MANCHESTER CITY IN SHEFFIELD REPORT;

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SHEFFIELD PROJECT DEVISED
AND DEVELOPED BY DAVE WARD;

Educate and improve the grass roots game and coaching in Sheffield;

 

The aim of this project is to improve the grass roots game
in Sheffield using a new coaching concept tried and tested throughout Europe.

Based on the Spanish system we have devised a Development
regime that uses Futsal as a development tool in Football.

The Spanish system is also a lot more interactive with grass
roots and school football.

The use of Futsal as a development tool especially with the
heavier Futsal ball develops technical ability and thought process.

Using Futsal as the main game in a young player’s
development, as the Spanish do, enhances and installs technical ability a lot
quicker than the English coaching regime.

 

Using Hillsborough
College as our
Development Centre, we run coaching sessions on a Monday and Wednesday night.

We had over 40 local Grass roots football teams along with
their coaches attend a 2 hour free training sessions using the new coaching regime
highlighted in this document. The age groups have ranged from U6 to U14;

The visit is not a one off and many teams have visited the
centre on 2 or 3 occasions as part of rolling programme.

We have now got together a Manchester City U7 elite squad
who are exposed to mostly Futsal as part of there coaching education.

A Monday night is now dedicated to the development of the Elite
squad as we have to prove not only to Manchester City
but to the FA and Football in general that this system works. Wednesday is
still dedicated to Educating grass roots teams;

 

We have now linked in with Activity Sheffield working in
some of Sheffield’s deprived areas and we have
taken this development concept to this scheme.

Again we hope to generate a lot more interest in the game of
Futsal and Football.

It is we feel important that Futsal becomes the second most
popular game behind football because of its importance regarding technical
development.

 

We have already started sending coaches out to continue our
work by visiting selected local grass roots sides so the next step is to take
this new concept to local Schools and Colleges.

 

Manchester City have built up very good relationships with a
lot of local sides through this campaign simply for the reason this whole
scheme is about developing the grass roots game and not about making money.
Everything we have done in Sheffield so far
has been free to the selected teams and coaches who have attended.

Even when we have brought across some of the best Futsal
coaches on the planet from Europe to take the
sessions.

As I believe its time that professional clubs got more
involved with the grass roots game and help educate the grass roots game,
coaches as much as players creating a grass roots system that is able to
enhance and develop natural talent;

 

Written Report submitted by Dave Ward;

Manchester City Development

MANCHESTER CITY, SHEFFELD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE STUDY;  CARRIED OUT OVER A 6 MONTH DURATION 2010

The purpose of the study was to
identify the potential of how, using Futsal as a development tool in football could
influence the technical development in Children at a young age in England.

 

A comparison was made between
Futsal indoors and general outdoor football training sessions.

 

FINDINGS;

This study identified that Futsal
gave participants more contact with the ball and more frequent involvement in
match situations, therefore offering more frequent learning opportunities.

 

The heavy ball accelerated
general ball control and passing capabilities, thus developing general thought
process.

 

These elements enhanced interest
in the game for each individual as well as increasing the fun element to the
game through a greater involvement.

 

Our findings definitely indicated
that the intensity of Futsal in comparison to mini soccer (7 vs. 7 normally
played at this age, created an environment where the player’s minds were
engaged more often.

 

This offered the potential to
develop football intelligence at an accelerated rate.

 

Over a very short period of time
players attending the Development Centre seemed to improve a lot quicker in the
critical area of technique and passing.

 

Taking into consideration the
game is still very much a learning process at this age we noted the following:

 

1.         Ball control. With
the heavier ball coming on to the players at a slightly slower pace; individuals
were able to adjust their feet and balance more quickly to enhance control.

           

2.         Passing. With the
heavier ball more effort is generally required to move the ball, as time went
on and we reverted the odd coaching session back to a using a normal ball,
passing became crisper and more accurate.

As stated
earlier the intensity of Futsal generally offered more contact with the ball
offering more frequent learning opportunities.

 

3.         Shooting. As in above,
the heavier ball needed more effort in shooting, the adverse effect, at first,
was the goalkeeper had more time to position and save. The players developed
quickly regarding power and accuracy in shooting.

 

4.         Thought process. A very
important element of the game, often I feel is overlooked in England. The
ability to read the game will can give your a lot more time on the ball, or
enhance your positional sense.

Again as stated which ever way
you look at it Futsal, weather it be the game in general or in this case a
development tool in football, it has the potential to develop football
intelligence. This has been apparent in the Manchester City Elite Squad in Sheffield

 

CONCLUSION;

It is clear from our small study
that using Futsal in Football development, especially at a young age, offers
participants more direct involvement in the game.

Using this coaching regime,
players passed the ball better and had more accurate attempts on goal.

 

Futsal also enhanced possession
and general thinking;

 

The qualities of the game of
Futsal in general and the use of the heavier ball developed the technical side
of players at an accelerated rate, far beyond our standard coaching regimes.

 

It is my recommendation that
Futsal could and should be used as a development tool in coaching generally,
not only in the professional game, but it would benefit the grass roots game
two fold.

 

It would be nice to see the
promotion of Futsal generally in England, developing leagues and a sustainable
youth structure as I can only see this benefitting the game as a whole.

 

To enhance the technical side of
the English game, which in my opinion is an area we are severely lacking at the
moment, especially if you look at the international scene, should be a
priority.

 

This report was written by David
Ward;

Manchester City