The Psychological Stress of Football Academies
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/06/football-biggest-issue-boys-rejected-academies
This article not only goes into educational flaws within the european football academy systems but also the mental issues surrounding the players who are members or former members of footballing academies. The author of the article, David Conn identifies issues such as pressure to succeed, travel, lack of education, and lack of nurturing as contributing factors to these (ex)players psychological duress. These mental strains have led to devastating consequences for youth footballers who have grown up in the academy system. In March of 2013, a player who was released from his club's academy program committed suicide at the age of 16. The article is titled "football's biggest issue" but this topic seems to rarely reach headlines in the footballing world.
Why do you think "football's biggest issue" is rarely talked about?
What can football clubs and associations do in order to improve the mental health of their academy players?
What can football clubs and associations do in order to improve the mental health of their academy players?
Although clearly having these academies has helped create some of the best players and teams, it lacks in teaching anything else besides soccer. The many kids who don't become top players are left with little practical skills as they've essentially invested everything into soccer. The mental side-effects of not making it and having to face a the world virtually devoid of any practical skills is a daunting thing for teenagers to face. Although the US may not be the best at soccer those who play typically at least get a quality education. Clearly both systems are flawed, the question is whether a country can find an effective middle-ground.
ReplyDelete-Brian
I think that this could be a huge issue for the football academies. Children are taken at such a young age and join these academies where the main focus of their daily life is playing the game of football. While yes these academies have produced some of the top players in the league, I could also see how this system could have major negative psychological on its players. Being taught your whole life that football will be your future, and then maybe not making it onto a professional team must be devastating for these young players especially since they have not been focusing on their education so therefore if they don't make a team, some may feel lost and feel like they have no where to go now that professional football is not in their future like they might have hoped.
ReplyDeleteI think "footballs biggest issue" is rarely talked about because these clubs are able to produce such outstanding players. Because of their success, people often turn a blind eye to these issues. However, I think these issues are something that really need to be addressed. Though these academies might be great for the few soccer legacies that come to fruition, they could have really damaging affects on those who don't and must re-enter society.
ReplyDeleteIn order to improve the mental health of their players, these academies should allot down time for players to get involved in things other than football, or even just to have a mental break. They should also emphasize academics more so that players who end up not pursuing soccer later in life, will still be well educated and be able to compete for other competitive jobs.
- Siobhan O'Loughlin
Like any massive monetary enterprise, I would imagine that the world of football probably sweeps its "biggest issue" under the rug in order to keep cases like the one discussed in the article from ruining the reputation and prestige of the football academies.
ReplyDeleteThe statistics given in the article are absolutely daunting: the study done by Dr. David Blakelock in 2015 found that 55% of players were suffering "clinical levels of psychological distress" 21 days after being released; and 5 out of 6 players who make it into the elite scholarship at 16 are not playing professionally at 21. The current structure of these academies is creating individuals who only have an "athletic identity in which they see themselves wholly as footballers", and therefore, as Blakelock states, "they can suffer a loss of self-worth and confidence when that is taken away."
Even with the introduction of the Elite Player Performance Plan in 2012, I still think that the football clubs, their academies, and the governing bodies have a responsibility to protect the mental health of the players who come through their systems. Because of this, I would suggest the implementation of counseling programs for ALL players within the academies, similar to the ones offered on many college campuses within the US. This way, the players are at least exposed to the skills needed when coping with a loss of self, shaken confidence, or any arising mental health problems. If the academies are going to create such all-encompassing environments, then they should be required to provide whatever kind of help - mental or physical - their players need.
- Jenna
COREY RIGGENBACH: Academies clearly put a lot of stress on athletes at a very young age, but it is the price to pay if you want to become the absolute best of the best in football. To make those millions and millions of dollars, there needs to be thousands of hours of work to be put into training. It's sad that many of the athletes seemingly throw their young lives away when they get cut, and there needs to be better schooling and life-after-football classes the academies instead of feeding the young kids false hope that will become the professional they've always dreamed of being.
ReplyDeleteI think that although there are many benefits associated with being a part of an academy, it is not the end all be all for most kids. I believe that since the number of kids that actually play professionally is so low, there should be more opportunities available for kids to pursue other areas of interest while still being a part of the academy. This way when these kids finish their time at the academy they will have a wealth of knowledge other than football. I believe it is important for these kids to become well rounded and realize that their are so much more to life than becoming a professional football player.
ReplyDeleteMichael Strode
I agree with Siobhan in that footballs biggest issues are because their main priority is to put out a successful product on the field. They do not put an emphasis on education, just as they fail to do so in America with certain sports. Top athletes are allowed to play only year of their sports, while they fail to get an education and fly by with teacher assistants allowing them to get a passing grade in the class to be able to play. Granted many of these athletes go on to make millions at the pro level, but one costly injury could cost them their career, and with a lack of education they have nothing to fall back on. It does surprise that mental health isn't more of an emphasis. It is interesting though to view the other side, as we talked about in class the golden years for Manchester United were with David Beckham, the Nevill brothers, Rio Ferdinand and others who lived with old english ladies. They were kept in line, never home late, and were well fed. Their strict lifestyle showed with success on the field. Maybe a homestay type academy is the motto to follow.
ReplyDelete-Benjamin Rogan