The HKFA Youth Elite Program End of Season Conference for the 2023-24 season was concluded on 10 June. The event was attended by a diverse group of stakeholders from accredited clubs, including Head of Youth Development, age group coaches, academy goalkeeping lead coaches and academy physical performance lead coaches.
The all-day conference was structured to cover a wide range of specialist topics. Key areas of focus included coach and player development, goalkeeping, physical performance, a review of the previous season, and suggested changes for the 2024-25 season.
One of the key highlights of the conference was the keynote speech delivered by Mr. Ian Buckman, Academy Manager of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club. Mr. Ian Buckman's expertise and insights into the operations of a professional club's academy offered invaluable guidance and inspiration to the attendees, showcasing the best practices for developing young talents.
Head of Youth Development of Hong Kong Football Club, Mr. Chancy Cooke, said the event was well-organized, the presentation content was clear and relevant to the coaches, and the timing of the sessions was good. He also mentioned that the presentation from Mr. Ian Buckman was also an inspirational way to finish the day. The right people in the right roles at the right time. He particularly like the quote “Park the ego” as it is especially true in youth development football, as the focus should be on the players, not the coach.
Academy Goalkeeping Lead Coach of Southern, Mr. Wong Tsz Him said the setup was professional. He appreciated the structure of the workshop, with the large room divided into three smaller rooms, each covering different topics with different guest speakers. He mentioned that the presentation from Mr. Ian Buckman was inspirational, which highlighted the importance of dedication, preservation, and patience from all stakeholders in developing a successful academy. He expressed hope that more football academies in Hong Kong can emulate the success of those in England.
U18 Head Coach of Kitchee, Mr. Poon Man Chun, Johnny said that this is a unique chance for us to learn from outside of Asia. He mentioned there are areas for improvement for Hong Kong to catch up to the standard of international youth football. He hopes that with the people in the room working together, the standard of Hong Kong youth football can get closer to international levels.
HKFA Technical Director, Mr. John Morling, expressed his delight in hosting the conference. “We appreciate our coaches’ dedication in coming together for this conference, even during a bank holiday, and we are truly grateful to have Mr. Ian Buckman share his expertise with us. We are also delighted to have the support of the HKFA Technical and Playing Committee Charman, Mr. Johnny Woo, and HKFA Technical Advisor, Mr. Kwok Ka Ming”
During his stay, Mr. Ian Buckman also presented to the grassroots mentors and a selection of coaches in the girls’ and women’s side on 11 June at the FTC which was also well supported.