CASE STUDY No. 4

UEFA COACHES CIRCLE EXTRANET CASE STUDY No. 4 CASE STUDY Number 11: An Integrated Youth Academy created by two neighbouring Dutch Premier League Clubs CASE STUDY NUMBER 11 An Integrated Youth Academy created by two neighbouring Dutch Premier League Clubs (A Brochure-only in Dutch - outlining this project is also available on the UEFA Coaches Extranet) 1. Background and Summary In Eastern Holland the area around the town of Enschede is somewhat remote from the rest of the Netherlands. Although only 5kms from the German border the two professional clubs that dominate the region are FC Twente ( TW) and FC Almelo Heracles (AH).These two clubs are 20 km from each other but the nearest other professional club-in the first division - is 50 kms away and the nearest current Dutch Premier League club is Vitesse Arnhem which is 90 kms from Enschede.In effect therefore the two clubs – FC Twente and FC Almelo ‘Hercules’ serve a regional population of 600,000 and are isolated from the rest of the Premier League clubs in Holland FC Twente have traditionally been a team in the highest Dutch League ,the ‘ Eredivisie ‘.They reached the final if the UEFA Cup in 1975 and after beating Juventus in the semi- finals, lost to German side Borussia Mönchengladbach in the finals Almelo Heracles (AH) has traditionally played more often in the league below the Eredivisie which in Holland is known as ‘Eerste Divisie’ AH were promoted to the Eredivisie in 2005. Historically TW have therefore been perceived as the bigger more successful club, spending longer in the top division. For 30 years the two clubs have ‘talked ‘about co-operating and indeed in 2001 some from of co-operation was attempted at the highest professional level but this was found to be ineffective Nevertheless the spirit of co-operation prevailed and in 2002 an attempt was made to co- operate with regard to scouting youth players This proved to be successful and led to the initiation of an Integrated Youth Academy between the two clubs for the 2003/4 season with the approval of the Dutch FA (KNVB) as a ‘pilot’ project for three years. The project was reviewed by the KNVB last season ( 2005/6) and the KNVB have given their full approval to the scheme to operate from the 2006/7 season In Holland Youth Academies are subject to a grading system controlled and inspected by the KNVB against criteria agreed with the clubs. The grading system operates over 150 criteria and produces a final grade 1- 4 stars. For the 2006/7 season the TW/AH Integrated Youth Academy has achieved the highest 4 Star grading from the KNVB: previously Almelo had only had a two star rating 2. Purpose and Benefits The overall belief behind the project was that the region itself was unlikely to be able from TWO squads of 18 players per club ( 36 players in total ) to produce each year a sufficient number of professional footballers of the quality required to play in the top Dutch League What was happening was that young players were being signed on at each age range in each club to ‘make the numbers ‘ up to support the few players in each club who had the potential to be professional players 2 The Benefits therefore of the Integrated Academy are seen to be : - For the Players: Only the most promising players are given contracts thus not developing false hopes in players who were only ‘making up the numbers’. The best players get to train with the best - For the two major Clubs : The Academy still connects and relates with the surrounding regional community but the clubs now obtain a more cost effective return on investment in youth footballers. All players get the benefit of enhanced quality coaching - For Local Junior Club football: Less disruption as only 18 players per year are not playing local club football - 3. Structure The name of the Academy is ‘The FC Twente Academy ‘ .It is located in Hengelo 20 kms from Almelo.TW are responsible for the organisation of the Academy .TW pay 70% of the costs of the Academy and AH 30% TW have the first opportunity to sign players as professionals for FC Twente. Almelo have sold the training ground previously used for their youth development TW incorporated some of the AH staff to work in the TW Academy The kit of the Integrated Academy incorporates the red of TW and black/white of AH to produce red /black striped shirts and white shorts The Integrated Academy has links with over 120 Junior Clubs in the region. These clubs are exclusively linked to the Academy : these clubs receive funds if one of their players is signed by the Academy 4. Programme The players join the Integrated Youth Academy from 11 years of age. The details of the number of sessions are shown in the table below : Age Range Number of Training Sessions Number of competitive (11 a- per week ( Average 90 minutes side) games per week against per session) other Academies Under 12 3 1 Under 13 5 1 Under 14, 15,16 and Under 17 6 1 Under 18 and Under 19 7 1 The Academy teams all play 1-3-4-3 from Under 11 to Under 14 ages and then 1-4-3-3 in the Under 15, and Under 16, teams. Different formations are purposely used in the 17 and Under 19 teams to provide different problem solving opportunities for the players.1-3-4-3 is preferred at the younger ages to allow maximum ‘diamond’ support opportunities for the player on the ball –on either side,infront and behind the player in possession FC Twente believe in providing a total football education and do not ‘profile ‘ players into positions at an early age in the way that other Dutch Youth Academies do. The Academy Director and all the staff have developed a ‘Quality Handbook’ which outlines for staff : 3 - Objectives of the Academy at each age level - Functions - Processes and systems The ‘Quality Handbook’ is not a prescriptive ‘bible’ for staff but rather as a Check List to maintain quality and consistency as well clarifying expectations throughout the Academy. All Players in the Under 17 and Under 19 teams have their own Work Books where they are required to record the work they have done and note their own self reflections All Players and parents receive 3 written reports per year from the Academy 5. Academy Director and Staff The Academy Director is Erik Ten Hag- a former player for many years at FC Twente and also De Graafschap, RKC, FC Utrecht .He is also the Assistant Head Coach With regard to the Academy he is assisted by two overall Coordinators and there is a designated coach for each team 6. Results Other Dutch Clubs are now looking at the ‘Integrated Academy concept and whilst at FC Twente ,the Integrated Youth Academy is still very young- nevertheless 9 of the current first team squad of 22 have been developed in the Academy and 3 first team graduates can be already be credited to the Integrated version of the Academy: - El Ahmadi - Brama - Gerritsen ‘ 4 .

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