Schools' Soccer League

[cr@zydude]

I was reading the Sunday Times and one of the things that they said that SAFA should introduce is a schools' league in SA. The idea is that with a formal league structure in place, it's easier for players to be spotted by pro clubs and make the step up.

What I'd like to know is do other's think this is a good idea, I lik ethe idea of school based teams, but would club youth teams be better? Also how hard would it be to rated all the schools and set up the league system?

 

[UltimateWarez]

dude this will never work , trust me

i remember when they had the superrugby rankings and stuff for school sports...

remember this is school sports not club...people are just 17-18...with competition comes the use of steroids...

trust me , i was in a high school and grade 9's and 10's wanted to just be big enough to play 2nd team rugby...

also it will become more personal to be the best and that results in violence on and off the field...

for me...i just finished school last year...i played 1st team cricket...went to cape town on tour...tried out rugby for fun and played a bit of soccer...

leagues will just make it go crazy...especially if there are rankings etc.

 

[smokey]

That would totally depend on how they do it - I think if they put more focus on developing a really good primary school league (professionalizing the coaching aspect, playing enough matches and cups etc) will help the clubs identify talent at the right ages (7-12) and fill up their youth teams. There really is no need to have it at high school if the clubs do a good job. Also making sure that there is a proper Youth League would help SA footy tremendously.

 

[cr@zydude]

That would totally depend on how they do it - I think if they put more focus on developing a really good primary school league (professionalizing the coaching aspect, playing enough matches and cups etc) will help the clubs identify talent at the right ages (7-12) and fill up their youth teams. There really is no need to have it at high school if the clubs do a good job. Also making sure that there is a proper Youth League would help SA footy tremendously.

I'm not really a 'soccer person', I just watch Bay United and take a huge interest in the WC. Is 7 to 12 really the age that talent needs to be found at? I do think that SAFA should take a huge amount of the WC money and plow it into youth development.

 

[smokey]

I'm not really a 'soccer person', I just watch Bay United and take a huge interest in the WC. Is 7 to 12 really the age that talent needs to be found at? I do think that SAFA should take a huge amount of the WC money and plow it into youth development.

That's generally when the bigger clubs start taking on youngsters. Before that (generally speaking of course) it doesn't pay to do it professionally because the kids are just too young and don't have the required concentration to coach them properly. However, any age between 10-12 can be youth team material. 6-10/12 is generally when they tech kids the basics of passing, do not touch the ball and such stuff.

Bear in mind, this is what I have been told, I have no way to confirm this...