EPFL Workshop on Youth Development

Falkirk's Head of Football Development Ross Wilson (right) attended the EPFL Workshop on Youth Development in Cologne last week on behalf of the Scottish Premier League.

The event followed the recent study on Protection of Young Players and Training Clubs and the relevant launch of the EPFL Recommendation on Recruitment, Training, Education and Protection of Young Players.

The initiative was primarily aimed to promote best practice on recruitment, training and education of young players, as well as the protection of under-aged players in the international football context.

Ross said: "The EPFL conference on youth development was very interesting and the agenda covered a number of themes which are pertinent to our game in Scotland currently.  

"Discussion was held concerning the current legislation regarding the status and transfer of players, including the age at which players should be permitted to move both from and within Europe while the protection of minors was another extremely topical issue.  

"Simon Patrik from UEFA also spoke on the current requirements for club licensing at youth level and how these requirements were likely to change in the future. FC Koln then presented the structure of their academy and, along with some of the other delegates at the conference, I then looked closely at the player recruitment structures existing within FC Koln. 

"The issues currently being discussed at European level are almost identical to the issues that we in the SPL discuss on a monthly basis - it was extremely interesting to listen to the viewpoints of other countries."