The Development of Footballers - Player Pathways 足球運動員的發展 – 球員之路

The Development of Footballers - Player Pathways

I am sometimes asked how a young aspiring footballer in Hong Kong can progress from being a beginner to a fulltime professional. Actually there is no short cut, even for the most talented players.

The conventional wisdom is that it takes around 10,000 hours of purposeful practice over say 15 years (equivalent to 13 hours a week) to develop a world-class footballer. For a number of reasons it is difficult to achieve that level in Hong Kong. That is why it is problematic for us to be competitive with other countries. Through Project Phoenix we are trying to implement change and simultaneously improve every aspect of football development to give all players the best chance of success. We must ensure that the systems, structures, facilities and resources are put in place to allow footballers to practice longer, harder and smarter. We need both quantity and quality of opportunity for training and competition. There are undoubtedly a lot of talented footballers in Hong Kong. Unfortunately talent alone is not enough; it needs to be blended with opportunity and relentless hard work. So aspiring footballers must be dedicated as well as talented.

Our new Strategic Plan Aiming High – Together has been written to make it as easy as possible to develop footballers. We are introducing a systematic and coordinated player development continuum where every footballer is given the chance to participate and progress to their level of competence and where the most talented footballers within each age group are identified at an early age and given more and better quality training and conditioning. Aspiring footballers should be able to negotiate seamlessly along this continuum and the pathways must be well sign-posted and accessible. This new system is illustrated in the diagram below.

The Football Development Continuum (Pyramid and Pathways) in Summary

Children need to be introduced to physical activity and basic ball skills at a very young age. This will need to be done by parents, helpers, kindergartens and nursery schools. In some cases children will attend football classes when they are toddlers. The HKFA does not envisage getting directly involved with children at this age but will encourage early years participation and provide information on how and when to introduce basic skills.

Initially players will be introduced to ‘grassroots’ football (age 6 to 12) either through a HKFA programme, an amateur club, the schools system or a Commercial Soccer School. Their progress through the grassroots stage must be monitored. They must be given every opportunity to develop their natural talent. Once they are 13 the children interested in football should be able to continue to participate through HKFA Youth Development programmes but also at a commercial soccer scheme, amateur club or though the school sport programme. Those children involved in HKFA programmes will join District training programmes/leagues or be talent spotted by one of the professional Clubs. If their talent and ambition is confirmed by a qualified coach, there should be pathways to the next level so that their potential can be developed. This would mean attending additional training sessions at one of six HKFA Regional Centres of Excellence. The children that are not of the requisite quality should still receive expert training at the District level in recognition that some children are ‘late developers’.

A major pathway particularly for talented players will be for them to join a professional Club that has an accredited Academy but it is recognized that many of the Clubs will take some time to develop these Academies. In view of this and until the Club Academy system is fully developed, the HKFA has established centralized Academies for the most talented players. These players will therefore receive additional and higher level coaching in age group squads.

After the age of 17 or 18 Players will either be ‘signed on’ by a Professional Club, where they will be eligible to play for one of the Hong Kong senior teams e.g. U20. If they are not good enough to play professional and representative football then there should be pathways to amateur football, coaching, refereeing or football administration. Retaining people in the sport is important regardless of playing ability.

It is the aim of the HKFA to ‘scout’ talented players that possess the hallmarks of a professional player (technique, tactical awareness, intelligence, physical conditioning and mental strength) and ensure that the pathways and systems are available to nurture that talent and propel them to success.

‘Game Changers’

The new HKFA Strategic Plan, Aiming High – Together has been written to focus on the major changes that will make a difference to football in Hong Kong. It is deliberately ‘player-centric’ and in essence it is all about player development through a systematic approach. There are some fundamentals that need to change. These are summarized below:

Football Development

• Hong Kong Style of Play and National Curriculum: Devising, adopting and implementing the Hong Kong ‘shape and style’ of play consistently and comprehensively across Hong Kong will result in better player development. This should be articulated in a National Curriculum so everyone knows what needs to be done, why and how. The curriculum will cover all aspects of football development from the grassroots up to the elite level and include modules on men’s and boy’s, women’s and girl’s football and futsal.

• Integrated Player Pathways: As mentioned above, there should be a structured and systematic progression from beginner to elite international footballer. Pathways and progressions should be clearly ‘sign-posted’ so that every player has equal opportunity to reach their potential. The HKFA should have an overview of all football development activity in Hong Kong (not just its own activities and programmes) to facilitate effective talent identification.

• Grassroots Football: It is imperative that effective coaching of footballers starts as soon as possible. The HKFA and other providers should adopt a small-sided games approach from the age of 6. Techniques, skills and game awareness should be taught in a fun, safe and progressive way.

• Youth Development: From the age of 13 children should progress to play 11 v 11. Again the emphasis should be on player development rather than ‘win at all cost’. Good playing habits should be reinforced and between 13 and 18 time on the pitch should be maximised to give the players as much opportunity to hit 10,000 hours by the time they are 18. The pillars of development (technique, tactics, conditioning and mental strength) should be developed in a holistic way.

• Talent Identification: Better players should be selected for additional training and coaching during their formative years whether this be in a Regional Centre of Excellence, Club Academy or HKFA ‘high performance’ squad. These ‘stars of the future’ should be given every assistance and should play against other talented players based on the ‘best v the best’ philosophy. Their performance should be constantly monitored to ensure that they continue to improve.

• High Performance: Hong Kong must develop effective systems for and an engrained culture of high performance football. Once elite players are in the system they must be given every opportunity to become full time professional footballers if that is what they want. This means sports science and medical support, analysis and evaluation and the best coaching available. Top quality competition must be arranged as well.

• Professional Football: Football must become a worthwhile career option. The top tier of football in Hong Kong must become more economically viable if it is to encourage young people to aspire to become fulltime. This means raising the standard of play on the pitch so more people watch and more commercial revenue is generated. This will provide the resources to make playing football more lucrative.

• Player Education and Welfare: A way must be found to make sure that academic achievement and football prowess are not mutually exclusive. This will mean schemes to link Education with Football Development through academies, scholarships, bursaries etc and on-going vocational education of footballers to give them second-career opportunities. A further safety net for footballers could be provided through a Professional Footballers Association that would be responsible for the welfare of players if they are injured or in dispute with their Clubs.

• Mindset: As a generalization, at the moment youth coaches are more concerned with winning than player development. Attitudes will need to change.

• Inclusivity: All of the football stakeholders in Hong Kong should be encouraged to ‘buy-into’ this strategy including adopting the Hong Kong playing style and National Curriculum, the grassroots small-sided games approach and player development systems and pathways. No child should be disadvantaged or slip through the net.

This new approach to football development must be underpinned by other strategic considerations. These are summarized below.

Coaching and Coach Education

It is impossible to produce good footballers without good coaches. The HKFA intends to train more coaches to a higher level and maintain their knowledge through regular re-training. The quality of coaching sessions needs to be constantly evaluated. It is critical that our coach education syllabus reflects the Hong Kong playing style and National Curriculum. The level and competence of coaches should be commensurate with the level of football being played. Minimum standards will be set so for example, those involved in coaching high performance football will have an ‘A’ Licence as a prerequisite.

Refereeing and Officials

Similarly, the standard of refereeing must reflect the standard of football. Additional referees will be identified and trained to the requisite standard. Referees will be monitored and assessed continuously to ensure on-going improvement.

Football Facilities

Perhaps the biggest problem with football in Hong Kong is the inadequate supply of good quality football facilities. This is a difficult problem to solve but there is a need to re-assess priorities and the current quota system. The strategic plan suggests a hierarchy of facilities from the grassroots through to the professional Clubs through to the elite international level. Again minimum standards are set on a District, Regional and national level. At the top of the hierarchy is the provision of a Hong Kong Football Training Centre. This long overdue facility is now critical to the development of football.

Integrity and Equality

It is important that football is ‘clean’ and seen to be ‘clean’. This means being transparent in terms of governance and ensuring that all football stakeholders uphold the highest standards of personal, management and financial probity. Systems will be put in place to monitor match-manipulation and there will be a zero-tolerance adopted to those that fail to comply with a new code of conduct. The HKFA will abide by the principles contained in Article 3 of the FIFA Regulations on equal opportunities and anti-discrimination.

Partnerships

The Hong Kong Football Association as the Governing Body for football in Hong Kong and the FIFA Member Association must lead the development of football in Hong Kong. It is recognized however that it can’t do everything itself. The title of the new Strategic Plan, Aiming High – Together reflects the fact that many stakeholders and partners must buy-into the plan and work collaboratively in its adoption and execution.

Resources

The delivery of the recommendations contained within the strategic plan will require additional resources especially money. Public sector grants and charitable donations will need to ‘pump prime’ the work of the HKFA and ensure that the organization remains financially sustainable. It will take time before this financial catalyst results in more commercial revenue streams from gate receipts, broadcasting and sponsorship. Football contributes significantly to the health and well-being of Hong Kong at the individual, community and societal level.

If all of these ‘game-changers’ are addressed in the next few years it should be much easier for young players to identify the pathway to becoming a professional footballer as well as much for rewarding for those that eventually make the grade.

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足球運動員的發展 – 球員之路

我時常被問及有關本地青年足球運動員的問題，如何將一位充滿熱誠的初學者逐步提升至職業足球員。事實上，包括天才橫溢的球員在內，都沒有任何捷徑可尋。

傳統想法指出只要接受大約10,000小時的目標性訓練，大約歷時15年時間(平均一星期13小時)便可成就球員發展成為世界級球星，然而多項理據表明香港人難以達成此項指標，這亦增加了與其他國家競爭的難度。通過「鳳凰計劃」，我們嘗試作出多項改變，並銳意改善在足球發展方面的多個領域，讓所有球員有更多機會取得成功。我們必須確保系統、基建、設施及資源放在正確的位置上，以容許足球員接受長期、刻苦且具成效的訓練，尤其需要獲得質與量並存的訓練及比賽機會。毫無疑問，香港存在不少具天賦能力的球員，然而，單談天賦是不夠的，必須要求無間斷的訓練及賦予足夠的機會，這樣，擁有滿腔熱誠的天賦球員才能夠予以肯定。

足總最近推出的策略計劃—《力爭上游—萬眾一心》(中文暫譯)在發展足球員方面詳列得簡單直接，我們將引進一套有系統及關連的球員發展模式，為每位足球員提供機會去參與及提升其參賽水平，並在每個年齡組別中盡早尋找一些具天賦能力的球員，為他們提供更多更好的高水平訓練及護理。在此模式的協助下，我們便可無間斷地與這些球員相互溝通，令他們的成長之路變得寬廣及觸手可及，新系統的架構如下圖所示：

球員發展模式 (金字塔及出路)大綱

小朋友在早期必須先被引導參加體能活動及基本足球技巧訓練，在其父母、助理員、幼稚園、護理學前教育的幫助下完成，在個別情況下幼童在1至3歲時或會參加足球課程。足總不會正面接觸幼兒，但會鼓勵這些小朋友在成長早期參與及接受正統的足球基本知識。

青少年球員(6至12歲)將可透過足總舉辦的訓練計劃、業餘團體、學校活動或商業足球學校，加入「草根」足球行列。在這階段中，主辦單位將會監察他們的成長進度，並讓他們有機會去發展他們的足球天賦。青少年步入13歲時，若他們渴望發展其足球興趣，可以繼續參加足總舉辦的青少年足球訓練計劃，當然亦可參與一些商業足球項目、業餘團體或學校舉辦的體育活動。參加足總舉辦的課程，這些學員將會加入地區訓練計劃/聯賽，甚至可能加入其中一間職業球會。如果他們的天賦獲得合資格的教練予以肯定，他們便可晉身至另一階段以繼續發展其潛能，換言之，他們可以參與足總其中一區的(共有6區)的額外地域訓練課程，若青少年球員的質素未達標，他們仍可繼續參與地區的專業訓練，因為某些球員發展會較為「遲熟」。

一些具天賦足球員的主流路徑，便會加入擁有青年足球訓練的職業球會中，但必須承認目前不少球會仍在努力建立其青年軍隊伍，因此待他們的足球青年軍成熟發展後，足總將會從各支球會匯聚最具天賦的球員來訓練，他們將會於不同年齡組別接受更多及更高水平的訓練。

在17或18歲時，部分球員或會與職業球會簽約，這樣他們便有機會加入香港青年代表隊(如U20)。假若他們能力不足以參加職業足球，他們可選擇參加業餘球會，或可從事教練、裁判或足球管理的工作。不論球員的能力如何，留住更多人於運動圈內是非常重要的。

足總的主要目的是「搜尋」具天賦的球員，讓他們得以躋身成為專業足球員(技術、戰術認知、智慧、體能狀態及精神面貌)，確保他們的天賦不會被埋沒，讓其前途一片光明。

「賽事改變者」

足總最近推出的策略計劃—《力爭上游—萬眾一心》(中文暫譯)作出多項主要改革，讓香港足球事業改頭換面。計劃著重「以球員為主導」並透過有系統的方法全面培育球員的多元發展。以下是一些項目需要作出改變：

足球發展

港隊足球風格及課程指引：設計、採用及實行屬於香港的一套比賽風格，持續 及廣泛地加以推廣，將有利球員的發展。這種風格將與課程指引相互關連，即每個人都會充分明白應該如何及怎樣達成目標，該課程將會涵蓋足球發展的各個層面，包括草根足球以至精英程度，分別適用於男女組別的足球及五人足球上。

• 整合球員出路：上述提及，足總將要有一套完整的計劃，幫助足球愛好者逐步由初學者發展成為精英的國際級運動員，有關其級別及出路皆會「明確指示」，讓每位球員都在公平對等的機會下達成所求。足總將會全面檢視整個足球發展計劃(並不單指本會的活動及計劃)，令更多具天賦的球員能夠更有效地識別出來。

• 草根足球：由具有效能的足球培訓開始是當務之急，足總及其他足球授學團體應該為6歲或以後之小朋友提供小型比賽方式，在歡樂、安全及循序漸進的環境下提供技術及課堂知識。

• 青年發展：由13歲的青少年開始，應該傾向採用11對11人的比賽方式，再次強調一點，這是以球員發展為依歸，而並非講求單純的「勝利不惜代價」。一個良好的比賽習慣應該予以加強，而在13至18歲期間，在球場上進行訓練的次數亦應該盡量提高，讓球員在其18歲之年有足夠時間達成10,000小時的訓練量，並全面地發展各項才能(技術、戰術、體能及心理質素)。

• 識別天賦球員：在球員的成長之年，不論他身處在地域訓練課程、球會的青年軍或足總的「高效」陣容中，皆應該甄選能力較佳的球員去參加額外的訓練及指導。這些「明日之星」應該給予足夠的輔助，同時在「最強對最強」的理念下，他們可以與其他同級球員切磋球技，足總將會密切監察其表現以確保其成長進度。

• 高效能：香港必須徹底發展一套有效機制以取代目前根深蒂固的傳統文化。當精英球員被發掘出來，便應該給予足夠機會，幫助他們成為職業球員，因此運動科學、醫療支援、分析及評估以及優秀培訓必須全部到位，同時亦須安排頂級賽事，讓他們加以磨練。

• 專業足球：從事足球工作將會成為值得晉身仕途的一個選擇。假若愈來愈多青年人投身足球事業，屬於頂尖的本地足球活動將會變得更有商業價值，這意味著球賽的水平提升，吸引更多觀眾入場，從而增加商業利益，變相提供更多資源投入其中，因果循環下自然增加更多經驗效益。

• 球員教育和福利：必須尋求方法以確保學業成就及球壇成績不會相互抵觸，即該足球發展計劃必須與教育掛鈎，透過諸如教學、獎學金、助學金及持續職業教育等方式，協助足球運動員獲得第二職業的選擇，同時亦能透過職業足球員工會為球員提供保護網，若他們與球會之間產生矛盾或受傷，工會有責任為球員謀求福利。

• 思維：一般情況下，青年教練只關心比賽勝負而忽略了球員發展，這種心態必須加以改變。

• 相關人士：所有涉及足球業界的本港人士都應該一致採用這套方案，包括屬於香港本身的比賽風格及課程指引、在草根足球上選用小型比賽方式以及球員發展機制及出路，以確保具天賦的青少年獲得重視或不會被埋沒。.

這套嶄新的足球發展方案將會受到其他策略性考慮的支持，包括以下幾點：

教練及教練培訓

在沒有優秀的教練指導下，是無法孕育優秀的足球運動員。足總銳意訓練更多教練以助他們達致更高水平，同時透過定期培訓，讓他們汲取更多最新知識。教練培訓的課程質素必須獲得持續評估，而教練培訓課程大綱亦必須與香港比賽風格及課程指引相輔相承，而教練級別亦將與他們能夠參與球賽類型的級別掛鈎，從而釐定最低標準的界線，舉個例，如欲參與教授較高水平的比賽，該教練必須擁有A級牌照。

裁判及工作人員

同樣地，裁判員的執法水平充分反映球賽的水準，因此甄選更多的裁判員加入訓練陣營中，以保證他們達到認可的執法水平。足總將會密切監管及持續評估裁判員的質素，並作出持續改善。

足球設施

香港足球事業面對最大的難題，或許是嚴重缺乏具質素的足球設施。這個問題難以一時三刻解決，但我們必須重新評估目前配套機制的先後次序。該份策略計劃建議從草根足球、職業球會、以至代表隊級別的層面構建一個各項設施的級別指標，同樣為地區、地域及國家層面上設定一個最低標準，香港足球訓練中心的落成將會被視為最高級別的重要設施。這項延期長時的基建項目正是本地足球發展的關鍵元素。

廉潔及平等

在足球運動中，「清白」乃非常重要的一環。簡單而言，在球會管治上，所有足球業界人士必須在其個人、公司管理及財政上保持廉潔及高度透明，而有關制度並會高度監察任何關於操控比賽的情況，以零容忍的態度打擊任何違反專業操守。足總將會嚴格遵守國際足協條例Article 3有關平等機會及反種族歧視的指引。

合作夥伴

由於香港足球總會是本港認可管治足球的團體以及國際足協屬會成員，因此我們必須肩負起發展本地足球發展的重責。誠然，單靠本會一己之力無法達成所有方案，正如最新最近推出的策略計劃—《力爭上游—萬眾一心》(中文暫譯)的計劃名稱一樣，反映所有球圈人士及合作夥伴必須一致贊同計劃，群策群力，方可取得圓滿成功。

資源

在策略方案中提及多項建議都與資源息息相關，尤其在資金方面。公眾資助及慈善團體的捐贈有助足總工作得以順利展開，以免本會因財務緊絀而無法維持運作。在財政效益出現之前，這是需要經歷一段「陣痛期」才能從門票、電視播映權及商業贊助中獲利。足球事業將為香港帶來長足的效益，在個人、社會及國際層面上呈現健全的發展。

如果上述提及的「賽事改變者」皆可在未來數年內發生，那麼青年球員將可辨別自己的路徑來達成全職球員的夢想，讓他們振翅高飛，一展身手。

上述內容請以英文版本為準