Could we learn some lessons from the French soccer development process? Here is some food for thought. This transcends soccer!
At Clairefontaine – National Training Center for French Football Federation
Emphasis on experimentation and creativity not matches. Access to top coaches
Value on unstructured play
7 year olds play no format larger than 5V5
No child slotted into one position until teenage years
Individual technique emphasized through age 16 over tactics
Coaches need to be quality demonstrators
Yelling at players not tolerated
All training must be fun