For soccer players, it’s crucial to learn the acquired skills and fundamentals such as dribbling, fundamentals, and physical fitness, as well as the congenital conditions. Countries such as Portugal, Germany, Spain, England, and France have produced world-class players through their organized youth soccer systems, as proper education and training in childhood has a great impact on the foundation and character formation for adult players. Korea can grow into a world-class soccer powerhouse by building and developing a youth soccer system based on these overseas examples.
For a soccer player, athleticism, physicality, and speed are things that should be innate. However, dribbling skills, fundamentals, and stamina are all things that can be developed with effort. The most important fundamentals and technical aspects of soccer are difficult to improve over time if they aren“t learned correctly and correctly during childhood. It”s also during childhood that acquired skills can be learned the fastest and their potential can be discovered and developed. In addition to being an effective way to develop skills through physical activity, it also plays an important role in preparing for life as an adult and developing the character and attitudes needed to be a soccer player.
In addition, it”s also important to develop the character and attitudes that will prepare a soccer player for their adult life. In order to become a good soccer player, or even a great soccer player, you need to understand the importance of learning soccer at a young age.
A country”s youth soccer system can tell you a lot about its soccer future. A great example is Portugal. Portugal won back-to-back world youth soccer championships in 1989 and 1991. At the time, Portugal had a well-organized youth soccer system that produced a “Golden Generation” of players, which led to great results. Korea needs to recognize the importance of the youth soccer system and develop it in order to repeat the glory of 2002. A well-organized youth soccer system will play a key role in the country’s rise to the global level.
The Korea Youth Football Association, which was in charge of youth soccer in Korea, was declared bankrupt by a court on October 11 last year and dissolved on October 17. This left the KFA with the responsibility of developing youth soccer players, which is now the responsibility of the Korea Football Association. As a result, there are high expectations for the system and policies to foster youth soccer. In order for Korean soccer to make a leap to the world, it will be necessary to compare and analyze overseas youth soccer systems and provide a system and direction that fits Korean soccer.
Germany has the largest number of football clubs in Europe, and the German Football Association operates a systematic and organized system from youth football to the Bundesliga. German youth soccer is centered around soccer clubs, and the youth leagues are divided into six leagues based on age. Like adult soccer leagues, there is a promotion system, and games are usually played on Friday afternoons or weekends. In training, the program is game-based, with a variety of small-sided games (SSGs) for each age group to help players learn skills while having fun. For example, the U-12 team combines training and games with small-sided programs such as 7-on-7, while the U-13 team gradually increases the number of players to experience larger team play. This approach to training helps players improve their teamwork and situational awareness in a small space.
The path from the German youth system to the pros is quite different from the Korean system. Germany operates with flexibility in team organization and player selection by age group. For example, regional scouts report on players and give them a chance to try out to add to their age group teams. Notable examples include players like Manuel Neuer, Mario Gotze, and Jerome Boateng. Germany’s youth system is not obsessed with performance, and the focus is on building skills and refining oneself during the youth years.
Spain’s youth soccer program is characterized by organized leagues. Spain has six leagues for different age groups, with a lot of interaction between youth soccer teams to help players gain real-world experience in a professional-like environment. Most youth players learn to play creatively by adopting the philosophy of their coaches. Coaches keep players excited about soccer by avoiding repetitive and meaningless drills and instead focusing on developing judgment in different situations. Spain’s youth system encourages players to start out having fun and not aiming for elite status from the start, and has an organized league structure to identify the best players.
Spanish youth leagues also have national player protection policies. Certain leagues limit the participation of foreign players to ensure that Spanish youth have more opportunities to play, and young players are not allowed to play in the leagues unless they are in school, which not only provides character education but also opens up a wide range of future possibilities.
The league structure in England is one of the most organized in the world. The English Football Association has nearly 40,000 clubs and over 2,000 leagues, with an organized development system from youth to professional. Youth soccer in England has an advanced game system and competition structure to help players adapt quickly, with clubs covering all costs, including training and injury management. There are four age groups, and each level is organized to teach players basic skills, tactics, and preparation for the professional game.
France’s youth soccer system is also very organized, with regional youth soccer academies that identify promising players and train them in tactical, technical, and mental aspects. The French system is characterized by personalized training that takes into account the characteristics of each player, helping them to make the most of their strengths and work on their weaknesses.
Each country’s youth soccer system plays an important role in the development of the sport in that country. Korea can learn from these examples and build a youth soccer system that is tailored to the country’s needs, so that it can become a world-class program.
