1. The Reality of Body Stature Differences in NZ Youth Football
“My child is just small…” This is likely a common worry for parents residing in New Zealand. As a multicultural nation, significant differences in body stature are a reality in NZ youth development. Specifically, children from countries in Asia, including Japan, often tend to be smaller.
However, the most crucial thing here is to avoid the pitfall of accepting body size as a reason to give up or make excuses, thinking, “It can’t be helped because my child is small.”
Small size can become a powerful “weapon,” depending on the strategy employed. This article will outline strategies for fostering the “intelligence” and “technical skills” in your child that will provide a significant advantage in the future.
2. Shifting Strategy: Moving Away from Reliance on Pure Physique
Players who are physically large can often dominate through sheer physical advantage during the youth phase, but this carries a significant risk.
The Danger of Relying Solely on Physique
A style of play based only on physical dominance will cease to be effective when the growth phase ends and others catch up in size. While physique is important, it only truly works when built upon the foundation of “technical skill” and “intelligence.”
I have seen countless players who excelled physically as primary school or high school students but failed to make the cut as adults. They became overly reliant on their current physical advantage without honing other skills during their development years.
“Future Weapons” for the Smaller Player
Since smaller players cannot win purely through physique, they must shift the battlefield and learn to win with their minds.
- Weapon 1: Precise Technique and Decision-Making (Intelligence) Body difference necessitates the development of “intelligence,” such as anticipation, insight, and cunning.
- Encourage the habit of always moving one step ahead of the opponent through superior positioning and pre-reading the game.
- Weapon 2: Advanced Ball Control
- Thoroughly hone fundamental skills like precise ball control in tight spaces, which will remain valuable even when they grow bigger later on.
A memorable quote comes from the long-serving Japanese player Kengo Nakamura: “Hone the technique so that the opponent cannot touch you.”
There are professional players who mastered the art of avoiding physical confrontation altogether, conquering the professional world through superior positioning and speed of decision-making, rather than fighting a losing physical battle against bigger opponents.
3. Deep Dive into Technique: The Secret of Using the Body Without Relying on Power
It is a misconception that “a small player lacks power, leading to weak shots.” Body size and raw power are not everything.
For instance, I have seen with my own eyes Spanish players who, despite their small stature, delivered precise and powerful passes and shots. They understood “how to use their body” and “how to transfer power to the ball.”
Generating Great Power from a Small Frame
A powerful shot is not about upper body strength.
- Awareness of the Axis and Efficient Core Utilisation: The power for shots and passes is generated from the rotation of the core and hips. Even with a small body, mastering this efficient kinetic chain allows players to transfer significant energy to the ball.
4. The Role of Parents: Transforming Negativity into Positive Drive
- Guidance that Avoids Excuses: If your child starts using size as an excuse, don’t just sympathise. Instead, prompt their critical thinking by asking, “How do you think you could have won?”
- Praise the Process: Focus on praising the process of technical execution and decision-making—not just the result—by saying things like, “That was good judgment in that situation,” or “You used the technique you practiced.” This builds confidence.
- Support Finding a Unique Role: Help your child find a unique way to shine in the team, even if it’s not as the top scorer. Roles like the assist provider, playmaker, or defensive anchor are vital and require intelligence, not just size.
The “intelligence” and “ingenuity” fostered during the youth phase are not only an advantage while small but will become the most crucial tools in their future career.
5. Conclusion
Do not lament body size. Instead, use this time to help your child develop the “essential weapons” that can only be truly honed now. Their intelligence and technical skill will pave the way for a brighter future.
Glocal Football focuses on crucial football elements like “positioning,” “body orientation,” and “situation awareness,” regardless of player size. We also incorporate coordination training in every session to help players gain complete control over their bodies.
If you are interested, please join us: https://www.glocal-football.com
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