FAI to launch centralised coaching scheme to rectify disparity

CENTRALISED COACHING SCHEME: The FAI will next month begin a centralised in-house national development training programme by assembling 250 of the best 14-17-years-old boys and girls at Abbotstown. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

The FAI will next month begin a centralised in-house national development training programme by assembling 250 of the best 14-17-years-old boys and girls at Abbotstown.

Association coaching staff will spend 45 days per year of tuition with the players during school holidays – October and February mid-terms, Christmas, Easter and an extended six-week summer block.

The intention of the programme – spanning from 9am to 5pm daily - is to bridge the contact time deficit between Ireland and similar-sized European competitors.

By trebling the existing syllabus, annual time dedicated to domestic talent across club and national programmes will surpass the equivalent of English Category 3 academies.

Within that section are clubs such as Luton Town and Bolton Wanderers, highlighting how Brexit rules preventing players emigrating to UK clubs until 18 has exposed the Irish system’s deficiencies.

The FAI were criticised for culling their Emerging Talent Programme (ETP) last October at a cost-saving of €700,000 and while some of that budget will be redirected to fund this latest initiative, like overnight accomodation for players travelling to Dublin, it doesn’t address the regional national curriculum for 12 and 13 years old disappearing.

Each of the age-groups will feature 25 players for both genders. Talent chosen at the start may not necessarily finish the year as continuous assessment of the 200 players will determine selection.

Pitches and meeting rooms at the national training centre have been block-booked for the year, with FAI high-performance staff complemented by managers and coaches of the international squads.

League of Ireland clubs have been made aware of the concept and flexibility will apply for male players already part of a full-time training environment.

For instance, it is not designed with players already advanced in mind, like Tottenham-bound Mason Melia, Michael Noonan or Cathal O’Sullivan. Unfortunately, they are a rarity. Only a small coterie of teens, barely into double-digits, are on full-time professional contracts.

Marc Canham, the FAI’s chief football officer, flagged the new venture five months ago when broaching alternative plans to the ETP.

“When you're talking about player development, there are three types of models in different countries,” he said.

“The first is a small country - really small - where the association runs that player development. You have a national academy where all the best players come and train every day.

“The second model is a bigger country like Germany, Spain or England. They have a really developed professional game and professional clubs, where their players train and they come to the international programme 40-50 days a year. Clubs take a lead on professional development.

“The third model is where we are at the moment – requiring a hybrid between us and the clubs.

“Over time, we want clubs to take more responsibility for that development but at the moment we need to work together.”