Inside Sporting Lisbon's academy (written by SUFC coach)

[Beans]

Spotted this article over the weekend, while it's not about the Blades per se, it is written by one of our youth coaches. Hopefully we're well on our way to developing the next Ronaldo

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...orting-lisbon-academy-ronaldo-figo-ballon-dor

I don't know much about Alex Clapham (the author), and his Twitter bio says he's a coach at both us and Manchester City - so not sure if he was visiting Portuguese academies in a United capacity or a City one, or both, or even for some other purposes. Either way, can only be of benefit to us.

Before any pedants jump in, I'm fully aware that the club's name is actually Sporting Clube de Portugal, and only English people call them "Sporting Lisbon"

 

[Blade for Sale]

Spotted this article over the weekend, while it's not about the Blades per se, it is written by one of our youth coaches. Hopefully we're well on our way to developing the next Ronaldo

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...orting-lisbon-academy-ronaldo-figo-ballon-dor

I don't know much about Alex Clapham (the author), and his Twitter bio says he's a coach at both us and Manchester City - so not sure if he was visiting Portuguese academies in a United capacity or a City one, or both, or even for some other purposes. Either way, can only be of benefit to us.

Before any pedants jump in, I'm fully aware that the club's name is actually Sporting Clube de Portugal, and only English people call them "Sporting Lisbon"

Thanks for sharing, an interesting article. Offers another angle as to why English coaching lags behind; man, or kid, management. Some people perform at their best with the fear of a bollocking at the back of their mind but I would wager they are in the minority, especially when we are talking about kids. The number of coaches (and parents) screaming at genuinely frightened children at youth football level is appalling in this country. Let them play, let them make mistakes, let them win, let them lose, and give them an arm round the shoulder and a chat as to what they did right, what they did wrong, and what they can do to improve.
By all means, if they are clearly shirking and not listening, and have used up plenty of chances, give the bollocking, but let it not be the solution of first, indeed sometimes only, resort.

 

[Davalon]

Thanks for sharing, an interesting article. Offers another angle as to why English coaching lags behind; man, or kid, management. Some people perform at their best with the fear of a bollocking at the back of their mind but I would wager they are in the minority, especially when we are talking about kids. The number of coaches (and parents) screaming at genuinely frightened children at youth football level is appalling in this country. Let them play, let them make mistakes, let them win, let them lose, and give them an arm round the shoulder and a chat as to what they did right, what they did wrong, and what they can do to improve.
By all means, if they are clearly shirking and not listening, and have used up plenty of chances, give the bollocking, but let it not be the solution of first, indeed sometimes only, resort.

Bang on.

The amount of coaches and parents I hear giving a running shouting commentary of instructions on a Sunday morning is ridiculous.

Bellowing control it whilst the ball is in the air isn't going to help, and the most ridiculous I've witnessed recently was an utter prick of a coach at Chesterfield who used scream 'relax' at the kids if through on goal.

He had a talented group but they all looked as miserable as sin, and he tore a strip of them for conceding a late goal which meant they only won 7-3.

They sat heads bowed on the floor at the end as he wagged his finger at them. 10 and 11 year olds ffs. A middle aged man who obviously failed in a previous life. I couldn't restrain myself from having 'a word'.

 

[Richard Haythorne]

Thanks for sharing . Interesting