Firstly, after 28 years without a World Cup, just to be there is a positive. After each tournament it is natural to reflect on our performance.
In the last 40 years we have qualified for 8 tournaments (4 World Cups and 4 Euros). In those 24 matches we have only managed to score 2 goals in a game twice, and we have never qualified out of the group stages in our history.
As a passionate fan and lover of football, I am bemused why we constantly ask why after tournaments, but never make any changes.
We have all heard that the famous quote, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results,".
That is exactly what we are doing.
I believe there are a number of factors why, and I hope to do a blog on each, but as a youth coach my passion is on developing youth players.
We cannot keep asking why Scotland does not produce enough creative, composed and technically excellent players if the earliest experiences we give children do not encourage creativity, composure or technical excellence.
That is the starting point. Before we look at elite academies, coach education, training methods, league structures, national teams or professional pathways, we need to look at the foundation of the game: grassroots football.
If we get the base right, everything above it has a better chance of improving.
The first step should be simple:
smaller games, smaller pitches, smaller goals, and rules that support development.
Children need more touches, more decisions, more 1v1s, more goalscoring chances, more defending actions and more involvement. Too often, the game they are given is too big, too adult-led and too focused on results.
At young ages, the game should fit the child. Small-sided games and futsal naturally create more repetition, more pressure, more transitions and more problem-solving moments. Players cannot hide. They are constantly involved. They have to pass, dribble, shoot, defend, move, scan and make decisions.
Delay the process to 11v11 by 1 or 2 years and start with small sided games with a focus on developing players and creating an environment where the children can play freely and express themselves.
Like other nations, I would start at 2v2's and have any many kids playing as possible. High intensity, and tiered based on ability and physicality rather than age. Let the kids play instead of overcoaching.
Progress to 3v3's before transitioning to 5v5's and 7v7's.
In my opinion, the current pitch sizes and goals at the first years of 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11 are actually having a detrimental impact on players development and levels of enjoyment. They also favour more physically developed players ahead of technically gifted and intelligent ones.
Rule changes could support this too: look at retreat lines, include offsides, no goalkeepers picking up pass-backs and kick-ins or dribble-ins. Current rules reduce the amount of decision making from the players and can create problems further down the line.
In my mind, the result will be more intelligent and technically efficient players tgat are capable of playing at the highest level nationally and internationally. It should also result in a different type of player being scouted with more emphasis on technical and intelligent players?
Throughout the year, in particular in winter, include futsal. I believe futsal should be in every school and more involvement at grassroots and academy level. Futsal provides different challenges with the ball, surface, and reduced space. Futsal is a vital tool in developing players in South America and Europe with the very best players coming from futsal backgrounds. We would be crazy to ignore it. France are also investing millions into the game, despite being one of the best nations currently. They are doing so based on evidence and data and want to keep developing as a nation.
These changes are all about making our game better. Not enough children love football right now. They love the idea of being a player, but not many love the game. That has to change and we need to find a way to have children enjoying having a ball at their feet again.
If we want more skilful, brave, intelligent Scottish players, we need to create environments that demand those qualities from the beginning.
Fix the foundations first, the rest will follow.
