Self on Soccer: West Ham United International Academy

Let's get back to basics and take a look at the past year. For me it's included visits to Albuquerque, Toronto, Wilmington, Minneapolis. London and Rome, GA. It's also include the chance to work with and observe West Ham Academy staff such as Paul Heffer, Nick Heycock and Tony Carr MBE. For him, it was a visit to Buckingham Palace to receive an MBE.

Essentially, the core of the youth system that has produced players from Bobby Moore to Frank Lampard, James Tomkins, Mark Noble and upcoming players such as Robert Hall. I can tell you just watching how Paul runs his sessions, the expectations he has and the clear direction he takes when working with players is the reason they end up so good. There are too many things to mention in one blog, but if anything stays with me, and would be worth sharing with young players and coaches - it would be these three things:

Paul Heffer and the team in Rome

1) The high standards expected of players - not just physically, but mentally and as a responsible 'person'.

2) The simplicity with which sessions are run. You don't see fancy cones or expensive equipment used for the sake of it.

3) The extent to which sessions are based on developing and 'grooving' techniques, especially without opposition.

Of course, there is a down-to-earth fun component too, but that is just experience telling a coach when and where to push or ease off. I'll mention quickly how important I feel it is to build in activities that allow players to step out and relax. Often coaches push to hard for too long - we're all human; one style all the time drives us nuts.

I wonder how many young players really enjoy playing - or is it because they think they have to. Many youth teams are driven by getting results. OI can see that happening when folks pay good money to have they kids play. That doesn't develop players. You could see the same issue in the English game for many years - teams get results by forcing errors and capitalizing on them. So we play a nice long ball over the top and have a couple of big strong lads chase it and see what they get (as the defenders panic). We have talked about the lack of technical ability across English players for years.

As for enjoying the game - soccer is a little different in the US - it's tough for kids to find opportunities to simply play for the love of it. My friend Paul, one of the key coaches at Mississauga Eagles grew up playing football in the streets around Upton Park. He played with his friends, many of which (like him) were at the Academy. Alan Curbishley was one of them. Imagine knocking the ball around the street with Steven Gerrard or Scott Parker, once you'd done your homework, of course. It's hard to replicate that. A lot of soccer around the world is simply working class, poor kids kicking a flat ball around in the dirt. That's how it starts. You just love it...

Back on track, Matthew...

So, I've put a little review together for you below. Sorry if it is too long to read while you sip your tea. Consider it a mini series and come back for more each day. Let's face it, millions what depressing soaps like Eastenders or Coronation Street. Reading this will spare you the shouting, internal and constant family politics, fights in the pub and other such depressing daily events.

Feb 2011 A week at the West Ham United Academy (see blogs back in Feb 2011...)

Doesn't get much better than that. A week waking up and seeing the Bobby Moore Stand out my window. Sitting next to Robert Green in the dressing room. Standing pitch-side as the ground fills and Liverpool warm up before we win 3:1. Of course, the magic was working with Paul and the Academy coaches at Littleheath and Chadwell Heath.

We lived and breathed West Ham for a week. Talked with Jonathan Spector, watched little Alfie steal the show, ate sticky toffee pudding and got to kiss the haloed Upton Park turf. One classic moment for me was the morning of the tour for the public. The group were walking upstairs while I ran down - in full coaching attire (including initials on the leg). It was fabulous - the group froze, I scooted a cockney 'morning' to the lot and bombed off. I escaped before anyone found out I was just Matt Self from Indianapolis but originally Essex...

I'm sad to say you could see the demise of the first team as Scott Parker ran past me to join the first team session. He'd been talking with Avram Grant. Grant stayed put - I wondered who was really running the show at that point.

Of course, making the pilgrimage back to 120 Wakefield Street is always a joy. Dad's name still cut into the brick wall. Tight, 2 up 2 down terraced house with 4 foot front yards and visible memories of where the bombs hit in during the Blitz.

Indianapolis, IN Indiana's first ever Player ID camp at the International School of Indiana

So, my neck of the woods - 70 players from the school and Indianapolis out for a chilly yet magic 3 day camp led by Mike. Players like Naim, Josi, Brian and Stefano from ISI would prove they were ready for the National Camp. Some great players attending, like Andy - a talented player and athlete who had such a great attitude and work ethic. You have to have that drive to stand a chance of making it.

Albuquerque, NM Player ID Camp with Rio Vista FC

Magic 4 days - beautiful place, great kids and serious altitude. It's Alejandro's neck of the woods - the place just makes you want to be healthy. We ran 4 days of sessions and I was impressed with the effort and application of all the players.

I appreciate you have the luxury of being a 'cameo' coach and the change for the kids is an advantage - Rio Vista has some committed coaches running a success partner club.

Mississauga, Canada and the Eagles Player ID Camp

A massive club stretching from the youngest all the way up to semi-pro. Josef is the guy with the vision up there. The club has an incredible membership and the first session alone started with 54 players. Luckily we survived, but not without the help of Paul and the team. I got to work with great kids like Matt Roberts. Very hard working and focused kids. Getting down to the National Camp for these players would be a stretch, but it was great to see those selected make it.

Vadnais, MN Player ID Camp in the 'bubble' with Minnesota Thunder

Back down to Minnesota - lovely stay in Saint Paul and the home town, Vadnais (which I could never pronounce) of Alex and Matthew. Both had attended the National Camp earlier in the year. We had a mixed group ranging from Cruz and Chaz, at around 8 years old to the older lads at 15. Alex's dad, Chris helped with the keepers - he's coached college soccer and gave great input. We played inside a air-pressurized bubble hiding a full size plus 6-a-side soccer field. It was massive - we could have run a ID Camp for 150 in there!

Wilmington, NC Player ID Camp with Cape Fear FC.

Back down to the south east and I find myself on the Atlantic beach in Dec with shorts and a t-shirt. Ran a 10K on the beach (note to self - bad idea when coaching all day...) - and worked with the players there, with the back up of Peter and the 'magic Scot' Tom. It was a blast - again, great kids and we worked them through all the academy practices. Interesting, the trick there was to get the players to not over-play. There was a tendency to keep passing, especially sideways and avoid the more direct ball forward. The players worked hard to get there heads up and move the ball up the field at the earliest opportunity.

Every place we've gone the example of Barcelona has been used. It's a team we aspire to become, yet at times it would be fair to say Barcelona are beyond what we are capable of. They keep and move the ball with such ease even teams like Manchester Utd find themselves backing off - rather than chasing the ball. Zidane was, as an individual, on the same planet - defenders would shadow him but not tackle as they could never get the ball. I guess you can afford to pass the ball 20 or 30 times before carving out an opportunity if you are so good the opponents can't get it. They just run themselves into the group chasing the ball OR sit back 'soak it up' and then lose out to a spot of 'Messi' brilliance. The rest of us are mortal - that ball is going to have to get forward pretty quickly or our 'over-playing' will draw our opponents up and on us - then we might be in trouble. It's just a personal opinion - but at the Academy technical proficiency alongside a more direct type of play is emphasised. Don't get me wrong - if Barcelona had the chance to split the defense with the third pass they would - they just remind me of a cat 'playing' with a mouse for fun - before getting the job done!

National Camp June 2011 Darlington School - Rome GA

An absolutely magic experience. One week of coaching at a premier location. Boys and girls from around the country being coached by the actual Academy coaches from West Ham United in London. Led by Tony Carr and Paul Heffer, a team of about 10 coaches worked with over 200 players and boarded at the school. Mike Kelleher was the mastermind behind this culminating event of the year. Players from this camp get selected to attend the Academy in London for a week. A trip of a lifetime and a chance to stand shoulder to shoulder with the players at the West Ham United Academy.

Above, right - one of the groups of girls coached by Tracy Duxbury.
Right, Paul Heffer - Assistant Director and Tony Carr MBE - Director - both with 30 years + experience of coaching developing 7 of the England National Team's squad who attended the World Cup in South Africa.
Below - a particularly lively bunch of lads at the camp - this was the celebrations after a 'end of camp' tournament. Right - below, the beautiful middle school and cafeteria building at the Darlington School in Rome, Georgia.