Over the past year, I have worked with 18 clubs to help players and their families understand whether university is right for them. Whether this is while playing or when they have been released, university is an option young males are attracted to. According to PFA figures, higher education is attended by over 600 of their members per year. However, I have first-hand experience of how a move into higher education can turn into a nightmare, and it is not the fault of the player.
A gift for you and your friends 馃巵
I have launched a four-part online course, which builds on the live sessions I have been doing in clubs. It is for young players and their families to engage with and gives a clear set of frameworks to assess whether university is right for you.
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"But they may as well take the extra training"
Research often flies in the face of "common sense". For example, we've all been told that practice makes perfect, so it stands to reason that the more we practice becoming a footballer, the more chance we have of "making it". Unfortunately, that is a very simple way of looking at things.
Do clubs have plans for their players?
It remains the case that in most academies, career planning is absent, leaving young players and their families vulnerable to clubs that, in many cases, also have not planned a player's career.
Do we medicate the fish or clean the tank?
I hear a lot of discussion about culture in clubs - clubs love to find "culture carriers" for their teams, but how often do they reflect on the environments that have given rise to certain cultures?