Football NSW host successful TSP Mini-Tournament
Football NSW has concluded two days of high level boy’s youth football with a Talent Support Program (TSP) Mini-Tournament for Under 14 and U15 players at Valentine Sports Park this past week.
Featuring five TSP hubs from Metropolitan Sydney and two TSP hubs from country NSW, the event was part of Football NSW’s ongoing efforts to provide development and identification opportunities for potentially talented players.
The Tournaments enabled Football NSW Technical staff to observe and benchmark players and TSP hubs in a tournament setting while also allowing them to observe trends across the playing groups so as to further inform coach and player development throughout 2020 and beyond.
Football NSW’s Player Development Manager – Boys, Drew Taylor was impressed with what he saw.
“Building on our commitment to provide greater opportunities for both players and coaches to have greater opportunities to develop and showcase their talents, these tournaments form an important part of our games program as part of the Talent Support Program.
“We have taken a player-centred approach to our TSP that is focused on providing high-level learning opportunities within game environments.
“It is pleasing that many players demonstrated a good understanding of the key behaviours we are looking for, and which are linked to the national playing style.
“What was also both pleasing and interesting to see was players adapting to tournament style football in the hot conditions.”
“With more TSP Tournaments scheduled for April, May (Coast Cup) and July, which will all include Hyundai A-League Academy clubs, other Member Federations TSPs as well as the Future Matildas squad, these are a great chance for players to further showcase themselves in front of National Team staff, while also providing a great opportunity for technical directors and coaches in NSW to both observe high level football and engage in the workshops that we facilitate as part of these tournaments.”
Key FFA staff including Under 17 National Team Head Coach Trevor Morgan and Assistant Coach Michael Cooper along with and Boys Development Manager Kevin Grima, were also present across the two days, with Morgan and Cooper delivering a workshop reviewing their recent Under 17 FIFA World Cup Campaign with the Joeys and this presentation was attended by various members of the local football community including NPL and Association Technical Directors.
Trevor Morgan was philosophical with his approach at the seminar and offered a wonderful insight on what was happening at National Team level.
“We believe the National Team program is first and foremost about the players. Identifying and promoting the talent, providing education and support services to foster the development of these players is key.
“Everything about the partnership between FFA and Football NSW in this area is focused on the players.
“Obviously this is the first tournament of several this year, and the environment is right for players to show their talent.
“Many boys we saw in the last two days will no doubt be challenging for National Team representation in the near future.
“It’s important that NPL clubs are aware that we attend these days with expectation of finding talent.
“The TSP and Elite Games program provides players with the opportunity to excel and be identified in addition to consistent top-level performances for their club.
“The fruits of the labour are the four players from NSW based NPL clubs who represented Australia in the AFF U’15 Tournament in Thailand and the AFC U’16 Qualifiers in Vietnam late last year.
“We look forward to attending further Talent ID activities at Football NSW, continuing to work with Football NSW TSP coaches and players.”
The workshop delivered by FFA staff was well received by those in attendance providing a further link between Associations, NPL clubs, Football NSW Talent Support Program, State Teams and the National Teams unit.
Football NSW Technical Director Warren Grieve hyped that the TSP tournaments provided a great platform for further developing players within the system.
“The TSP tournaments are one part of bigger picture approach to player development.
“We will have a much greater focus on supporting individuals and providing them sound environments to develop.
“We will work closely with the Associations and NPL clubs to ensure there is a greater understanding of what types of individuals we are looking for related to the National Playing Style.
“As stated many times before, coach development and player development go hand in hand. It was fantastic to see so many Technical Directors and coaches give up their time to attend the Under 17’s World Cup Review.
“It was very well received and we hope that they will go back to their own clubs and provide the coaches with not only a greater understanding to an individual approach to player development but will also provide them with the tools to be able to provide a first-class training and playing environment.”
Representatives from Football Federation Australia, Football NSW, Hills Football, Canterbury and Districts FA, St George FA, Eastern Suburbs FA, Southern Branch, Southern Tablelands FA, Sutherland Shire FA, Marconi Stallions, Manly United, Inter Lions, Spirit FC, Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Mt Druitt Town Rangers, Macarthur Football, Bossley Park SHS and Westfields SHS all attended what was a well run workshop.
