Success in coaching seems to come naturally to those exposed to the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson. Alex McLeish, Gordon Strachan and Mark McGhee are among the pre-eminent survivors from the Pittodrie era, but their methods are more orthodox than those of one erstwhile clubmate.

Jockie Lawrence signed for Aberdeen as an enthusiastic schoolboy in 1983 and spent three seasons training with Ferguson's celebrated squad. As part of a youth team attacking trident with Joe Miller and Paul Wright, the Banchory native won two BP Youth Cups before he was deemed too small for first-team football. His senior career continued briefly at Brechin before their unwillingness to allow him leave to care for his cancer-stricken mother ended his league involvement.

Now 40 years old, Lawrence harbours no regrets or bitterness. Instead, as a franchise holder in Simon Clifford's Brazilian Soccer School network, the Lumphanan resident has channelled his efforts into changing the way football is coached in Scotland to ensure ability takes precedence over physique.

"If I had something like this 25 years ago, I don't know what kind of a player I might have been," says Lawrence, his Scots Quair accent inflected with humour, enthusing over Futebol de Salao. "I'm not the biggest, but I was quick and always had a little bit of skill so, when I first saw a DVD of it being played five years ago, I knew I could take to this."

The game from which futsal is derived, de Salao employs a small, heavy ball with little bounce. Matches are rarely more than four-a-side with the emphasis on enjoyment and getting as many touches as possible. The sight of a soaking wet waif on the touchline nowhere near the action is anathema to the ethos.

"It's all about the ball," insists Lawrence, who coaches more than 900 kids a week in 24 different centres in the Aberdeen area.

"It teaches the kids to work on their first touch, and because it sticks and drops at their feet, they move it quickly and their passing and ball-striking improves because of the weight. Now, when they play with normal balls, they ping and zip them about beautifully."

The success of the school has vindicated his decision to leave his job as a white-line operator in Aberdeenshire Council's road department two years ago. Last month the school was voted the best of around 450 franchises worldwide for the fourth consecutive year.

Such achievement has also been recognised by local senior sides with Aberdeen, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Peterhead all taking note of the ability of players trained in the de Salao style and inducting them into their own youth set-ups.

The Pittodrie club have gone a step further by employing Lawrence as a coach at under-10 level, but he is constrained by the routines and exercises dictated to him and unable to offer his particular expertise.

Suspicion of change remains ingrained in the Scottish game.

"The Aberdeen scouts are saying they can pick out a de Salao player," says Lawrence. "They can spot the touch, vision, confidence and movement that they all have, but that's all down to the type of ball they are using. If the clubs acknowledge that, then we can work with them.

"We get knocked down by people who think we're all flicks and tricks, but we've played schools and boys' club teams and proved we're more than that. I tell people to come and see it before they slag it off, and we've tried with the SFA, but they're old-school and don't want to change. They've got their own ideas, but sometimes they should have a look outside and be more open. I think this would make a difference."

It is certainly doing so for kids in the north-east. Not content with enhancing their football education, Lawrence ensures the coaching is affordable. At £4 for an hour-long session, parents are as happy as the kids, with discounts for repeat attendees and families on benefits adding to the munificence.

"I try to be fair to everybody," admits the father of two boys, both of whom attend the schools.

"People keep telling me I don't charge enough but I'm in it to coach kids and try to change things, not make money. If the kids enjoy themselves and learn, then that's the important thing. If I can keep them for 10 years, some will make the grade. If I get four or five into senior football, I'll be chuffed to bits."