The concept comes from Switzerland: BVB boss Watzke criticizes the reform of children’s football

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Hans-Joachim Watzke (64) is not only director of Borussia Dortmund and vice-president of the DFB, he is also a major opponent of the reform of children’s football that has recently been implemented in Germany. For the little ones, this means, among other things, the abolition of results and tables, smaller playing fields, smaller teams and four mini goals. “Unbelievable and incomprehensible to me. If as a six, eight or nine year old you never feel what it is like to lose, then you will never find the strength to win,” Watzke lamented. And further: “If we are afraid that an eight year old will be completely out of balance gets killed because his team loses 5-0, then that says a lot about German society.”

The ‘Bild’ writes: ‘If the vice-president of the DFB dismantles the concept of his colleagues…’ Watzke has even announced a reform of the reform. Hannes Wolf was instructed to show alternative courses of action. However, the DFB director does not seem to know anything about this; at the request of ‘Bild’ he defended the new training concept. “In the new formats of play in children’s and youth football, performance is required and encouraged by the immediate feedback of winning and losing.”

The planned reform, which is causing so much commotion in Germany as a football country, can be described as the ‘Swiss model’. We have already introduced it.

“The new form of play has an incredibly positive effect”

After a few seasons as a pilot project with several clubs, the so-called ‘Play More Football’ concept has now been played nationally in Switzerland for a year. “I can reassure Hans-Joachim Watzke,” said Patrick Bruggmann, director of football development at the Swiss Football Association. “The new playing formats on smaller fields and in smaller teams have an incredibly positive effect. In this form of game, every child has to want to win, but they have much more contact with the ball and can experience much more success.”

The feedback from all parties is very positive. “The vast majority of children, parents and coaches are enthusiastic. “In addition, the children make greater progress in handling the ball this way.”

Smaller fields, four goals, fewer players, more ball contacts. Who invented it? Not the Swiss. About ten years ago, SFV delegations were in the Netherlands and Belgium to get an idea of ​​the training philosophy of these successful football countries. “We were already playing on small fields,” says Bruggmann. However, three against three on four goals was even the idea of ​​a German coach. But while his compatriots – just like Watzke – wanted nothing to do with it, the project was tackled, adapted and further expanded in Switzerland.

Watzke: “We will soon be playing without the ball.”

“Play More Football” is played in tournament mode, goals are counted but not recorded anywhere. There is no ranking, so there are no promoted or relegated teams. Watzke complains: “Soon we’ll be playing without the ball. Or we’ll make it square so he doesn’t run away from the slightly slower youngsters.”

Bruggmann’s closing words: “The sporting development of the children weighs more heavily than the result. We want children who are motivated and do not lose their joy in football. These types of games are ideal for that.”

Source : Blick