the group they left behind and re-integrate socially. Some give up the game entirely as a result.

We contend that playing school football would not have any detrimental impact whatsoever on any boy. The commitment is not huge. They would benefit socially and educationally. In addition we feel that their football would perhaps benefit from the leadership qualities they will probably develop as the better player amongst their peers.

Players such as Darren Fletcher, Steven Whittaker, Andrew Driver all came through our system in the years immediately before the current restrictions. Playing for their schools does not appear to have done them any harm.






We feel strongly that all boys at a school should be entitled to play for the school in any sport they choose; That a Club signing a player should show that they are genuine by guaranteeing the boy in question a minimum of 3 years at the Club; that while Professional Club should be able to have players training with them they should not be able to sign them or restrict them playing at School, Representative or Juvenile Club level until they reach the age of 16.


Sustainability of School Football

While the position of School Football in the Lothian’s area remains healthy with many schools participating in our well-established Leagues many are concerned about sustaining this provision in the current climate without assistance.

Local Authorities have raised the cost of hiring facilities and schools are faced with serious budget cuts. In addition our local council have indicated that while volunteers can drive school mini buses - most staff may not even though they are doing this in their spare time and unpaid. This will mean the hire of coaches, which will by 5-8 times higher than using a school mini bus.

The costs of running sides is increasing considerably and it is becoming nigh impossible to access sponsorship and grants.

Not one penny of the funding for Grassroots football goes to help anyone to keep a team going and meet these costs.

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David Gemmell
In my opinion we are currently heading to league status similar to that of Ireland. We are not producing players of any quality now and rely on 2nd rate overseas players and English lower leagues, the main reasons for this is no developing players, pressure for instant results and the incorrect individuals doing the correct jobs. An example of the latter being a manager teaching fitness, this is a specialised area and should be delivered by the specialists.

Additionally, within the Scottish game if you have not played at senior level then you will have no opportunities to progress in the game and sadly this is a major loss to the game as there are some really talented individuals out there.

My final point relates to pro-youth development, sadly this area is all wrong. We as a nation always developed a winning attitude even if in the end we never won, however now this attitude, togetherness and drive is sadly known in the game as boys club stuff. Rubbish the pro youth should be taking these traits and working to fine tune them with the good job they do in terms of formation play and organisation, this in turn will produce a more all round player. Remember that this is only my opinion, I am not the one being paid by the SFA or such, I am merely some looking for an opportunity and to give my services free.

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