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I totally agree. I am watching games where the strategy is "play the long ball and have forwards try to pick balls from the air or run them into the goal". Passing in the mid-field is NOT allowed for fear of losing the ball. This cannot be good for development. Where is the pressure coming from? Is it from parents who will only stick with a winning club or is it from Club Management?
SL.



Looney, if you have a kid who is involved in a training atmosphere as you've described my recommendation is to run like the wind if you expect him or her to develop into a top level player.

The game is ALL about possession, defending and finishing. That requires individual technical ability, vision, anticipation, athleticism, movement after passing the ball and above all desire to out work your opponent mentally and physically.

Any program playing the long ball 90% of the time and bypassing the midfield is making the game about as boring as one can imagine. Such a style requires no creativity on or off of the ball. Sure, you'll lose the ball more in the midfield, but that's why you play with four defenders and one of many effective midfield formations to recover quickly to guard against the counter attack when the midfield isn't bypassed..

Find a club/coach that'll emphasize simple touches and movement and you'll see the development of a faster pace than you can imagine. Players who understand how to let the ball do the work by keeping the game simple are the ones I personally enjoy watching. Anything else, slows the game down and generates countless turnovers.

Pretty certain what you've describing is actually taught by few these days, because the coaches/trainers we've had over the years each emphasize what I've outlined. Ultimately, it's up to the player to decide to play simple, with vision and anticipation, but someone has to teach them how to do it.

And to the point of winning at all cost with the strategy you've described, I personally see no developmental benefit in being on such a team. Do your homework by watching teams play before you go to tryouts. If the style isn't what will develop your kid, then go elsewhere.

Put the time into locating the right training environment and I think you'll be very pleased with the outcomes on a the personal and team levels.

Imagine. Believe. Achieve.