The Football Association (FA) is working on a “key measurement” system which will gauge the performance of England teams beyond match results and tournament progression.
Talking at the FA’s Connecting the Game Coaching Conference earlier this week, technical director Dan Ashworth, under-21 coach Gareth Southgate and several development executives laid out their plan to achieve chair Greg Dyke’s ambition of winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
While Ashworth told delegates that Dyke’s aim was
"absolutely achievable", the FA’s strategy of developing better players and coaches, as well as a coherent, effective way of playing through all levels of the England team meant measurement had to go further than the black and white of results, tournament qualification and tournament success.
“Something we’ll be able to share in 12 months time is some key measurements about how players are improving compared to our worldwide counterparts, and how our teams are improving compared to our worldwide counterparts,” said Ashworth . “It’s not just the score, and it’s not just numbers of qualification. We’ve got to look beyond that.”
The former West Bromwich Albion sporting director said that the education of coaches would also be measured in a more holistic way than just the just the number of qualifications that they had earned.
Ashworth said that while it was “more difficult” to assess how FA-devised coaching methods and qualifications affected coaches and players, a method of measurement should be in place over the next 12 months.
“Over the next few years you’ll see a lot more emphasis on the FA helping you in your workplace,” added head of FA Education Chris Earle, addressing an auditorium full of coaches. “There’s mentoring, there’s digital platforms - lots of different ways to help you coach, whether you’re grassroots or with the England national team.”
Ashworth added that the creation of St George’s Park was crucial in the development of a philosophy, from the under-15 teams through to the seniors, and pointed to the scarcity of international fixtures and meet-up sessions to highlight the necessity of “making the most of every single game and training session”.
The technical director and Southgate were flanked by head of performance services Dave Reddin, who was a key member of Clive Woodward’s backroom team when England won the Rugby World Cup in 2003, and was also part of Team GB’s 2012 Olympic triumph.
Reddin’s remit is all about the marginal gains, covering leadership and culture development, strength and conditioning, nutrition and talent identification. He will also help implement Ashworth’s plan to create position-specific coaches for the teams.
It all works towards Ashworth’s blueprint of “maximising the time” and solidifying the “England DNA” - building a consistent message from the grassroots up.
“If every age group of England looks different we have no chance,” he said. “The importance of having principles of playing, principles of coaching radiates throughout the team. It’s important to have a joined up pathway.”
