Youth Football: Developing a New Generation

While the pros are garnering fame and headlines, a huge amount of work is going on in the background in the academies where the future is being shaped. And it is youth football that has been experiencing a fundamental transformation in recent years – both in the approach of coaches, as well as in infrastructure and methodology.

What constitutes a quality youth system?

Coaches – key drivers of development. Enthusiasm alone is no longer enough; quality coaching education (e.g. UEFA license) is essential. Personalities such as Pavel Řehák or Jiří Žilák are advocating for a modern approach in the Czech environment.

Background - top academies such as Sparta Prague , Slavia Prague , FC Slovácko or 1. FC Brno offer young players not only training, but also school provision, regeneration and mental support.

Competitiveness – from U6 to youth, children play regular matches, learn to handle pressure, win and lose.

Parental support – the right motivation, not pressure for results. The role of parents is often overlooked, but crucial.

Individual approach – every player is different. Modern academies realize that it is impossible to “push” children into a template.

Inspiration from the world: How do they do it elsewhere?

Netherlands (Ajax) – training focused on technique, creativity and “street football” style. Every player must be a footballer, not just a specialist.

Germany (DFB Academy) – emphasis on intelligence in the game and tactical versatility.

France (Clairefontaine) – one of the most famous academies in the world. Henry, Mbappé and Matuidi grew up here.

England (FA Youth System) – large investments in youth since 2010 have borne fruit at the U17 and U20 World Cups.

Emphasis on the mental side

Modern youth education is not just about technique and physicality. Players are taught to manage stress, work as a team and grow mentally . It is no coincidence that mentors and sports psychologists are now included in academies. The goal is not just to raise a footballer, but a whole person .

How to train at home?

If there is no team training, young footballers can work on their own:

Technique : 100 touches per day with both feet (e.g. passing the ball inside)

Coordination and stability : exercises with a ball on one leg, jumps

Creativity : watch videos of players like Phil Foden or Pedri , try to imitate them

Mental preparation : visualizing the match, imagining situations

Recommendation : training records – a young player can use their phone to record their own game and evaluate it

Youth role models who made it to the top

Adam Hložek (Sparta) – already a player in the A-team at the age of 15

Tomáš Vaclík (Vítkovice) – from Ostrava to Žižkov and to the national team

Jakub Jankto (Slavia) – a mature midfielder with international experience who left for Italy as a teenager

These are just some of the players who have come through the Czech youth system and shown that the path to the top is possible.

Be there - watch and support the new generation on BU1

On the BU1 portal, we focus not only on professional players , equipment , gloves or clothing , but also on players who play in the youth or student teams today and could be names on the front pages tomorrow. Follow the stories of young talents, interviews with coaches and behind-the-scenes information from Czech academies.

And if you are interested in academies from abroad, check out the academy of Austrian goalkeeper Mirek Kos. Good luck!