Two years ago, I attended a lecture given by an FA Coach with the Technical Director of Ajax America Barry Hulshoff. Barry had grown up in Ajax, played for and coached for Ajax. 

At one point, he leaned over to me and said, " Ajax would not be an Academy in England. They do not have a covered pitch, nor a child welfare officer ( both presented as something necessary to be an academy) and they would not agree to limiting their older teams to so few games - with no standings."

The FA web site tab on elite player development has not been updated since 2003...

posted by: Benjamin Ziemer 

As well as maximising footballing opportunities for all, The Football Association plays a lead role in encouraging, promoting and nurturing the talented players of tomorrow. 

The game's future, from a domestic point of view as well as from the perspective of a successful England senior side, depends upon ensuring that the best young players are given every opportunity to fulfil their talent and potential.

At the heart of The FA's commitment is the Charter for Quality programme, which ensures best practice in terms of the coaching and education received by young players. As part of the Charter for Quality, all Premier League clubs must have academies and all Football League clubs must have Centres of Excellence. In the past, youth structures at clubs were fragmented and inconsistent.

This section sets out the progress made in implementing the structures to ensure that the best young players have access to the highest standards of coaching and education and that England continues to produce players of the highest calibre.

Setting Standards

The Charter for Quality is The Football Association’s programme to ensure and guarantee that the development of the country’s best young footballers meets the highest possible standards. By building on the best traditions of this country and learning from techniques employed abroad, The F.A. has built a framework of excellence which is being put into practice at clubs up and down the country.

After considerable research undertaken by The FA Technical Department, it became obvious that the following issues had to be addressed if the potential of England’s young players was to be maximised:

• Elite young players require a development process to protect and nurture their special talents.
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• Technical development cannot, and should not, be viewed in isolation of the player’s overall educational and social welfare.
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• Effective school/home/club links.
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• F.A. Premier League and Football League Clubs need to have more access to the very best players.
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• Young gifted players are exposed to too much competitive football and too little practice time.
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• Enhanced facilities coaching and medical provision is required.
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• Competitive matches as part of an integrated development programme.

• Better qualified coaches to work with elite young players.
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• Compulsory in-service training a requirement for a Club’s staff.
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• The registration and screening for all staff together with specific training regarding Child Protection.
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• The registration of gifted young players carries a responsibility for the Clubs to provide expert tuition, medical provision and educational support.
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These key issues formed the basis of the recommendations agreed by the Council of The Football Association in November 1997 involving the creation of licensed Football Academies and the enhancement of licensed Centres of Excellence. The arrangements should mirror the current best practices for gifted musicians, artists and outstanding athletes in other sports.

FA web site