“The best academy in Europe"

"Is not the richest, the biggest or best-equipped...it is cramped pitches & short of space” Welcome to Feyenoord voted the best youth academy in the Netherlands for the fifth consecutive season.  
http://t.co/YA3ff8Dzyz

Research reveals importance of visual support in team performance

Ahead of the new season, clubs in the Sky Bet Football League are calling for fans across the country to create a ‘Wall of Colour’ at their side’s opening home league match by wearing home shirts, scarfs and even, for the loyal, body paint.

The call comes after research from performance coach Jamie Edwards found fans showing their support through the club colours has ‘a greater impact than traditional vocal support alone’.

Full article http://buff.ly/1s4RJr1

WFA Founder Raymond Verheijen discusses Coach Education and Football Periodisation with Ricky Master Coach.

In this podcast Ricky Master coach and Raymond Verheijen discuss Football Periodisation, World Cup 2014 muscle injuries and why coach education is important for young coaches entering the game.

Listen to Podcast

To get information about Raymond Verheijen's Football Periodisation USA courses Subscribe Here.

Raymond Verheijen and Guus Hiddink.

FIFPro Study reveals 1 in 4 professional players suffer from mental health problems

Symptoms relating to depression and anxiety are highly prevalent among professional footballers, according to a new mental health study released today by the World Footballers' Association FIFPro.

The research conducted by FIFPro's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vincent Gouttebarge found 26% of active professional footballers suffer from depression/anxiety, compared to 39% of cases studied among retired players.

"Contrary to popular belief, the life of a professional footballer has some dark sides," said Dr. Gouttebarge.

"FIFPro's study, the first of its kind on a global scale, becomes the basis for the international football community to develop and implement optimal strategies to protect and promote the sustainable health of professional footballers."

"Former professional footballers report more mental health problems than current players, endorsing that the period just after retirement from professional football is a critical one for many players."

"We found mental illness among former professional footballers occurs more often than in other measured populations." (Bultmann 2002; Korten 2000; King 2008; Schaal 2011)

FIFPro, with the assistance of six member unions from the Netherlands, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, USA, Australia and New Zealand, measured over 300 active and former professional footballers. Using well-recognised and validated questionnaires (i.e. scales), the study measured outcomes ranging from distress, burnout, anxiety/depression and low self-esteem to adverse health behaviours covering alcohol consumption, smoking and general nutrition.

Two former international players who endorsed the study, Chris Jackson (New Zealand, 60 caps, 1990-2003) and Jonny Walker (USA, 3 caps, 2004), both agreed to share personal details of their own struggles with mental illness.

KEY FIGURES: ACTIVE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS

• 180 active professional footballers participated, of which 60% were playing for a club of the highest national league at the time of the study.
• 26% of active players reported suffering from depression/anxiety and adverse nutritional behavior.
• 19% reported adverse alcohol behaviour.
• 3% reported having low self-esteem.
• 7% said they were smoking
• 5% reported signs of burnout and 10% were found to be in distress

KEY FIGURES: FORMER PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS

• 121 former professional footballers participated, of which almost 65% spent the majority of their careers playing for a club of the highest national league.
• 39% reported suffering from depression/anxiety
• 42% reported adverse nutritional behaviour.
• 32% reported adverse alcohol behaviour.
• 5% reported having a low self-esteem
• 12% said they were smoking
• 15% showed signs of burnout and 18% were found to be in distress

Dr. Gouttebarge said professional football is littered with psychological pitfalls for the players. "Once the players stop with intensive physical activities they lose their structured life, their social support by trainers and team mates diminishes, they need to find their place in 'regular' society, and find another occupation. Consequently, they are likely to experience some mental health problems during this period."

MENTAL ILLNESS NO LONGER TABOO

By proving scientifically that mental illness in football is widespread, and higher than normal among former professional players compared to other studied populations, FIFPro hopes to increase awareness and acceptance on a subject which was once taboo. As Dr. Gouttebarge explains, the veil on mental illness has been lifted and there is no need for players to suffer in silence or fear recrimination should they choose to come forward.

"Football stakeholders have a collective responsibility to remove the stigma associated with mental illness."

"All players, whether active or retired, can learn optimal behaviours and coping skills to manage the symptoms of mental illness."

Several physical and psychological stressors were explored in the study such as severe injuries (training or competition absence for more than four weeks), surgeries, life events (death of a family member) and (social) support from trainer and team mates. All these aspects were self-reported by the players.

Of the 180 active players who participated, a total of 174 severe injuries were reported of which 31% related to knee joints and 12% ankle joints. Seventeen [17] percent reported having three or more serious injuries. In addition, active players reported a total 170 surgical interventions from which more than half related to knees and ankles.

Dr. Gouttebarge said, "When it comes to any health problem, be it physical or mental, over the short or long term, the minimum standard is to raise self-awareness of players about these issues. They need to be aware of what might occur during and after their football career."

An acute lack of scientific data about mental illness among professional footballers has been a driving factor behind FIFPro's global undertaking to establish a new benchmark in this field. Dr. Gouttebarge said the next stage is to gather more data across a variety of countries and continents to add to this important body of work which represents a significant breakthrough in protecting and promoting the sustainable health of professional footballers worldwide.

Study: Mental Illness in Professional Football

DrillBoard's Linkedin Group Passes 5,000 Members

We're excited to announce Drillboard's Soccer Coach Central Group on Linkedin has just reached 5,000 members, and on the opening day of the NSCAA Convention to, a great way to start what promises to be an exciting 5 days in Philly.

A huge thanks to everyone who takes part to make it such a vibrant community for soccer coaches all around the world.

New members are always most welcome, visit the link below to sign up:

Soccer Coach Central by DrillBoard on Linkedin

DrillBoard Selected as Top 100 Creative Company for Export

We are delighted that DrillBoard has been selected to join a new taskforce set up by the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to promote the UK’s Top 100 Creative Sector Enterprises.

The drive to help the UK’s creative companies win high value contracts overseas was launched today by Business Secretary Vince Cable.

The Creative Industries HVO (High Value Opportunities) Taskforce aims to win £500 million worth of high value overseas contracts in the next three years.  The initiative is part of a government plan to get 100,000 more UK businesses exporting.

Companies in the taskforce include DrillBoard, Wolf Ollins, Populous, Mother, AKQA, Zaha Hadid Architects, The British Museum, and the V&A, with expertise encompassing transport, healthcare, retail, cultural developments and global sports sectors. 

Each company in the taskforce will have its own international expansion plan and participate in a minimum of two overseas visits each year to target high value projects.

They will also receive training, support and networking opportunities directly related to these high value opportunities from UKTI and work with International Trade Advisers to identify the projects they are most qualified to bid for.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said:

“The growing appetite for British design offers many opportunities for innovative firms of all sizes to boost their overseas trade and attract new investment. Collectively the creative industries already generate more than £36 billion a year for the UK economy - £70,000 every minute - and employ 1.5 million people.

“From airport interiors to ground-breaking medical devices and design exhibitions, the creative industries account for around £1 in every £10 of the UK’s exports and are crucial to building a stronger economy. With new support from UK Trade & Investment, we want to help creative SMEs access more high value supply chain opportunities across the globe."

DrillBoard Founder and CEO Tim Gentles said:

"UKTI have put together a fantastic framework and we are excited to be involved. We have always taken an international view, it's in our DNA and we're very much looking forward to working with other companies in the taskforce, in particular, to help build upon the tremendous success of the 2012 London Games."

UKTI’s High Value Opportunities (HVO) programme focuses on 100 projects worldwide each of which are over £500mn in budget value and where the UK can compete for at least £250mn. UKTI's ambition is to help UK businesses of all sizes secure, through the programme, £10bn of contract wins in 2013/14 and £10bn in 2014/15.

Formula for World Class Performance

"Better Today Than Yesterday
Better Tomorrow Than Today"

Sport Psychologist Simon Hartley's simple formula for World Class performance.

See the video from Be World Class.