An Investigation of Best Practices in Youth Development Programmes at Selected Football Academies in the Western Cape

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

An Investigation of Best Practices in Youth Development Programmes at Selected Football Academies in the Western Cape An Investigation of Best Practices in Youth Development Programmes at Selected Football Academies in the Western Cape. By Ashley Ian Jacobs 2444431 A full thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for the Degree MAGISTER ARTIUM SPORT, RECREATION AND EXERCISE SCIENCE in the Department of Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science in the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences at the UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE Supervisor: Dr. Simone Titus October 2020 http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ Abstract Football around the globe has been used as a vehicle for youth development initiatives. Youth development programmes foster social change in communities and provide an ideal development context that often results in active sport participation. In South Africa, there are a number of youth development programmes that not only use football, but also other sporting codes to implement and create sustainable youth development programmes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore best practices in youth development programmes of selected football academies in the Western Cape. This study took place in the greater Cape Town area of the Western Cape and focused on selected football academies who administer youth development programmes. A qualitative approach was used to collect and analyse data for the study. Three key informant interviews and three focus group discussions were conducted with a total sample size of twenty-one participants from the three different academies. Focus group participants were purposively selected from the under fourteen, under sixteen and under eighteen teams from each football academy. The data from the study was collected and analysed through the lens of the Positive Youth Development perspective. A thematic analysis was conducted in order to identify the best practices for youth development programmes in the Western Cape. Some of the key findings show that; Coordinators of Youth Development Programmes (YDP) developed appropriate management skills which assisted youth participants with eating correctly, coping with football training, time management and offering career guidance. Many youth participants came from challenging backgrounds, but through the implementation of appropriate structures by football academies, this assisted in building participant confidence and positive youth development. Furthermore, findings from this study revealed that parents, guardians, caregivers and participants had a good relationship with role-players which was an influential factor in guiding youth through their developmental process. Additionally, reward systems implemented at football academies assisted in the approach youth participants took towards their own development. Lastly, the findings show that football academies involved in social responsibility projects had a bigger pool of youth to select from as compared to other academies that were not involved in social responsibility projects. With regards to ethical considerations, permission to conduct this research was obtained from the University of the Western Cape Human and Social Science Research Ethics Committee. Permission was obtained from the South African Football Association and the selected academies involved in the research. Suitable participants were identified and invited to participate in the study. Participants were briefed regarding the aims and objectives of the study, as well as the importance of their participation and the value of their input. It was explained to the participants that their participation in the study was on a voluntary basis and that they could withdraw at any point without being penalised. Written consent was obtained from all the participants. Assent was also obtained from participants under the age of eighteen. All the participants were made aware that the study would make use of pseudonyms to protect their identity. Keywords: Football, Positive youth development, Best practices, Sport-for-development, Western Cape, Academy. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ Declaration I hereby declare that “An investigation of best practices in youth development programmes at selected football academies in the Western Cape” is my own work, that it has not been submitted before for any other degree at any other university, and that the sources I have used have been indicated and acknowledged as complete references. _____________________ Ashley Ian Jacobs October 2020 http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ Acknowledgements First and foremost, I would like to thank the Almighty; the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, the Most Beneficent for granting me the opportunity to complete this research study. I am truly humbled and grateful for this experience. A special thanks to the following people who I am all equally grateful to, in no particular order; Donovan Ronnie, Michael Ronnie, Jean-Marc Ithier, Andre Alexander, Greg Lowe, Siseko Madikane, Casey Prince and Dave Waters. I would also like to extend my gratitude to all the football academies and participants involved in this research study. Your involvement, assistance and constant support was greatly appreciated. You enabled me to make this research study a reality and for that I am forever indebted. Furthermore, I would like to acknowledge and express great appreciation to my supervisor Dr. Simone Titus for her unwavering support throughout this endeavour. Lastly, a special thanks to my family for their love and support throughout this journey. This research study is dedicated to all of you; my mother Sheila Jacobs, my dad Antonio Juan Jacobs, my brother Jason Jacobs, my mother in law Miriam Hendricks, my father in law Faiek Hendricks, my wife Hibah Tharwah Jacobs, my son Uzair Jacobs and my daughter Nurah Jacobs. Each one of you has contributed immensely to this research study in ways unimaginable and without you I would not have been able to achieve this goal. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Background of the study ........................................................................................................................................ 1 1.3 Problem statement .............................................................................................................................................. 10 1.4 Significance of the study ..................................................................................................................................... 10 1.6 Aims and objectives ............................................................................................................................................. 11 1.7 Summary of Methodology.................................................................................................................................. 12 1.8 Interpretation of key terms................................................................................................................................ 13 1.9 Overview of chapters........................................................................................................................................... 14 1.10 Chapter conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 15 Chapter 2: Literature Review ............................................................................................................................................. 16 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 16 2.2 Theoretical framework ........................................................................................................................................ 16 2.3 Perspective of Youth Development Programmes at football clubs .......................................................... 21 2.4 Review of the Literature .......................................................................................................................................... 23 2.4.1 International perspectives on Sport and a tool for development ......................................................... 23 2.5 Youth development and its role within society ................................................................................................. 28 2.6 Youth development through sport – An International perspective .............................................................. 30 2. 7 Approaches to Youth Development Programmes through football ............................................................ 30 2.7.1 Youth development through football- An International perspective ................................................... 30 2.8 Youth development through football................................................................................................................... 32 2.8.1 A local perspective ............................................................................................................................................ 32 2.8.3 A local perspective ............................................................................................................................................ 35 2.9 Chapter conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • BMO Management Strategies of Football Clubs in the Dutch Eredivisie
    BSc-Thesis – BMO Management strategies of football clubs in the Dutch Eredivisie Name Student: Mylan Pouwels Registration Number: 991110669120 University: Wageningen University & Research (WUR) Study: BBC (Business) Thesis Mentor: Jos Bijman Date: 1-23-2020 Chair Group: BMO Course Code: YSS-81812 Foreword From an early age I already like football. I like it to play football by myself, to watch it on television, but also to read articles about football. The opportunity to combine my love for football with a scientific research for my Bachelor Thesis, could not be better for me. During an orientating conversation about the topic for my Bachelor Thesis with my thesis mentor Jos Bijman, I mentioned that I was always interested in the management strategies of organizations. What kind of choices an organization makes, what kind of resources an organization uses, what an organization wants to achieve and its performances. Following closely this process in large organizations is something I like to do in my leisure time. My thesis mentor Jos Bijman asked for my hobbies and he mentioned that there was a possibility to combine my interests in the management strategies of organizations with my main hobby football. In this way the topic Management strategies of football clubs in the Dutch Eredivisie was created. The Bachelor Thesis Management strategies of football clubs in the Dutch Eredivisie is executed in a qualitative research, using a literature study. This Thesis is written in the context of my graduation of the study Business-and Consumer Studies (specialization Business) at the Wageningen University and Research. From October 28 2019 until January 23 I have been working on the research and writing of my Thesis.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Day Montessori Football Workshop - Age 3-6
    Register NOW 1 DAY MONTESSORI FOOTBALL WORKSHOP - AGE 3-6 “Tennis, football and the like do not have for their sole purpose the accurate moving of a ball but they challenge us to acquire a new skill -something lacking before - and this feeling of enhancing our abilities is the real source of delight in the game” Maria Montessori This workshop is for everyone who (dis)believes that sports and Montessori complement each other. With hundreds of millions of children and adults playing and enjoying the game, football is by far the most popular sports in the world. Since football is universal in its appeal to children, we can tap into it to accelerate learning. It is a scientific fact that sports can enhance physical, psychological, social and academic development of children leading to stronger, healthier and more productive adults. The Montessori environment is the best environment for the development of the child, therefore also for sports development. The Montessori Football program is unique in the sense that it focuses on training (Montessori) teachers, rather than sports trainers. The Montessori Football program places the child central in the sports training, while incorporating Montessori teaching principles and practices. Attend this workshop and learn: • About the benefits of sports and football to the Montessori child (3-6 years) • The concept of connecting Montessori principles to football training • The basic tenets of a prepared football environment • To develop your own ball skills • To observe football training videos Participants will receive an official certificate of attendance provided by Montessori Football and Association Montessori Internationale (AMI).
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction Jip Bartels
    Introduction Jip Bartels • Former player of the AFC Ajax youth academy and Dutch national youth teams • Experienced youth educator/coach with more than 20 years of experience as a (professional) player • BSc (Hons) in Organizational Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, 2015 • MSc Business Administration, University of Amsterdam, 2017 • Montessori Introductory Coaching Course, Amsterdam 2017 • AMI Montessori Assistant Certificate, Melbourne 2018 • Montessori Football Course, Melbourne & Sydney, 2018 & 2019 • Montessori Sports Fundamentals Course, 2020 © Montessori Sports Ruben Jongkind (1975) Founder & CEO In 2006, Ruben decided to become a full time coach and said goodbye to his professional career as consultant and academic researcher in the field of organizational design. After a successful period in track & field and amateur football, he attained the position of individual trainer at the famous AFC Ajax Youth Academy. After coaching, elite 800 meters athlete Bram Som back to world level, he decided to combine his knowledge on elite individual sports and organizational design and apply it to his work with Ajax top football talents. Ruben was appointed Head of Talent Development of the Ajax Academy from 2011-2016. His work contributed to Ajax reaching the final of the Europa League in 2017 with the youngest team ever to reach any European final and the Champions League semi-final in 2019. The key players of this team are the face of the revival of the Dutch national team with a new generation of talented young players, like De Ligt, De Jong, van de Beek, Kluivert developed within this system. In 2018 he founded Montessori Sports ltd. together with his colleague Patrick Oudejans and became the CEO Global.
    [Show full text]
  • Eugene Poublon 19206 86Th Ave W, Edmonds WA, 98026 Phone: 425-308-0703 Email: [email protected]
    Eugene Poublon 19206 86th Ave W, Edmonds WA, 98026 Phone: 425-308-0703 Email: [email protected] Objective My goal is to help players develop an understanding so they can pursue collegiate and profession levels in soccer. I want them to play a style of soccer that is mainly on the ground where players have to make decisions all over the field. Key things they will learn are movement off the ball (distance and spacing). The timing where and when to be. Skill on how and where to execute technique and making good decisions. Foster the creativity of players and their ability to take on players. Experience as Player AFC Ajax Youth Academy 1983-1985 AZ Alkmaar 1991-1993 AFC Ajax Youth Academy 1993-1997 Tampa Bay Mutiny (MLS Rookie contract offer decided to move to WA) ‘97 Sounders FC 1998-1999 (Last season) Experience Director Coaching Director for NW Nationals 2004-2006 Junior Academy Director for PAC NW 2014-2019 Technical Director for Sound FC 2019-2020 Supervised Club Coaches, Camp Coaches, Futsal Academy Coaches. Ensured Sound FC Curriculum, Methodology and Style and System of Organization. Education High School in The Netherlands College of Amsterdam 4 years Didn’t finish final year decided to focus on professional soccer. Edmonds Community College 2 years Waived USSF E-, D- and C-license due to playing experience. USSF National B-License 2000 USSF National A-License 1999 US Training Center with UW Head and Assistant Coaches 2016-2017 Skills Have Leadership skills leading coaches, administration and staff. Have strong communication skills. Professionalism modeling positive behavior.
    [Show full text]
  • How a Soccer Star Is Made
    How a Soccer Star Is Made By MICHAEL SOKOLOVE The youth academy of the famed dutch soccer club Ajax is grandiosely called De Toekomst – The Future. Set down beside a highway in an unprepossessing district of Amsterdam, it consists of eight well-kept playing fields and a two-story building that houses locker rooms, classrooms, workout facilities and offices for coaches and sports scientists. In an airy cafe and bar, players are served meals and visitors can have a glass of beer or a cappuccino while looking out over the training grounds. Everything about the academy, from the amenities to the pedigree of the coaches – several of them former players for the powerful Dutch national team – signifies quality. Ajax once fielded one of the top professional teams in Europe. With the increasing globalization of the sport, which has driven the best players to richer leagues in England, Germany, Italy and Spain, the club has become a different kind of enterprise – a talent factory. It manufactures players and then sells them, often for immense fees, on the world market. —All modern ideas on how to develop youngsters begin with Ajax,“ Huw Jennings, an architect of the English youth-development system, told me. —They are the founding fathers.“ In America, with its wide-open spaces and wide-open possibilities, we celebrate the —self-made athlete,“ honor effort and luck and let children seek their own course for as long as they can – even when that means living with dreams that are unattainable and always were. The Dutch live in a cramped, soggy nation made possible only because they mastered the art of redirecting water.
    [Show full text]
  • The Status of Ethiopian Youth Sports Academy by Yibeltal Alebachew a Thesis Submitted to Addis Ababa University School of Gradua
    THE STATUS OF ETHIOPIAN YOUTH SPORTS ACADEMY BY YIBELTAL ALEBACHEW A THESIS SUBMITTED TO ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN THE PARTIAL FULFILMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN SPORT SCIENCE MAY2014 ADDIS ABABA 0 THE STATUS OF ETHIOPIAN YOUTH SPORTS ACADEMY BY YIBELTAL ALEBACHEW A THESIS SUBMITTED TO ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN THE PARTIAL FULFILMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN SPORT SCIENCE MAY 2014 ADDIS ABABA 0 THE STATUS OF ETHIOPIAN YOUTH SPORTS ACADEMY. BY YIBELTAL ALEBACHEW Approved By Board of the examiners ____________________ ___________________ __________________ Chair person of department/ Signature Date Graduate committee ___________________________ ___________________ __________________ Advisor Signature Date _________________ ___________________ _____________ Internal Examiner Signature Date _________________ ___________________ _____________ External Examiner Signature Date May 2014 Addis Ababa 0 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my special thanks and sincere appreciation to Dr. Tesfaye Asgedom, my thesis advisor, for his constructive suggestions, critical comments and scholarly advice that have shaped this thesis immeasurably. Without his proper guidance, the study would never have seen in the light of today. Special thanks should also go to my friends, for their various types of contributions in moral support for the success of this thesis. My heartfelt thanks go to Ato Solomon (sport academy coach) for generous assistance in helping me to distribute and insisting others to administered questionnaires. My deepest gratitude and appreciation also goes to my father Ato Alebachew Aniley and my mother w/ro Ehitnesh Asefa, my brother Amlaku Alebachew and all my family members for their continuous support and encouragement.
    [Show full text]
  • Fc Utrecht Fk Austria Wien
    PRESS KITS Group stage - Group C - Matchday 5 Thursday, 16 December 2004 - 20:45 (local time) Galgenwaard - Utrecht FC UTRECHT FK AUSTRIA WIEN MATCH OFFICIALS Referee Athanassios Briakos (GRE) Assistant referees Dimitrios Papadopoulos (GRE), Dimitrios Bozatzidis (GRE) Fourth official Emmanouil Tapatzas (GRE) UEFA delegate Alessandro Lulli (ITA) MATCH BACKGROUND Utrecht play for pride Although already eliminated from the UEFA Cup after losing their first three games, FC Utrecht bring a fine record against Austrian clubs into the game with FK Austria Wien. Unbeaten record In three previous ties against Austrian clubs, the Dutch Cup holders have won all three, and also remain unbeaten in the six matches. All matches have taken place in the first round of the UEFA Cup between the 1987/88 and 2001/02 seasons. Nevertheless, this is the first occasion that Utrecht have met a club from the Austrian capital. UEFA Cup successes The first meeting with Austrian clubs took Utrecht to Linz where they drew 0-0 during 1987/88 season versus Linzer ASK before advancing with a 2-0 home win in the return leg thanks to goals from John van Loen (22 minutes) and Johan de Cock (46). Then during the 1991/92 campaign, Utrecht won 1-0 at SK Sturm Graz, before winning 3-1 at home with Wlodimierz Smolarek scoring in both legs. GAK denied During the 2001/02 season, Utrecht started with a 3-0 home win against Grazer AK with current players Dave van den Bergh and Stéphane Tanghe among the scorers. The return leg did not go entirely to plan as GAK quickly wiped off the three-goal deficit after 38 minutes of the first half, before Utrecht regrouped with three second-half goals from Dirk Kuijt (47 minutes), Patrick Zwaanswijk (54) and Arco Jochemsen (68) to win 6-3 on aggregate.
    [Show full text]
  • Real Zaragoza V FC Utrecht
    La Romareda Stadium, Zaragoza 21/10/2004 20:45:00 (Local Time) UEFA Cup Group C, Matchday 1 Real Zaragoza v FC Utrecht MATCH OFFICIALS Referee Peter Sippel (GER) Assistant Referee Volker Wezel (GER) Assistant Referee Roland Greth (GER) Fourth Referee Hermann Albrecht (GER) UEFA Delegate Dusan Maravic (YUG) Referee Observer Walter Clarke (NIR) Reporter Javier Bielsa (ESP) MATCH BACKGROUND The 2003/04 domestic cup winners of Spain and the Netherlands meet for the first time in UEFA club competitions when Real Zaragoza host FC Utrecht on the opening matchday of the 2004/05 UEFA Cup group stage. Fourth encounter The match will be the fourth time that Zaragoza have been in opposition against clubs from the Netherlands. In the 1986/87 Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final Zaragoza lost the home leg to AFC Ajax 3-2, and 3-0 at Amsterdam, as Ajax went on to win the competition. Then in the 1994/95 season, Zaragoza met two Dutch clubs. They played Feyenoord in the quarter-finals of the Cup Winners’ Cup and, after Henrik Larsson had scored the only goal for the home side at Rotterdam, Zaragoza eventually won 2-1 on aggregate, and went on to win the tournament with Nayim’s spectacular shot in the 2-1 win against Arsenal FC. Super Cup defeat As Cup Winners’ Cup holders, Zaragoza then met UEFA Champions League winners AFC Ajax in the UEFA Super Cup, played over two legs in Februray 1996. The teams drew 1-1 at La Romareda, but Ajax proved too strong in the return leg with a 4-0 win after Danny Blind had notched a couple of late penalties.
    [Show full text]
  • K.N.I.E. Kruisband Nabeschouwing Interessante Ervaringsdeskundige
    K.N.I.E. Kruisband Nabeschouwing Interessante Ervaringsdeskundige In this interview an athlete speaks out about their ACL injury from the moment it happened to the operation, the rehab, the comeback… and life after the comeback. #29: JIP BARTELS “ ” THE INJURY DESTROYED MY DREAM OF BECOMING A FOOTBALL STAR, BUT IT HAD A LOT OF POSITIVES FOR ME AS WELL. Jip Bartels (1993) suffered 3 ACL injury’s (2010, 2011 left knee & 2012 right knee). The attacker played in youth teams (until second team) of AFC Ajax, FC Utrecht and the Dutch nationals. He signed a professional contact at the early age of 16 at AFC Ajax, turning down offers from clubs like Arsenal and AC Milan. A bright future was awaiting for him until the injury’s ruined his dream. However, this setback motivated him even more to achieve other things in life. Next to finishing his Masters at the University of Amsterdam and starting a football program in Australia, he continued to play football at a semi-professional level, in Holland at TEC (second division) and since 2017 in Melbourne, Australia!" DEEL 29 K.N.I.E. TEKST JEROEN VAN DE CAMP SEPTEMBER 2019 JIP BARTELS 1 FC KRUISBAND K.N.I.E. Kruisband Nabeschouwing Interessante Ervaringsdeskundige 01 Unfortunately, it didn’t take long before it would happen again once I was fit. Almost WHEN, WHERE AND HOW DID IT HAPPEN? “It actually happened 3 times. When I was exactly a year later, during a training 17, 18 and 19 years old. 3 times on artificial session with the AFC Ajax under 19’s, I grass.
    [Show full text]
  • Football Course
    Montessori Football MONTESSORI SUPPORTEDFOOTBALL BY AMI COURSE MONDAY 1 JULY - FRIDAY 5 JULY 2019 MELBOURNE MONTESSORI SCHOOL PRESENTED BY Jip Bartels – Manager Montessori Football Australia Amy Kirkham – 3-6 AMI Director of Training for the Australian Centre for Montessori Studies MONTESSORI FOOTBALL COURSE Montessori Football and Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) are proud to organise a second 40 hour course introducing the Montessori Football programme. The sports programme is aligned with Montessori’s philosophy and developed by Ruben Jongkind former Head of Talent Development of the famous youth academy of AFC Ajax and one of the last to work intensively together with the great Johan Cruyff, world’s foremost football visionary and creator of La Masia, FC Barcelona’s youth academy. This course is suitable for Montessori teachers and assistants as an extension to the Montessori curriculum, to provide children with a prepared outdoor environment and programme to teach sports, specifically football. After Completing this Course • You will understand the principles and methods for implementing Montessori in youth football • You will understand the philosophical and practical connection between Montessori and football methodology • You will be qualified to provide extra-curricular activities, such as after school classes and football camps, within the framework of the services of Montessori Football for schools WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MONTESSORI FOOTBALL PROGRAMME IN SCHOOLS? • A football programme that can be implemented as an after school programme and holiday programme • A Montessori prepared outdoor environment for sports, specifically football • It is suitable for boys and girls • Child-centred development based on the “player paradigm” as opposed to the “coach paradigm” • Mixed age groups 3-6 and 6-12.
    [Show full text]
  • Business-Of-Sports-KPMG
    Business of Sports Shaping a Successful Innings for the Indian Sports Industry A Report kpmg.com/in Business of Sports Business of Sports Acknowledgements This document has been released at the “SCORECARD 2014 – National Conference on Business of Sports” organized by the CII. We would like to thank the following for providing their valuable knowledge, experience and insights on the sports ecosystem of India. • Captain Amitabh, Head - Sports, TATA Steel • Dr. Amirullah Khan, Development Economist • Dr. Bharat Inder Singh, Sports Medicine Specialist and Medical Adviser, CII • Deepak Jolly, VP-Public Affairs and Communications, Coca-Cola India & SWA • Hemanshu Chaturvedi, Founder and MD, HTC Group of Companies • Kishore Taid, Director & Co-Founder, Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools • Manisha Malhotra, CEO, Mittal Champions Trust • Mustafa Ghouse, CEO, JSW Sports Pvt. Limited • Priti Srivastava, Vice President, Reliance Industries Limited • Pulak Bagchi, Vice President – Legal & Regulatory, STAR India Pvt Ltd • Ravneet Pawha, Country Director- India, Deakin University, Australia • Sukhvinder Singh, MD, Libero Sports • Virendra Kumar Mahendru, GM (Civil) & Head – Corporate Sports, ONGC Ltd • Viren Rasquinha, CEO, Olympic Gold Quest We are grateful to the CII for their continuous guidance and support: • Rajan Navani, Chairman, CII National Committee on India@75 • Deepak Jacob, Co-Chair, SCORECARD 2014, and President & General Counsel, STAR India Pvt Ltd • Shefali Chaturvedi, Senior Director, Confederation of Indian Industry & CEO CII Foundation This report was prepared by KPMG team from India and Europe comprising Vishal Gada, Alastair Graham, Waman Parkhi, Márton Kadocsa, Zoltán Buday, Arpita Gupta, Mohit Mittal, Pratik Soni, Snegdha Gupta, Pritesh Chhajed and Kanupriya Mundhra, under the leadership of Jaideep Ghosh, Partner, Management Consulting, KPMG in India, and Andrea Sartori, Partner & Head of KPMG Sports Advisory in Europe.
    [Show full text]
  • Football Academy Model in South Africa. Mark Mcilroy 296212
    Creating a sustainable, competitive advantage within a ‘winning’ football academy model in South Africa. Mark McIlroy 29621276 A research project submitted to the Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Administration. 10 November 2010 © University of Pretoria Abstract African football academies are a seriously neglected field of research but are a highly important step in the evolution of football (Scherrens, 2007). The study is motivated by the lack of research on football academy structures in particular South Africa. The primary focus of the research is on football development in South Africa, whilst it also reviews substantial literature concerning the phenomenon of elite sport development in order to explain the dynamics surrounding the football academy structure. The study identifies the relevant key components within the current football models and proposes a ‘winning’ model for South Africa. The study unpacks two theoretical frameworks, in understanding the impact of competitive advantage within a football academy. Through gaining insight into the strategic models employed within the various researched academy systems, this study outlines the important resources, competencies and capabilities within a football academy. The analysis revealed certain trends and provided the basis for the answering of the research questions. Hence the broad scope which is critical to understanding the football development phenomenon.The research aims to empower administrators and management of football clubs in South Africa with the strategic knowledge to provide a sustainable and competitive academy through player development, which can aid our national teams. The dynamic processes involved in football development enabled a winning model for a football academy in South Africa which could provide a competitive, sustainable advantage for a football academy.
    [Show full text]