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.
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.
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?
We, as family members, can continue to pretend that running out in front of 40,000 people is a pleasure, or we can be realistic about the challenges that confront our kids in this brutal world.
"But we have the data, why wouldn't we use it?". You can only use data if you know how to handle it.
Reading this article made me realise the need for people like me (and others, of course) to rally against such populist writing.
Last week, I chatted with a representative from Benfica about their academy. There are some valuable lessons for us all to take from that chat.
Podcasting has been a great experience for me. I get asked so many useful questions that help me to outline exactly why my services are needed. For you, they also highlight some of the gems in the research I have undertaken to help you take control of your son or daughter's career in football.
Facing fear and taking risks in football develops resilience, improves performance, and builds confidence. Resilience is one of life’s underrated traits.
I believe in putting more power in the hands of players and their families, and that is what I can do.
At the heart of this issue is a fundamental misunderstanding of the relationship between education and professional football. So let me be clear on this. Undertaking education alongside your playing career makes you a better player.
While I believe the academy system will still be there in 20 or 30 years, and I see there are many good people working in it, it is outdated, misfocused and, in many cases, irrelevant.
A football scholarship isn’t just about the game; it is about growing into the kind of person who can thrive on and off the pitch throughout a career.
