🎙️ | Capello: “The national team is a reflection of the Italian league. In our league, players either walk or jog, whereas in other countries they run and sprint. When you then go to play a match where you need to sprint, you’re not used to it and you struggle. Habit makes you think faster, gives you the technique to anticipate a pass, to handle the speed of the exchange and the control — all things that in Italy we do at a rhythm that’s not suited to the international level.
The biggest mistake lies in the youth academies, where 12-year-olds are already doing tactics. I always have a bit of fun during speeches when I ask: do you have kids who play football? Yes. Do they do tactical schemes? Yes, they answer proudly. Well, I’d sack the coach immediately. Even professionals struggle with tactics, and they expect them from kids! Let them have fun — teach them how to kick the ball. Do you know what the problem is? It’s easier to teach tactics than to teach technique. That’s where we’ve failed — we don’t have the right teachers. You need to understand each player’s flaws: we’re not all the same; height varies, one may have a big foot, another a small one. Coaching is about observing, understanding, and teaching.
I was lucky to have GB Fabbri as my coach at SPAL — he lived for technique. Liedholm, for warm-ups, made us spend 20 minutes juggling and passing. It may sound old-fashioned, but we still play with the ball, and you’ve got to know how to handle it.”
[@Gazzetta_it via @Guidolino8]
⚽️ Youth Grassroots Football/Soccer, Coaches and Parents, Let’s Talk Real Coaching 👇🏼
- You can be on a “winning team”… and have a terrible coach.
- You can be on a “low-ability team”… and have an outstanding coach.
- Constantly shouting instructions at kids is NOT coaching, it’s just noise.
- A great coach builds confidence, not just tactics. Kids remember how you made them feel long after they forget the scoreline.
- Winning trophies at 9 years old means nothing if the kids hate coming to training by 12.
- Good coaching = individual development. Every player gets better, not just the “stars.”
- Fun is the foundation. If they’re not smiling, you’re doing it wrong.
- Parents: Stop chasing the “best team” and start chasing the best coach. Your child’s love for the game depends on it.
- Coaches: Lead by example. Your body language, patience & positivity are teaching more than any drill ever will.
- The goal isn’t the next trophy. It’s creating lifelong players who still play at 30… because they still love it.
Youth football isn’t about your ego or the league table. It’s about the kids.
#GrassrootsFootball #YouthSoccer #CoachTheKids #YouthFootball
@67scottsmith@The_Tman10 😂 shambles mate….x3 season books,6 sets of kit for my boys,tracksuits,champions league package,home ticket scheme and we’re signing Norwich’s back up CF!