UEFA COACHES CIRCLE EXTRANET

CASE STUDYCASE No. 2 STUDY: DEVELOPING No. 4 ELITE YOUNG PLAYERS AT ROSENBORG BALLKLUB

UEFA COACHES CIRCLE EXTRANET

CASE STUDY No. 2: DEVELOPING ELITE YOUNG PLAYERS AT ROSENBORG BALLKLUB

In this Case Study you will learn of the creative examples of good practice provided by a unique ‘small town ‘ club Rosenborg Ballklub that bases its philosophy around the Norwegian word ‘Godfoten’ (Maximising what you have )and is exemplified by these features :

Recognises the excellent local grassroots football and builds a ‘finishing school’ for 15 year olds and older rather than a ‘starting school’ for 7 year olds! Providing therefore a supplement to local grassroots football rather than a rival or alternative to local grass roots football Uses funding provided as a result of continued entrance into the UEFA Champions League in order to provide facilities for local clubs, coaching clinics for local coaches and regular talent centre coaching for players within their catchment area Develops links with two local High Schools to provide education for almost all of RBK’s 15-19 year olds and maximise access time to provide an intensive 3 or 4 year programme of 8 practice sessions per week for all 15-19 year olds Provides a Bi-annual written SWOT Analysis, based on Match Analysis Date and a subsequently agreed written Action Plan for each player Uses previous RBK first team players to mentor 15 - 19 year olds in the RBK- culture. Previous first team players also coach the players. All of these coaches have the necessary examination from the Norwegian F.A.

BACKGROUND

Rosenborg Ballklub (RBK) is a Norwegian club in the city of -population approximately 150, 000, within the region of Trondelag.Founded in 1917 they won their first

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League Championship in 1967 and their first League and Cup double in 1971.From 1992- 2004 RBK won the Norwegian League in 13 consecutive seasons.

They have qualified for the UEFA Champions League Stages for the past 8 consecutive seasons and their progress in this competition has famously seen them beat AC Milan in Milan in 1996, Borussia Dortmund away and Real Madrid at home.

Of the team that won in Milan in 1996, nine of the players had come through the Rosenborg system and the Norwegian National Team against Luxembourg in the Euro 2004 Qualifier contained 6 products of the Rosenborg system. Of the current Rosenborg starting 11 at least 5 players will be home developed.

In total 31 RBK-players have moved overseas since 1995. Among the 31 players, 11 are graduated in the RBK-model. Harald Brattbakk, , Ståle

Stensaas, , , Bjøre Tore Kvarme, , Jon O. Hjelde, Bjørn O. Bragstad, Fredrik Winsnes, Kåre Ingebrigtsen (ManC).

The most winning RBK-player, , has played for RBK since he was 18 years old.

PERSONALITIES

All independent observers would acknowledge the unique contribution made by in the success achieved by RBK over the past 40 years –first as a player in the 1960’s but then more substantially as a the Head Coach from 1988 until 2002.

The UEFA Coaches Circle Extranet was able to catch up with Bjorn Hansen who had been for many years assistant coach to Nils Arne Eggen.

Bjorn qualified as a teacher and had experience as a player in the Norwegian First Division. His CV includes the following aspects:

Club Coach

1979-1980: Strindheim 3

1981-1982:Stjordals-Blink 1984-present:Assistant Coach and Youth Coach –Rosenborg Ballklub

Norwegian Football Association 1989-90: Head Coach U- 15 and 16 1990-1: Manager Youth Department for U- 15,U-16& U- 17 1992-3: Head Coach U-18 & U-19 1994: Assistant Coach U-21 1995-98 : Assistant Coach Norwegian National Team 1998-00:Head Coach U-21 2000-2:Head Coach U17,U-18 & U-19

Bjorn holds the UEFA Pro Licence and is an experienced Coach Educator and Mentor for the Norwegian Football Association for the past 15 years

OBJECTIVES of RBK YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

To produce each and every year one player for the RBK first team To help all RBK players to maximise their potential so that if they are unable to make RBK’s first team they will be able to play for other professional teams in Norway.

PHILOSOPHY

The basis of Rosenborg’s success has been the level headed ‘family’ atmosphere of the club based on five key values of RBK which they outline clearly in club literature:

‘1.Our progress is the result of LEARNING and MASTERING Skills

2. Our objectives are the result of continuously improving PERFORMANCE

3. We are attacking and CREATIVE and work to find solutions

4. We have a TEMPERAMENT as well as a sense of HUMOUR

5. We are part of the COMMUNITY ‘

Bjorn Hansen has analysed the various aspects that contribute to the success of a club and its youth development. He would identify the following 4 factors as the key aspects in any youth development success:

Physical Technical Tactical

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Psychological Psycho-Social

Bjorn believes that RBK’s success has been in maximising the latter factor-Psych-Social. They may be marginally better prepared tactically (as a result of the playing style established by Nils Eggen but he believes the real point of difference of their development is their psych-social development as players and as a team.

Bjorn would highlight the following:

Key Values of RBK

Co-operation Tolerance Honesty Loyalty

Culture that defines RBK-which club members have in common Openness Enthusiasm Educating and Teaching each other Tolerance Being Positive Searching for Solutions

How we behave together:

‘I wish from the bottom of my heart that my team-mates will be as good as possible’ ‘Everyone has a fire inside them’ Everyone WANTS to contribute : no-one feels they MUST contribute’ ‘It is impossible to become the best ALONE –you can only be the best together with your team-mates’

One needs to understand the context in which this culture and values are perpetuated at RBK.Norway as a society has a very strong family and community tradition-built up over the years in a very large, mountainous but largely rural under populated country. The family, the village, and the town still maintain many the ‘glue’ of Communities that has diminished in many Urban European Communities. (Church attendance per head of population is for example amongst the highest in the EU)

RBK typify this culture of COMMUNITY and SELF IMPROVEMENT with their relationship of working very closely with local clubs and the District Football Association as well as National Organisations such as the Norwegian FA and the Norwegian Olympic Committee.

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RBK operate a wholly open and transparent policy of outlining to visiting coaches their current practices and philosophies-no secrets!

TALENT IDENTIFICATION

Football for 6-12 year olds is designated ‘Children’s Football’. Professional clubs are not permitted to sign players until they are at least 13 years of age.

RBK fully support these regulations and the spirit behind them. They look upon RBK as a ‘finishing school ‘ of the work done by local clubs.RBK fully support a wide Physical Education programme for all youngsters and encourage them to experience as many different sports as possible.

Unlike many other European clubs they do not wish to sign 7 year olds and do not believe in over specialisation only on football from an early age.RBK believe emphatically that the young player should stay with their local club as long as possible –the best example of this was Harald Brattbakk who did not start playing for RBK until he was almost 18 years of age.

As the nearest comparable professional club (Molde) is 300 km away RBK’s affinity with the local communities, it clubs and their players is not at risk from any likely competition for players’ signatures!

Indeed RBK’s policy has always been only to sign players who want to play for RBK: if a young player wishes to join another club rather than RBK then RBK will not stand in their way!

RBK of course keep a close eye on all local players by scouting matches and (in conjunction with the District Football Association)

There are 215 clubs in Trondelag with whom RBK keep in contact and they work very closely with the 53 clubs within the 20km of the city of Trondheim by providing the following services:

Since 1998,providing Grant Aid in total of over 2million Euros to assist in building facilities at local clubs

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Much of this facility provision is also in conjunction with local authorities and local sponsors The use of the RBK facilities at no cost –or discounted cost Visits of Coaches to help the coaches of local clubs and coaches forums at RBK as part of match day visits

This model as a wider ‘external’ Academy provides the best use of resources of RBK.Such a network recognises and values the work of local clubs by contributes and supporting local clubs.

STRUCTURE AND ORGANISATION

Players sign a contract at 16 years of In addition to the first team RKB operate two further teams: –a second (reserve) team which although it plays in the Norwegian 2nd.Division includes on average 8 Under 19 players, mixed with Senior players - and a third team which play in the 3rd.division but which are all 16-19 year olds. Staff: Academy Director (Per Winsnes )

- - 2 Full time coaches + part-time coaches - One full time Administrator

TECHNICAL PROGRAMME

Up to 15 years of age As part of the local grassroots club programme, young players will have between 2 and 5 organised practice sessions at their club These will be augmented by special talent training sessions at RBK on night a week during the winter as well as also coaching at RBK during the school holidays

15-19 years of age

Between 15 and 19 years RBK will have 25 players signed players. The majority of these players will be local and live at home and those living too far from

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home stay at a hostel provided by RBK.Currently (October 2005) 7 of the 25 players live in the hostel. The players attend one of two high schools in Trondheim (one providing a more religious based education).As a result of the arrangements agreed with the two schools the players receive 3 sessions a week at school provided by RBK coaches and the schools’ own coaches in addition to a further 5 sessions provided at RBK.This intensive programme therefore provides 8 practice sessions per week from 15-19 years of age All Endurance work at this age is now done with the ball as part of general training but utilising heart rate monitors and every session is required to include some aspect of speed work Sports Science Support is provided in conjunction with the Norwegian Olympic Committee

Quality Assurance: Monitoring Progress, Goal Setting and Action Planning

A major feature of the development of RBK players from 15 years of age is the system adopted to provide for every player: A SWOT Analysis twice a year detailing Strenghts,Weaknesses,Opportunties and Threats for each player This Analysis is the basis of a discussion with the player to establish a twice yearly Action Plan with goals agreed between the coach and the player. The goals are specifically outlined within an agreed time frame Much of the basis of the SWOT Analysis is based on data developed from Match Analysis In addition each player maintains their own training diary All young players are ‘paired’ with a mentor who, as a current or previous first team member is also a ‘torch bearer’ of the RBK culture. The culture is passed down and illustrated with stories and anecdotes

Tactical Education

On Nils Eggen’s return as Head Coach all RBK teams have followed a strict 4-3- 3 team script. A ‘Gospel’ of how to implement the 4-3-3 was developed by Eggen and his staff which is still in operation today The ‘Gospel’ outlines the defending themes and the 20 attacking themes and moves to maximise the effectiveness of this system Local club coaches are provided with the basis of these tactical themes and all players from 15 years of age are ‘schooled’ into this system.

Learning Philosophy

RBK’s philosophy requires the coach to set problems, ask questions and challenge the players: the players are therefore required to provide the solutions as they are not provided on a plate by the coach

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FACILITIES

Indoor Hall with artificial surface 64 x 104 metres 2 Grass Training Pitches 64 x 104 metres One outdoor 60x 40 metre artificial field Indoor Physical Training Hall and Gymnasium

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