Australian Youth Football, a Worrying Trend

Recent failures to qualify for successive FIFA World Youth Cups have begged the question, Why is Ange Postecoglou still in a job?

To castigate him for all our failures would be erroneous however. The problems go further back down the tree of what is known as Youth Football in Australia.

The quality of youth coaches in Australia is worrying in itself, but you also have to contend with outdated support staff at many 'Premier' youth clubs that still adhere to selections of players based on ethnicity, money and family connections!

Granted, the biggest clubs have steered clear of this fatalistic path, however how many talented youngsters have been turned away from a prospective football career due to incidents such as these?

Tactically, we should follow the French and Brasilian approach of small sided games (SSG) and non-competitive football until at least 14 or 15 years of age. Throw in some futsal to compliment (or as a career path in itself) and there could be a basis for a well rounded approach to junior development.

Another point that must be raised is a national youth league along the lines of the A-League.

The logistics of successfully running this might not work out, I believe that the logical step would be to have the NSWPL (and equivalents across Australia) as the Youth League competition in each state.

For example, the Marconis and Sydney Uniteds would be made up of all youth league players (under 20/23). The South Melbournes and the Melbourne Knights of the VPL would be the same. Each winner will play off in a national tournament.

Alternatively, sides like Sydney FC can put teams in these comps (and eventually all the way down to PYL u12)!

It's ridiculous that these confederations run 'autonomously' apart from FFA operations.