Study Group Scheme benefits the game

UEFA's innovative Study Group Scheme (SGS) – in which Europe's national associations exchange technical expertise and information for the common benefit of European football – continues to thrive, with three recent events demonstrating the programme's objectives.

Spain hosted a seminar on elite youth football, attended by representatives from Austria, Germany and Serbia. A women's football seminar was staged by Denmark, with Andorra, Norway and Romania the visiting countries. Women's football was also on the agenda when Sweden welcomed Austria, Germany and Belarus.

In the Study Group Scheme, an initiative of UEFA President Michel Platini and in which all of UEFA's 54 member associations are involved, federations visit one another to share knowledge, experience and best practice in four areas – coach education, youth, women's and grassroots football. The goal is to facilitate the greater exchange of technical know-how and raise pan-European standards.

The aim this season is to focus on specific topics within the four main areas, instead of providing more general information. The key idea is early active communication between the host and visiting associations to ensure the specific topic and content of each visit. An early announcement guarantees that visiting groups can select the appropriate specialists, whose role will enable them to disseminate information gathered when they return home.

The seminar in Spain centred, among other things, on presentations and discussions concerning the youth set-up, national teams and youth competitions of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), as well as youth football at FC Barcelona, Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC. Participants also watched a series of youth training sessions.

"UEFA's initiative to have an exchange programme whereby national associations can share knowledge and experience related to such important issues as coaching and women's, youth and grassroots football, is one of the highlights of UEFA's educational efforts," said RFEF technical director Ginés Meléndez. "Trying to benefit as much as possible from these opportunities, the RFEF is [also] sending its best technicians to participate in Study Group Scheme seminars abroad."

"Without this project, this intensive on-site exchange in all areas would not be feasible," added Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) sporting director Willi Ruttensteiner. "I am therefore very grateful to UEFA."

The women's football seminars in Denmark and Sweden were equally fruitful. The host associations presented their philosophies at national and club levels, and visiting FAs responded in kind by spotlighting their women's football programmes and development. With countries keen to improve player development pathways, both player education and talent development were discussed, along with the promotion of girls' and women's football, and visions for the future in this flourishing sector.

Once again, each association welcomed the Study Group Scheme and embraced its objectives. "We are very glad to participate," said Danish Football Association (DBU) technical director Peter Rudbæk. "Over the years we have used the scheme to take coaches to other countries, where they have got a lot of inspiration from the four topics in the programme."

"The UEFA Study Group Scheme is important and a part of the development of Swedish football," reflected Per Widén, head of the technical department at the Swedish Football Association (SvFF). "It gives us the opportunity to ask what, why and how other countries develop."

Anatoli Novak, head coach of the Brest region in the Belarus ministry of sport and tourism, agreed. "We had an opportunity to see, hear and learn from the experience of such successful women's football associations as Germany and Sweden, as well as to ask questions and share opinions."

Associations of all sizes are profiting from the scheme. "For a small association like ours it's essential to visit and observe other associations, to see how they work and which aspects could be of interest to us," explained David Rodrigo Lo, technical director of the Andorran Football Federation (FAF).

Representing Germany – a symbol of success in the women's game – was the German Football Association's (DFB) technical coach Tina Theune, who said: "We would like to thank UEFA for the opportunity to take part regularly in such a productive scheme.

"The concept of having four different national associations exchanging views and experiences is even more efficient than a large-scale conference. The fact the hosts are 'obliged' to reveal many of their internal structures and educational content means the guests respond likewise, which is beneficial for all concerned." Knowledge is power, and more technical exchange means more power to the associations, and therefore to European football.