EDITORIAL
BY ANDY ROXBURGH, UEFA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Every top footballer was once a grass- roots player. Each one progressed through the development stages of free play, organised activity and, when their talent was identified, into serious, delib- erate practice in a club environment.

FC Barcelona’s homegrown talents Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta and Carles Puyol went through this process, devel- oping their technical skills and the qual- ities which would define them as peo- ple and sportsmen, such as hard work, cooperation and humility. Their youth coaches emphasised the difference between the life of a performer and that of an individual, and they matured into modest, dedicated professionals with their feet firmly on the ground.

In contrast to many of today’s young people, the Barça trio did not live in the virtual reality world of computer games and internet sites. For them it was the real world of football, with all the life issues which go with it – learn- ing about themselves and relating to others.

All youngsters have faced the same challenges: developing self-con- trol, confidence, courage, adaptability, and commitment, and improving their ability to engage with those around them – all human qualities which for the last decade psychologists have labelled as emotional intelligence.

For those engaged in grassroots foot- ball there is a message here: improving young players technically is one challenge, but contributing to the youngsters’ personal development is also a fundamental goal. Through football, grassroots coaches can have a major impact on their players’ emotionalbehaviour, helping them to be opti- mistic, in control, able to handle con- flict, focused, cooperative, competitive and socially integrated.

Grassroots foot- ball’s potential role as an educational, social vehicle cannot be underestimated, and needs to be promoted vigorously for the benefit of young people, society and the game itself. And a numberof top professional players can help by providing a reference point for human qualities which make a difference in the game and in life itself.

Think of loyalty, and Manchester United FC’s Ryan Giggs and AC Milan’s Paolo Maldini immediately come to mind. The Welshman and the Italian have remained faithful to their first club, their first love, and are shining exam- ples of devotion and dependability. For bravery, look at Petr Cech of Chelsea FC or Eduardo da Silva of Arsenal FC. Both have recovered from serious injury (the former from a fractured skull and the latter from a horrific broken ankle) and with praiseworthy courage continue to face frontline dangers. Two goalkeepers with a social conscience are Spain’s Iker Casillas and England’s David James. Real Madrid CF’s No. 1 went to Peru to help disadvantaged children in the days following his triumph in EURO 2008, while the Portsmouth FC keeper, apart from being an ambassa- dor for the Special Olympics, has created a foundation in Malawi to help local farmers and needy teenagers. And if it’s work ethic, then look no further than Steven Gerrard of Liverpool FC or Wayne Rooney of Manchester United FC; or if it’s quiet confidence then Alessandro Del Piero of Juventus and Andrei Arshavin of Arsenal FC will fit the bill. The ability to be both competi- tive and cooperative has immense value, and FC Internazionale Milano’s Javier Zanetti is a role model in this respect. The quiet-spoken Argentinian is also well-known for his charity work, and his message to grassroots leaders is unequivocal: ”There must always be values at the heart of sport, and this is what we have to teach our children.”

A tiny number of the estimated one billion grassroots players worldwide will realise their dreams and play pro- fessionally. But vast numbers can gain immeasurably by being part of the foot- ball experience, whether as a player,
a coach, a referee, an official or a fan. Learning about the game and expressing yourself on the pitch is great – learning about yourself and improving your human qualities as you partic- ipate is even more valuable. Spain’s European champions Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta and Carles Puyol are too humble to even consider them- selves as role models, but there is no doubt that they have developed some positive personal qualities which young grassroots players would do well to emulate. Trying to equal or surpass their technical skills might prove a bit more difficult.