In this blog post, we will look at the youth football systems of major countries to explore the growth potential and direction of Korean youth football.
For a soccer player, motor skills, physical fitness, and speed are innate qualities. However, dribbling skills, basic skills, and physical fitness are areas that can be sufficiently developed through acquired effort. If the basic skills and technical aspects, which are considered to be the most important in soccer, are not learned correctly and properly during the youth stage, it becomes difficult to improve them over time. In addition, the period when acquired skills can be learned the fastest and potential can be discovered and nurtured through acquired efforts is childhood. During childhood, it is not only effective to develop skills through physical activities, but also plays an important role in preparing for life as an adult and in developing the character and attitude that a soccer player should have.
If children learn the technical aspects of the game through proper education during their youth, they can improve their skills through physical training and tactical training, and improve their ability to respond to situations and tactics in real-life matches, thus becoming qualified to become a world-class soccer player. In order to become a good or great soccer player, it is important to understand the importance of learning soccer during youth.
The youth soccer system can be used to gauge the future of a country’s soccer. A prime example is Portugal. Portugal won consecutive world youth soccer championships in 1989 and 1991. At the time, Portugal established a systematic youth soccer system and produced excellent players called the “Golden Generation,” which led to great achievements. In order to replicate the glory of 2002, Korea must recognize the importance of the youth soccer system and develop it. A systematic youth soccer system will play a key role in helping Korean soccer reach the global level.
The Korea Youth Football Association, which was responsible for youth football in Korea, was declared bankrupt by the court on October 11 last year and decided to dissolve on October 17. As a result, even the middle and high school football associations are in danger of being dissolved, and the development of youth football players has now become the responsibility of the Korea Football Association. As a result, there are high expectations for the system and policies for fostering youth soccer. In order for Korean soccer to take a leap into the world, it is necessary to accurately identify the current situation and compare and analyze the overseas youth soccer system to suggest a development system and direction that is suitable for Korean soccer.
Germany has the largest number of members among European soccer clubs, and the German Football Association operates a systematic and organized system from youth soccer to the Bundesliga. German youth football is centered on football clubs, and the youth league is divided into six leagues according to age. Like the adult football league, a promotion and relegation system is introduced, and matches are mainly held on Friday afternoons or weekends. Training programs are designed around matches, and various small-sided games (SSG) are held for each age group so that players can have fun while naturally acquiring skills. For example, the U-12 team will train and play in small-scale programs such as 7-on-7 games, and the U-13 team will gradually increase the number of players to experience greater team play. This training method helps players improve their teamwork and situational awareness in a small space.
The process of advancing from the youth system to the professional ranks in Germany is quite different from the system in South Korea. Germany operates with flexibility in the formation of teams by age and in the selection of players. For example, local scouts provide selected players with the opportunity to be tested and then add them to the age-specific teams. A typical example is players like Manuel Neuer, Mario Götze, and Jerome Boateng. The German youth system does not focus on performance, but rather on building up and refining skills during the youth stage.
The Spanish youth soccer program is characterized by its organized league system. Spain operates six leagues for each age group through active exchanges between youth soccer teams, helping players gain real-world experience in a professional environment. Most youth players learn creative play while accepting the philosophy of their coaches. Coaches avoid repetitive and meaningless training and encourage players to develop an interest in soccer through training that develops their ability to make decisions in various situations. The Spanish youth system encourages players to start playing soccer for fun, rather than aiming to become elite players from the beginning, and has a system for discovering talented players within a well-structured league.
The Spanish youth league also has a policy to protect its players. Certain leagues restrict the participation of foreign players so that Spanish youth players can have more opportunities. In addition, youth players are not allowed to participate in the league unless they attend school, which not only provides character education but also opens up various future possibilities.
The league structure in the UK is the most systematic in the world. The English Football Association has about 40,000 clubs and 2,000 leagues, and has a systematic training system from youth to professional. The advanced competition system and tournament management of English youth football help players adapt quickly, and the clubs cover all costs, including training and injury management. It is divided into four levels by age group, and at each level, players are systematically trained in basic skills, tactics, and preparation for professional transition.
The French youth soccer system is also very systematic, and it discovers promising players through youth soccer academies in each region and trains them in tactics, skills, and mentality. The French system is characterized by providing customized training that takes into account the characteristics of each player, helping players maximize their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses.
The youth soccer system of each country plays an important role in the development of soccer in that country. By referring to such overseas examples, Korea will be able to leap to a world-class level by establishing a youth soccer system that suits Korea.
