Buy the perfect book for parent and child, CLICK HERE
Ajax has a long and rich history of playing attractive soccer. They also are known for their youth program. Why is AJAX different? How come AJAX produces talented players? What is the basis for AJAX youth program? and how can it help you to become a better soccer player? Find out.
This review is based on the history of AJAX. The actual numbers might be changed at any time. The principles, however, stay the same and has led AJAX to become one of the best team in the world.
The History Of AJAX
AJAX was founded in 1900 by 3 gentlemen; Han Dade, Floris Stempel, and Karel Reeser. In the early years, AJAX began to win national titles and cups. The KNVB (Dutch Royal Soccer Union) decided about a hundred years ago to establish a youth division. AJAX was one of the first clubs to take notice of the youth division and expanded its youth clubs about 90 years ago. After its expansion of youth teams, AJAX flourishes in the period 1929-1939.
AJAX Culture
Almost 100 years ago, AJAX established a commission. This commission noted the importance of its first-team players and prominent members to be engaged in the youth teams. These pillars of the club had to direct youth teams and take charge.
The club encourages volunteers to engage with the club to make sure that nothing is left to chance. Engagement is encouraged among volunteers, while it is demanded amongst its professionals. The chief financial officer (CFO) knows the ranking and results for the under 12’s, while the coach for the under 12’s knows the results for the under 18’s.
Traditions are kept and celebrated to encourage comradery and being part of history. Every year the youth teams are officially spoken to by the president of the club.
Rules & Regulations
As AJAX is a professional organization, its youth program resembles slightly as a military boot camp.
- The AJAX uniform must be worn in a certain way (socks must be worn all the way up, shirt tucked in, shinpads must be worn, no earrings during practice and games).
- Youth players are forbidden to participate in indoor football games.
- Soccer boots must be cleaned before entering the changing rooms.
- No drinks in the shower
- Players can be substituted if they show bad sportsmanship
- Any cost resulting from bad behavior are paid by the pupil.
Organization
AJAX’s youth teams are that important, that in 1992 AJAX was divided into 4 equally important parts. 1. Professional Soccer, 2. Youth division, 3. Finance, 4. Commercial. Of these 4 parts, the director of professional soccer has a limited duration. While the directors of the other 3 parts have a contract of indefinite duration. The 4 parts of the AJAX organization keep each other in check.
In 1963, the member’s council (ledenraad) became the most important part of the organization. The member’s council consist of 24 chosen members. These members are chosen from about 270 members, these are honorary members and members of merit. The 24 members of the member’s council are voted in during the general meeting. council members are chosen for 3 years, every year about 1/3 of the council members resign.
AJAX’S Youth Program
The real diamond of AJAX is its youth program. Although everybody sees Frenkie de Jong, De Ligt and Van der Beek, the youth program is the engine behind the result of AJAX’S youth program. (Note that de Jong only joined AJAX when he was 19 years old and AJAX coaches doubted de Ligt, as he was found to slow and not in great shape).
The youth program of AJAX started really in the second part of the 1970s. During this time the decision was made to only have 1 team per age year. Every team has roughly 15 players. The teams start at age 8. There is a clear divide between the professional and non-professional teams. Age 15 and older are seen as professional, while below 15 is non-professional.
The Dutch youth national teams consist of about 30-40% of AJAX players in the under 18, 17, 16, 15, 14s
The culture of the club shines through at the youth division. Professional youngsters train 4 times a week, get shoes, and receive tutoring at the club. Furthermore, youngsters get picked up with the AJAX bus from school and brought home. It is important to note that AJAX is not a boarding school for the youngsters. AJAX wants their young players to grow up with their own family, friends, and neighborhood. This is done to make sure the players can rely on their own social environment.
What Does AJAX Look For?
Globally youth soccer requirements are divided into 5 major age blocks ( 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15, and 16-18). Every age group has a specific set of criteria. Beyond these criteria, AJAX focus on
- work ethic
- focus on versatility
- control of the ball in different situations
Beyond these qualities, AJAX is looking for captains and representatives of the club. The team-captain, for example, has an influence on the starting team.
Selection Procedure
Looking at the AJAX youth program, a couple of items are significant. AJAX has only a limited amount of positions available. Furthermore, AJAX likes its players to stay in their own environment. That why AJAX only looks for players within the Amsterdam area. For 8-9 years olds AJAX looks for talents within a 30 km radius, for 15 years old players the radius is about 100 km. This is about 2 hours of travel time.
For foreign talent, AJAX is even more sparse. Youth players from other countries could have difficulties adjusting to the culture, making it more difficult to become a professional. AJAX has only about a dozen external scouts, mostly in Africa (south), Scandanavia countries, and South America.
AJAX Is Looking For TIPS
TIPS is the acronym for
- Technique, especially control fo the ball
- Insights, this is more in the way of “street smarts” (gogme)
- Personality, AJAX is looking for players with focus, flair, coachability, drive and compatibility within a group.
- Speed, turning speeds, starting speed, quickness of handling of the ball.
AJAX also organizes talent days. To avoid unwanted intruders, players have to live in the area, have the right age and have to believe in themselves. If accepted within the club, players are only admitted for 1 year. After 1 year a review will determine if the player stays for another year. Within this year, injuries and technical data are recorded. 2 times a year players are judged according to more than 30 criteria (within these 30 is TIPS). On different dates, conversations are held with the players that sheds light on the future of the players. The player can be classified within 5 classes (1) stay (2) doubt/stay (3) doubt; (4) doubt/leave (5) leave.
Every player is placed in one of the 5 categories above by the head of scouting and the director of the youth program. When there is doubt the captain can be asked for advice. To avoid disappointment or surprises, coaches share their opinion frequently after practice.
Ajax is offering a full education scholarship. The odds of playing in the first team are slim. The quota that AJAX wants to achieve is 15 youth players playing in the first team every 10 years.
Playing Within A System
One of the most famous attributes of AJAX is its way of playing. AJAX wants to play attractive dominant football. While the way AJAX plays is based on teamwork and position play, the focus is on technique. AJAX philosophy is based on the thinking that technique will win at the end. Before learning the AJAX way of playing, the technique has to be in order. Technique, in the AJAX perspective, consists of quickness of handling and take the right decisions to utilize the technique in the proper order. These decisions are when to hold on to the ball, when to dribble, and when to pass, etc. Using the proper technique and making the right decisions shapes the basics of AJAX.
The technical staff makes an analysis of the game played. This analysis forms the basis of “how the practice is being conducted after the game”.
The decision to create its own style was made in the 1970s. During this time all youth teams had to play the same system. The youth teams are familiar with the style of the first-team and as such youth players can be part of first-team seamlessly. AJAX plays in a 3-4-3 system during the possession of the ball. When the opponent has the ball the team adjusts itself to the opponent and fixed agreement. The numbers on the back of the shirts are fixed. This is done os that the youth players can look at the first-team and can from their number.
Endurance and Strength
Starting from age 8 to about 13 years there is half an hour per week that is spent on running technique. After puberty, the physical aspects are becoming more important. This means strength, running and acceleration training. Furthermore, there is an emphasis on injury prevention. There is an exercise method that focuses on soccer movement that AJAX employs. This method targets the groin area, lower back, and abs. Music is played while students perform exercises to improve flexibility, coordination, and dexterity.
Playing With The Big Boys
To develop mental resistance younger AJAX teams play against older teams. Teams are put into competitions that are 1 or 2 years older. This concept of maturing teams is also put into practice with individual players. One example is Dennis Bergkamp.
Dennis Bergkamp was found to be too weak and not mentally strong enough in his youth. Coaches changed Bergkamp’s position from an attacker into a defender. This made Bergkamp more aggressive and mentally stronger. After this transformation, Bergkamp was put back into the attack.
Individuals are being coached on their specific position on the field and outside the field. Media training is provided and (former) first-team players and referees are often invited to speak with youngsters.
Medical Guidance And Educational Guidance
The medical staff consists of a general practitioner, about 4 physiotherapists, a masseuse, 2 rehabilitation coaches, 1 surgeon, 1 ophthalmologist, 1 psychologist, 1 exercise physiologist, 1 dietician and, a dozen of physiotherapist interns.
The dietician lectures about healthy food and drinks. furthermore, tests are conducted that include blood values, fat percentage, eye-sights, strength, speed, and coordination.
There are 4 members that are known as the study and guidance commission. These people make sure academic results are being kept up. Furthermore, the members are to make sure players are not overloaded. There is a direct communication between the club and school. Players are being reminded that their chances of becoming a professional are slim. Teachers are present at the academy to catch up when players are caught up with soccer-related activities. On foreign trips lasting more than 3 days, school books are taken and a teacher is on board to support the students.
Importance Of Parents
The parents play an important part for the players. Ajax looks for parents to have the following attributes
- support when times are bad
- to downplay when times are good
- take into account that next year their child might not play at AJAX
AJAX talks to the parents to be a role model for their child. Abusive behavior is not tolerated. Parents are also not tolerated to interfere into technical and tactical aspects of their child’s game. More than half of the AJAX player has an above-average school grade. About 50% has a brother or sister, 25% has 2 siblings, 10% is an only child, while 15% comes from a big family. A lower percentage of AJAX player comes from a family with divorced parents (than the national average).
In Summary
AJAX youth program has many factors that are based on Dutch culture. Players are encouraged to stay within their social environment. Furthermore, players are being kept in check. The youth player has to be proud to be a player of the club. As the youth players play in the same formation as the main team, there is a strong connection in the club between youth and adult teams. There is a lot of influence of first-team members on the youth players, lessening the gap between pro-players and youth players. The AJAX youth program is an open place. There is open and honest communication between coaches, parents, and players to ensure that players know what he is up to. Players are reminded that there is more to life than football.