Individualizing Training in Talent Development - Squaring the Circle

Football, our nation's sport, is not just a passion but also a competition for perfection. In recent years, a paradigm shift has taken place, moving away from a uniform training approach toward tailored individualization for football talents. But the question arises: does this approach make sense when we only have 90 minutes per week available?

Football has evolved, and with it the demands placed on young talents. Simply being good is no longer enough — today's players have to stand out in order to be noticed. In this context, the individualization of training has secured a firm place. The DFB is now relying on personalized programs to support the specific needs of its talents.

But caution is warranted! We should be careful that this message does not arrive too broadly, and too generally, among coaches in the amateur ranks. The DFB's talent development typically begins at the U13 level and takes place under different framework conditions than training at one's home club.

But why is the DFB now taking a new approach?

The answer lies, on the one hand, in the unsatisfying output of recent years, and on the other, in the diversity of the talents themselves. Every player brings unique abilities and weaknesses. A rigid training program cannot do justice to everyone. Through individualization, coaches can work specifically on weaknesses while further building on strengths. The desired result: players who are more accomplished technically, tactically, physically, and mentally.

The Challenge: Only 90 Minutes per Week

The DFB's talent development takes place once a week, for 90 minutes, at the regional training centers. Around 20 players are supervised by an average of three coaches. This raises the question of feasibility. Football talents spend only a limited amount of time in this training-center coaching. Is 90 minutes per week enough to justify the individualization of training? An individualized training session involves considerably more effort than a standardized one.

Beyond their work on the training pitch on Mondays, the training-center coaches also have to manage their scouting work on weekends, and all of this is done part-time, on the basis of a minor employment contract (Minijob).

Quality over Quantity

Be that as it may, the 90 minutes may seem limited, but the quality of the training is what matters most. Through a precise focus on individual needs, players can make enormous progress in a short amount of time. Technique, tactics, fitness, and mentality — every element is meant to be specifically nurtured to enable holistic development.

In summary, one can say that the individualization of training within the DFB's talent development represents a challenge for the coaches, and there will certainly be major differences in implementation from one training center to another. Nevertheless, the modern football world shows that quality is often more important than quantity. The targeted development of talents through tailor-made programs can achieve remarkable results even within 90 minutes per week. The future of talent development undoubtedly lies in personalization — a development that can elevate not only the players, but the sport as a whole, to a new level.

What seems to be getting overlooked, however, in the course of the DFB's "new" talent development overall, is the limited capacity at the training centers. Because despite all the additional effort created by individualization, the training-center coaches are not being provided with any additional capacity.

As I already mentioned in my earlier post, X-Factor Coach, there is a lack of competence in communicating appropriately. With the more elaborate training approach, the capacity situation is further exacerbated. And in the end, it is the players who suffer the consequences.

Here too, perhaps well intended is the opposite of well done?!

I look forward to taking up another topic in talent development with you next week under my column "So schaut's aus" ("That's How It Looks"). Until then! Stay healthy, and always a good match!