Given the freedom to develop - Joe Cole

As one of his generation's most technically gifted players , Joe Cole must've been a coaches dream. Pass, control, dribble & shot he had a locker full of skills. With ball mastery the height of youth development these days, his blueprint is one to observe. But wait. In the first stage of cole kicking a ball, there wasn't an academy insight. There were no structured training nights and no coach giving direction. Up until Joe was 10, it was him, his mates a ball and wall.

Hours of 'figuring it out' were done. Kick, watch, touch and repeat with no path the same in repetition. Granted, over time the refinement meant he could repeat technical movements, but then he'd think of something different to add to his arsenal. This relationship with the ball created an understanding that many his age at the time wouldn't have experienced. In the early development phase, 'coaching' interventions can sometimes prevent a player from knowing how the ball behaves. More crucially, it hinders them getting to know how they should interact with the ball spontaneously. It has to be said, more parents of young players want their children to be technically better with the ball.

AVAILABLE?: Joe Cole was wanted throughout his career.

Grassroots club training nights (we've seen this) can be too reliant on running drills, ladders & chutes. The ball should be a young player's best friend. Joe Cole's home life supported freedom of expression. His parents being guides for life but distant observers when it came to his football. Postgame pep talks were consistently in the same vein of well done.

Well done boy, brilliant today.

George (Joe's dad) - to Joe Cole after games

When Cole eventually got invited to train with pro clubs, the circus began. As soon as word got out, clubs from all over the country descended on his pocket of London. Liverpool, Manchester United and West Ham first to seek Him out. The brilliant thing about all this was Joe's parents weren't by his admission, 'football people'. Without being swayed or romanticised by club badges or; invites', they did the rounds.

Ultimately, it was Joe who'd decide where he wanted tom to play football. His love of the game was sparked by the summer of 1990. Gazzamania was in full swing. After watching his first match on TV, Joe Cole wanted to be a footballer. Paul Gascoigne captured the hearts of England and started the razzamatazz of the modern-day football business. Taking a keener interest in the game, Cole started to aspired to the likes of Dennis Wise & Andy Townsend.

Without structure and governing body protocols, he was offered all-sorts of  'treats' to try and win favour. On one occasion the mighty Manchester United invited him to the Cup Final. Having attended the Cliff training ground in Salford, he couldn't help but be impressed by the surroundings. His heart was set on West Ham though. Harry Redknapp had done the trick. The West Ham manager had let the frenzy around the young ballplayer play out. He stood at an astute distance, reassuring his parents and not smoothing Cole like the rest. Even though Joe had signed schoolboy forms, clubs still 'enquired'.

It wasn't long before was to gain national recognition. The FA National School at Lilleshall requested Joe be part of their intake. For Cole, this was a welcome 'get-out' removed him from potential negative situations where he lived.

It took me out of where I was living, away from some of the bad influences and it put me into a structure.

Joe Cole - to football4football

The prestige of the invite soon wore off when the technical prodigy had to carry drills based around the FA led Charles Hughes model based on 'probability' and stats. Long balls, crosses and by-passing midfield phase of play meant the school, felt like detention. He couldn't wait to graduate. Once back in the surroundings of Upton Park Joe become a focal figure in the Hammer's youth team. Their academy had already produced the like of Rio Ferdinand Micheal Carrick and Frank Lampard. They'd all go on to be top-class players.

The academy

Cole needed to set his mark. His young teammates set out to win the FA youth cup. It was the biggest prize on offer to these apprentices of the game. Cole's team were on another level.

Confirmation of this was when they beat Coventry 9-0 over a two-legged final. This would be a feather in the cap for those players and validation of the foresight Harry Redknapp had in Cole's genius. Within months of the victory, Joe was in the West Ham first team and lighting up the Premier League with cameos of brilliance.

The underlying theme in all this is educated distance. Distance, to try, experience and grow. Coaches, parents & pro clubs can be guilty of overbearing. Mainly through fear for the child but also fear for themselves. Children, footballers & plants all need room to grow. Water when required and prune if the direction is lost. The results can be beautiful.