Markus Paananen, the development manager of the youth phase of the football association’s sports activities, came across a strange problem when getting to know Finnish clubs: the girls’ side does not dare to test their own limits.
The modest success of the Finnish women’s national football team in the European Championships raised concerns about tomorrow as well: what does the future of Finnish football look like now that the top countries are leaping ahead at speed?
Back in the 2005 European Championships, Finland played in the semi-finals. Four years later, at the home games, the streak ended in the quarter-finals in the handling of England, who eventually reached the European Championship silver. In 2005, eight countries participated. The tournament played in Finland in 2009 was the first women’s EC final tournament, in which 12 countries participated.
In 2013, Finland was left in the first group. The European Championships played in Holland in 2017 were the first in which 16 countries participated, but Finland did not survive the qualifiers for the Games.
Helmarit returned to the EC green in England after a nine-year hiatus, but a lot had changed: especially the final battle against Germany in the first group showed where the world’s top teams are at the moment. Finland threatens to miss out on that development.
Development manager of the youth phase of the sports activities of the Finnish Football League Markus Paananen ran into a problem while touring Finnish clubs: in girls’ football, they don’t dare to take on challenges and test their own limits as widely as in the boys’ side.
– A concrete example of that is that in several regions it is difficult to get girls’ teams into the highest leagues of the Football Association. We feel that not all players are equally good or some are perhaps younger. We don’t dare to go, we are extra careful, Paananen describes.
The Helmarii who played in the European Championship have a similar background: many have played with boys or in a team older than them. Many are from teams where the coaches have a similar background and sports have played an important role in the family.
– The coaches have wanted the toughest series and the toughest tournament. If we win, that’s great, but if we lose, then we train a little more.
While visiting clubs, Paananen noticed that many places do not want to measure their own level due to the fear of losing. If, on the other hand, too easy series are played, the wrong kind of analyzes are made.
– Let’s assume that things are fine, although the level should be looked at against the toughest and the toughest should look at the level internationally.
Everyone is not afraid to take on tough challenges. Paananen, for example, raises FC Peltirummu from Kouvola, who represented MyPaa and HJK in his playing career Tuomas Aho prepare. The team won the bronze medal at the Laura Kalmari tournament last summer, and there have been several players from the team at youth national team camps.
– Coaches who have been successful in successful teams and in player development have had as a starting point that you have to be Motivating and therefore fun, but at the same time constantly measuring your own level. That should be the starting point in all the biggest clubs as well.
“There must be different expectations in a competitive environment”
Sports expert Pauliina Miettinen recognize the phenomenon.
– The problem is with the players, coaches and the system, Miettinen downloads.
– We think we train hard. But in Finland they don’t dare, they are afraid of injuries or that the gang will stop. The fact that you get a participation medal and it’s enough to participate is fine in a hobby environment, but in a competition environment there must be completely different expectations and requirements.
Miettinen’s teams have become known for hard work, and his coaching methods have not pleased everyone. He has successfully coached PK-35 Vantaa and Tikkurila Palloseura in the women’s main league. Miettinen has also worked with younger teams, and coached, for example, Honga’s B-girls to the Finnish championship in 2016.
Nowadays, he teaches kicking technique to the country’s top players as well as juniors.
According to Miettinen, the level of requirements must come from the coaches. If necessary, he cut the number of players in teams with a tougher level of requirements.
– When you choose a team, if you have to go on summer vacation trips and go to cat-christenings, then we go to the hobby side. When you are committed to the competition, it means that you are committed and you have to work.
Last year, a record number of girls and women played soccer in Finland, more than 37,000 enthusiasts. There is still a difference with the northern neighbors, as for example in Sweden the corresponding number last year was 93,000 and in Norway just over 100,000.
In Finland, however, only a handful of girls are willing to work hard to get to the top.
– Regarding the league, I would say that we have maybe 15–20 players who are ready to go to the very top. Practicing with the gang four times a week is not enough. That’s hours that you have to do in your own time. The average Olympic athlete trains four hours a day, says Miettinen.
One inhibiting factor can be found in the parents. Some parents are afraid that their children will strain too much during exercises.
– If I were to throw a hat, maybe 60-70 percent of all parents are like this. They come across in every team, even in the league, even though the players are adults. There are too many excuses and it is thought that the child needs to rest and have two days off a week.
Girls don’t have the same competitive will
One factor that hinders the development of girls can be found in the fact that many boys have a weaker competitive orientation. According to Markus Paananen, there is also research information on the matter.
– Huuhkaja-Helmaripolu conducts surveys of young players and they show a difference. In previous years, foreign teams have also participated, and their competitive orientation is even higher, says Paananen.
– In a psychologically safe environment, there is an excellent opportunity to increase competitive orientation without weakening task orientation. If we succeed in this, we will surely have even more players on the path from which we can strive with better fins to become professional players and Helmari of the future, Paananen sees.
Miettinen also recognizes the phenomenon. The teams he coached have always competed in order to awaken the competitive spirit in everyone.
– Boys are naturally competitive, but not all girls are. If it doesn’t come naturally, it has to be done artificially. Every game must have a consequence and a reward.
According to Miettinen, competition should be involved as a child, so that children also learn to lose and thereby develop.
– Many of the girls are perfectionists. When you strive for perfection and you don’t get it and lose, you don’t necessarily dare to leave.
– Girls and boys have a different world, a bit like Finland and America. Everything is the same in Finland, and if the neighbor has a better car, we think about pulling the tires. The Yankees think about how to work harder to get such a car themselves, Miettinen points out.
According to the coaches, coaching skills have developed at a rapid pace in recent years, and the reason for poor success is not found in coaching.
However, Miettinen urges to also look in the direction of the coaches, especially when raising the level of requirements.
– We should get more information and additional training so that we could better serve the players. We might still hang in the top 16, but for how long, we don’t know.
– When ten years go by, Albania and others who put money into women’s football will pass away. Holland and many have already gone. Small gambling operations are not enough, they have been done in this country all our lives.