Delegates depart in high spirits

By Luke Williams in Potsdam

The 7th UEFA Youth Conference drew to a close today in Potsdam, Germany after three days of highly constructive activities and discussions on the theme 'What next for European youth football?'

Raft of issues
The conference events combined administrative and technical aspects, with a series of presentations and discussion groups addressing a raft of youth football issues. One of the purposes of the event was to help UEFA gather essential information and feedback for its future decisions on youth football.

Forum feedback
Attended by coaches and representatives from UEFA's 52 member associations, the final day began with a session entitled 'The future of Youth Player Development' in which feedback from Tuesday's UEFA Elite Youth Club Coaches Forum was outlined. The forum was attended by 16 youth coaches from 13 of the continent's élite clubs.

Discussion groups
The conference then broke into a series of groups to discuss what can be done to improve player development in Europe. Among other matters debated were the widespread concerns about how to improve the relationship between national associations and clubs, as well as worries that increased numbers of foreign players in many domestic leagues have been affecting the first-team chances of young homegrown players. UEFA Youth and Amateur Football Committee chairman Jim Boyce later presented feedback from these discussion groups for the benefit of the whole conference.

Fair play philosophies
Another highlight of the day's activities was Andy Roxburgh's presentation on the theme 'Fair Play - Who Cares?'. In a highly practical and thought-provoking address, the UEFA technical director stressed that respect – for referees, opponents, team-mates, coaches, rules, traditions and the game itself – is the key philosophy underpinning the concept of fair and positive play, and that maintaining the spirit of the game is the responsibility of coaches. "Ultimately it is how you played the game that counts," he concluded.

Closing ceremony
The conference ended with a review of the events of the past three days and a closing ceremony at which Boyce thanked all the participants, organisers, backroom staff and the conference hosts, the German Football Association, for their tireless work. "I think this has been a tremendous conference," he said. "We have had people from every association in Europe coming together, working together and socialising together. This to me is what life is all about."

Participants' reactions
The reaction of the conference participants from various associations across Europe was also that the event had been a rousing success. "What this conference does is it brings people together," said England Under-20 coach Les Reed. "There's no doubt that at international level people are far more willing to share ideas than on the domestic club scene and that's what this conference provides. These conferences allow people to get together meet each other and develop friendships."

'Great input'
Denmark youth coach Hans Bruun Larsen concurred: "Every time a lot of coaches and administrators from youth football are together, both from the programme and the informal talks you get a lot of great input. That's fantastic."

Spirit of endeavour
If one phrase encapsulated the conference as a whole it was arguably a saying from Japanese youth coach Koza Tashima that Roxburgh quoted on the opening day, namely: "Unlike the mountain top, the football top will not remain the same." Everyone present at the conference undoubtedly recognised that while so much has been achieved in the field of youth football, there is always more to be done. And it was in this spirit of endeavour and optimism that tomorrow can be better than today that the delegates departed Potsdam.