THE LOWDOWN EPISODE #65 - RESHAPING GERMAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT w/ MATTHIAS LOCHMANN

Germany has launched new regulations that will transform the way youth football is played in the country. The emphasis will be on a fun and a player-centred approach, with Ronny Zimmermann, DFB Vice President responsible for children’s and youth football, saying: “We need to think like children, not like adults. Only children who develop fun and joy in the game will stay in football.”

One man who has strongly advocated this change for a long time has been Matthias Lochmann, friend and colleague of the late Horst Wein who created Funino. The concept focused on small sided games and festivals of football which were a huge part of the DFB's latest restructuring. Doing less as a coach & players doing more, rules do the work for you, quality of session independent from the coach. You can start to see why there was an aversion to change over time. However through a relentless attitude, covering thousands of air miles and support from a few famous friends this change was realized. What ensued was a captivating conversation on where the future of the game is headed.

Among what we discussed included;

- Meeting Horst Wein for the first time.

- Detailed insight into the game intelligence approach.

- How to design an environment led by “rules of provocation”?

- Insights into how Hansi Flick incorporated the game intelligence approach within his Bayern Munich & Germany sessions.

- What are the common mistakes in youth development?

- Lobbying DFB head; Oliver Bierhoff for change and how it came to fruition?

Timestamps;

00:00 - 04:50 - Intro

04:51 - 13:39 - Funino

13:40 - 23:58 - Change

23:59 - 31:57 - Criticisms

31:58 - 41:09 - Hansi Flick

41:10 - 48:27 - Common Mistakes

48:28 - 51:59 - Advice