As mentioned in the first installment of this article, Jamaican football has a lot of potential. National team representatives Ricardo ‘Bibi’ Gardner and Ricardo Fuller exemplify this. Both play in the English Premiership, a league considered by many football experts as the most competitive professional football league in the world. In addition to that, Gardner and Fuller are both key players in their teams.  Only a few Jamaica-bred players have reached that status. This could easily change should Jamaican clubs decide to adopt the concept of youth football academies.

            In a football context, a youth academy is an institute geared towards training young players to become professional footballers. An academy is similar to a boarding school in the sense that the players live onsite and have the opportunity to stay with their families on weekends. Their days consist of attending classes (where they complete a normal high school curriculum) and practice sessions. This setup allows teenagers to have a balance between meeting academic requirements and maintaining the necessary focus needed to become a professional football player.

            Players traditionally enter an academy around the age of 13 and graduate by the age of 18.  By that time, they usually master the fundamentals of the game and have been thoroughly prepared for the rigors of professional football. How does this help Jamaican football?

            Establishing academies creates a system that ensures that a country and its clubs constantly produce new crops of good players. In other words, it guarantees the development of local football. Football academies increase the size and quality of the local talent pool. Given Jamaica’s relatively small population, most of the emphasis should be put on quality.

France stands out as a European country in terms of what football youth academies can achieve. French academies consistently produce new talents who are among the most coveted youngsters in professional football. From superstar veterans such as Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka to rising stars such as Karim Benzema, French youth academies have supplied elite football stars to every generation.

            One cannot talk about football development without mentioning South American giants Brazil and Argentina. Both countries systematically produce great football players. While their youth systems might differ from their European counterparts, they share common points. The common denominator is the organization of the young players’ day.  The players schedule is built around football training sessions. Players do not lose time commuting back and forth to practice.

            Examples of great football academies around the world include Ajax Amsterdam (Holland), Paris Saint-Germain (France), Arsenal (England), Manchester United (England), FC Barcelona (Spain), Tahuichi Academy (Bolivia), FC Sao Paulo and Gremio (Brazil). 

Stay tuned…