The PR problem of defence in youth football

Children often see being placed in defence as some sort of insult or punishment. Youth coaches also see it as somewhere to stick big kids who can win the ball and kick it away. In reality, especially at the younger ages, playing in defence offers considerable development opportunities. It helps the player develop a sense of positioning and allows them to build defensive skills of tackling and heading which are useful in any position. A coach who encourages his defenders to pass and improves their ability to do so will create a team with a counter attacking capability. Many players actually enjoy playing in a defensive position as it allows you to be involved in the game. Your responsibilities are often much clearer than they can be in midfield.

However, the fundamental attraction of football for many children is the excitement of scoring a goal. Players of this age place huge importance on the scoring of a goal. I have been asked by children this season that if they will be able to score a goal if they are in a certain position as their first thought about the role. This is never going to change and should be encouraged. The negative connotation of playing in defence needs to change however.

I feel that some of this comes from the parents. While many parents are absolutely perfect and understanding, a minority can cause problems. They will tell their child that they should be playing in attack - as if it is some form of promotion - and will often first ask "did you score today?" rather than "did you have fun today?". The child will sometimes lose self-confidence or self worth as they did not score and therefore did not do well. One of the greatest problems for a manager in youth football is the unhappy parent. However much a player may like and respect you, the parent's opinion will almost always trump your own (usually more qualified) opinion. A source of considerable parent dissatisfaction is the position their child is placed in. This almost always seems to stem from their child being placed in defence and not being rotated. The parent rarely seems to have a problem if their child is playing as a forward or a midfielder every week. This problem is deeply rooted within the physche of the casual observer of football.

Ray Winstone demonstrating
correct practice

I have heard of several instances already this season of parents expressing dissatisfaction with the manager because they have "stuck" their child "at the back", as if the manager is attempting to ignore the child. Whilst I have no doubt that some coaches operate that way, the majority do not and the attitude of the parent is unhelpful. It strengthens the fallacy in the player's mind that the coach is punishing the player or does not rate them. It is strange that this is far less of a problem at the professional level. Defenders such as John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Carlos Pujol are feted as world stars and many children wear shirts bearing their name. Some of these children then get upset if they are placed in defence.

This is not a critical problem for youth football. Many children do in fact realise the value of defending and many actively enjoy it. Children should be rotated and given chances to play in different positions as it develops their game and I am certainly not suggesting that players should be played in defence all the time. The PR problem that defence seems to have in youth football is one it could do without and as we continue to develop our grassroots techniques and philosophy I'm sure it will be worked upon. Until then, individual coaches will have to work hard to rid defence of its stigma.

Language in Amateur and Youth Football

The lexicon of football has long been ridiculed and rightly so. British football, at its lowest and highest levels, finds itself in the grip of phrases so absurd and counter-productive that even saying them makes you a worse player or coach. This is with the exception of the smug blog poster, in which case it makes you a worse human being.

A player showing textbook technique to get rid of the ball
his team spend the game trying to win

The old classic, "get rid", has long been a staple of the amateur coach and competitive parent. This usually leads to the young - or in some cases old - player treating the ball as if it is an unpinned grenade that should be smashed forward lest it explode in their penalty area. The phrase suggests that having the ball at your feet is a dangerous exercise and it is better to get the ball as far away from "the danger area" as fast as possible. It is a well known fact, of course, that anyone who plays in defence is not a good footballer and is just about capable of kicking the ball a long way and getting in the way of the better players.


Another favourite of the amateur coach is that his team have "stopped talking" or a similar variant. Whilst I agree that a good conservation can really liven up a dull game I can't say it is what I went into football for. If I had, I would certainly have been disappointed. Sometimes, players will be told that they are in possession of "time". Regrettably, I have yet to see any opposing players pull out Bernard's watch and manipulate time.  Players will also often find that they have left their four leaf clover and horseshoe in the changing room as they are often told that they are "unlucky", when in fact they have committed an error that is really their own fault. Rather perversely, if a player does eventually receive the luck that has previously deserted him he is often treated by opposition coaches and players as if he has cheated in some way. The definition of luck is for something to happen by chance rather than through ones own endeavours.

My favourite instruction that I have heard from an opposition coach was a desperate call to his team: "Come on guys, play better". Whilst this did not appear to set off any eureka moments for the players involved, at least the players knew exactly what the coach wanted.