Is university right for you?
The unintended consequence of this concoction is that someone who is perhaps not ready for university feels compelled to go to university at an institution that is not fit to support them in their development.
Chris Platts is an industry thought leader, pioneering career planning for young footballers and their families
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Culture eats strategy for breakfast
Some clubs strive to develop the person before the footballer; some do not. The problem is that you don't know which club you are at until it is too late. Are you at a club that has a person-centred culture, or are you at a club that delivers what it has to, and that is your lot?
"They are jealous but then they’re completely free aren’t they"
Love it or loathe it, the process of growing up and developing socially involves discovering our own spaces. It is something that has occurred in countless generations. But for young males who commit to professional football clubs, the process is different.
"You're taking the pi**, sort it out"
Perhaps the biggest lesson from this is that as a parent/guardian/family member, you need to understand this could be the culture of an academy, and watch for instances of it.
What Would I Tell My Younger Self? Reflections on the Ups and Downs of Being a Footballer
Often too proud to show weakness in a sport linked with masculinity, young players risk feeling isolated. My transition from academy to first-team football taught me that these experiences are shared by many, regardless of their career path.
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A gift for you and your friends 🎁
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.
Is university right for you?
The unintended consequence of this concoction is that someone who is perhaps not ready for university feels compelled to go to university at an institution that is not fit to support them in their development.
Do you look both ways when crossing the road?
I help young players and their families to "look both ways as they cross the road". I want young players to go through their football journey knowing the full story, taking a more evidence-based approach to their career planning.
Why do players want to be professionals?
When becoming a professional player hangs in the balance or someone has decided to release a player and becoming a professional seems further away than it did before, I have found it useful to explore with a player why they want to be a professional.
Culture eats strategy for breakfast
Some clubs strive to develop the person before the footballer; some do not. The problem is that you don't know which club you are at until it is too late. Are you at a club that has a person-centred culture, or are you at a club that delivers what it has to, and that is your lot?
The Complex Relationship Between Young Football Players and Education
Players are often expected to balance their intense training and match schedules with their educational requirements. Yet, for many, the experience of formal education is far from a positive one. Last week, a parent of a player asked me how I explained this. What a good topic for a blog!
"They are jealous but then they’re completely free aren’t they"
Love it or loathe it, the process of growing up and developing socially involves discovering our own spaces. It is something that has occurred in countless generations. But for young males who commit to professional football clubs, the process is different.
"You're taking the pi**, sort it out"
Perhaps the biggest lesson from this is that as a parent/guardian/family member, you need to understand this could be the culture of an academy, and watch for instances of it.
It's just "bants" mate
Whether this environment should be like this is a matter of wider debate, and plenty of debate exists. For us, however, at this point, what is important is that it is like this. This is an environment that you will have to thrive in to succeed in football
The Relative Age Effect
I thought I would put together a post that gives you an overview of the Relative Age Effect and how it might, ultimately, help you understand aspects of your child's development.
What Would I Tell My Younger Self? Reflections on the Ups and Downs of Being a Footballer
Often too proud to show weakness in a sport linked with masculinity, young players risk feeling isolated. My transition from academy to first-team football taught me that these experiences are shared by many, regardless of their career path.
The stats don't lie!
Not only do we need reliable data, we need to use data reliably.