Debate - Future of Youth Development in Irish Football

**tetsujin1979** · 11/04/2016, 10:56 AM

Steven Reid: FAI have to realise we will win nothing without kids - http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-34615784.html

**Siberian** · 13/04/2016, 8:18 AM

Interesting piece in the Examiner yesterday - http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/s...hs-392504.html

I suppose the big question here is would local schoolboy clubs in the likes of Dublin, Limerick and Tipperary for example be willing to see their best u14 and u15 players go to the Academies of Shamrock Rovers, Limerick and Waterford Utd for the greater good of the development of Irish soccer? As it pointed out by St Kevins, it's not that the Schoolboy clubs are doing much wrong (and there are some very technically capable players in that U15 squad) but I'm assuming under LOI Academies they would have a lot more coaching sessions???

**backstothewall** · 13/04/2016, 9:20 AM

I'm completely ignorant about the politics of this but could the schoolboy clubs not simply become the academies of the LOI clubs? It seems to me that the common sense solution is a national setup of 16-20 schoolboy clubs with academy status, and with the majority linked to their nearest LOI club (e.g. Cherry Orchard-St. Pats).

The double sided advantage in those areas without a League of Ireland Club (like Tipperary) is that those schoolboy clubs could potentially be grown into one over the years.

**tetsujin1979** · 13/04/2016, 9:27 AM

it does seem to be the obvious solution, but I think the schoolboy clubs, and the LOI clubs (and by extension the FAI) have different goals
Like it or not, the aim of schoolboy clubs is to sell players to clubs in England (whether or not you'll get them to admit it is another thing), whereas the aim of the LOI clubs is to get a player into their senior side, and for the FAI it's to get a player into the senior international team.

**Siberian** · 13/04/2016, 9:37 AM

Not too sure I'd agree with you that the 'aim of Schoolboy clubs is to sell players to England'. I think most SB clubs take pleasure in seeing how young kids develop and of course they would like them to see them progress to the highest level. I think the key here is LOI clubs developing good academies and good regional scouting/programs and working with local Schoolboy clubs as opposed to be seeing to be nicking their best talent. Kids at this stage need to be playing more and more and I think good LOI Academies offer the best route. As far as I'm aware if LOI clubs then sell on to UK there is a compensation knock on for the local Schoolboy club where he started (however I believe it is a very complicated compensation process). However I think finance for most LOI clubs is a huge obstacle in developing proper Academies.

**backstothewall** · 13/04/2016, 12:24 PM

How do youth football clubs finance themselves these days? When i was playing as a kid there were dues for training and playing which combined with sponsorship from local businesses basically kept the club going.

As soon as a club becomes an academy with an FAI stamp of approval no one would want to pay dues anymore, and the would local business-owners be as quick to buy a kit for a club, or would they expect the FAI to do it? Would coaches who currently volunteer their time expect to be paid?

It soon adds up to a lot of money that i doubt the FAI have

**tetsujin1979** · 15/04/2016, 8:11 PM

Caught the very end of Off The Ball tonight driving home. Ruud Dokter is going to be in the show tomorrow afternoon to talk about something that's going to be in the morning's papers. No further details given, but sounds intriguing!

**eekers** · 15/04/2016, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Caught the very end of Off The Ball tonight driving home. Ruud Dokter is going to be in the show tomorrow afternoon to talk about something that's going to be in the morning's papers. No further details given, but sounds intriguing!

https://twitter.com/ScanlonShane/sta...03246719393794

Duffer given new Ireland role - good scoop via @McDonnellDan in Saturday's Irish Independent

**tetsujin1979** · 16/04/2016, 11:09 AM

Duff, Andrews, McPhail and Kinsella all to join the underage coaching setup: http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-34632200.html

Duff will work with the U-15 team, with McPhail offering his services at U-16 level, Andrews joining the U-17 side and Kinsella helping out Noel King's U-21 group.

**Deckydee** · 16/04/2016, 11:10 AM

FANTASTIC move imo. 'bout time the FAI did something

**tetsujin1979** · 16/04/2016, 11:58 PM

Interview with Doktor is online here: http://cdn.radiocms.net/media/001/au...audio_file.mp3
audio quality isn't great is patches, sounds like they leaned away from the mic

Article covering it on newstalk's website: http://offtheball.newstalk.com/playe.../972.973/12731

**BonnieShels** · 18/04/2016, 10:39 PM

The doktor interview was great. But the whonging of Dion Fanning afterwards really did me in. He was the same again tonight on OTB when they referred back to the interview on Saturday.

**Closed Account** · 17/06/2016, 12:38 PM

Good interview with Dominic Foley
http://www.the42.ie/dominic-foley-ju...e=twitter_self
A lot of it already stated elsewhere and fairly well known but good to hear from another source.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 22/06/2016, 5:56 PM

Can we just start copying Iceland and be done with it?

**Eminence Grise** · 22/06/2016, 9:39 PM

Smashing idea, NeverFeltBettersson. One small change at a time - they all add up!

**passinginterest** · 04/08/2016, 3:36 PM

http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/art...elopers-squad/
Interesting interview with Stephen Rice on the work the FAI are doing to keep physically underdeveloped players around the national squads, also touches on the introduction of the under 15 national league and the impact of Dundalks European progress.

**tetsujin1979** · 19/09/2016, 3:27 PM

Interesting chat with Shane Supple on 98FM about his return to the game with Crumlin and Bohemians, and his work with kids moving to England: http://www.98fm.com/podcasts/Now_Tha...l_Sport/53100/