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The Hidden Challenge of Retention Before U9

Talent identification in English football begins remarkably early sometimes as young as five or six. Yet under the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP), formal registration with professional academies cannot occur until the Under-9 (U9) season. This creates an extended pre-academy window, typically two to three years, where players are effectively “free agents.”

During this period, clubs compete for young talent without the security of a signed commitment. Children can train with multiple clubs, parents can change course at short notice, and the line between engagement and retention blurs.

Recruitment strategies have traditionally focused on efficiency and accuracy: spotting players early, moving fast to invite them in, and making sound judgements about ability and potential. Yet speed and precision alone do not guarantee loyalty. The real challenge is not just finding players it’s keeping them engaged and connected until registration.

This is where belonging the psychological experience of being accepted, valued, and connected becomes the bridge between early identification and long-term commitment.

Defining Belonging

Psychologists Roy Baumeister and Mark Leary (1995) famously described belonging as a “fundamental human motivation to form and maintain lasting, positive interpersonal relationships.” In simple terms, people need to feel they matter.

In youth sport, belonging extends beyond being within a group. It means feeling known, supported, and emotionally safe within a sporting environment. Brené Brown (2017) distinguishes between “fitting in” — changing who we are to be accepted — and “true belonging,” which requires authenticity and shared values.

Within pre-academy football, belonging is visible when a player sees the club as part of their identity, when parents trust the environment, and when relationships are genuine rather than transactional.

From Recruitment Speed to Retention Depth

Across most academy systems, early recruitment is guided by three principles: identify early, act decisively, and recruit accurately. These principles are vital for ensuring access to potential talent before rivals do.

However, while these approaches are excellent for finding players, they are less effective for keeping them. The true challenge in the pre-academy years is sustaining engagement once the initial excitement of selection fades.

Belonging bridges that gap. Once a young player and their family enter a development environment, what sustains them is no longer the pace of recruitment but the depth of relationship. Belonging transforms early engagement into long-term commitment because it is the emotional continuity that ensures connection outlasts competition.

Belonging as a Retention Mechanism

Belonging strengthens four core psychological dimensions identified in Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000):

1. Relatedness – the need to feel connected to others.
2. Autonomy – the sense of having a voice and ownership.
3. Competence – belief in one’s growing ability and progress.
4. Purpose – the understanding of why one’s contribution matters.

When these needs are met, intrinsic motivation flourishes. Players show up more often, stay longer, and are more resilient in the face of setbacks.

Equally, belonging influences families. Parents who feel respected and informed are less likely to move their child to rival environments. Retention becomes less about obligation and more about shared belief.

Lessons from High-Performance Cultures

Few organisations have cultivated belonging as deliberately as the New Zealand All Blacks. Their “whānau” (family) culture ties every player to a lineage that stretches beyond the field. Rituals like the haka, cap presentations, and even “sweeping the sheds” — where senior players clean the changing rooms — reinforce humility, equality, and shared identity (Kerr, 2013).

This model demonstrates a key truth: belonging and performance are not opposites. In fact, connection breeds accountability. Players who feel they belong are more willing to work harder for each other and uphold the group’s standards.

In football, the same principle applies. When belonging is embedded early, it strengthens not just retention but the mindset required for elite performance later.

A Broader Literature of Belonging

The concept of belonging is rich and multi-disciplinary. Brené Brown’s (2017) work on vulnerability emphasises courage and authenticity as prerequisites for connection. Sarah Westfall (2020) reframes belonging as an act of invitation something we create by making space for others.

Mia Birdsong (2020) explores belonging as community care, sustained through reciprocity rather than individualism. Tessa McWatt (2019) writes about identity and representation, showing how inclusion depends on visibility and respect.

Lindsey Pollak (2019) highlights the role of communication across generations critical for academies engaging both young players and parents. Kara Richardson Whitely (2015) connects belonging to attachment and narrative identity: people stay when they feel part of a story that makes sense of their journey.

Together, these perspectives show that belonging is not simply emotional comfort it is structural empathy: the alignment of systems, values, and relationships to make people feel seen and valued.

Why Belonging Matters Beyond Retention

Belonging influences every dimension of player development. Emotionally secure players learn faster, communicate better, and recover more quickly from mistakes. Families who experience belonging become advocates, enhancing reputation and word-of-mouth trust.

Culturally, belonging reinforces welfare. When players feel psychologically safe — a concept pioneered by Amy Edmondson (1999) — they take creative risks, ask for feedback, and contribute ideas. It’s the opposite of fear-based compliance.

Ultimately, belonging strengthens the human foundation of high performance. It ensures that when the technical and tactical demands intensify, players have the emotional resilience and support networks to thrive.

Personal Reflection – Why Belonging Endures

My own professional journey spans law, strategic communications, and football. In each, I’ve seen the same truth: people engage most deeply where they feel they belong.

In law, belonging is trust between client and counsel. In communications, it’s the shared language between message and meaning. In football, it’s the invisible thread that keeps young players and their families connected through uncertainty, competition, and change.

Belonging before the contract isn’t sentimental; it’s strategic. It’s what turns early identification into enduring development. When players feel seen, parents feel respected, and coaches feel aligned, retention becomes the natural outcome of connection.

Conclusion

Pre-academy football is where futures begin. Yet without belonging, early potential often drifts away before it has the chance to mature. The evidence from psychology, sociology, and high-performance culture is clear: belonging fuels motivation, resilience, and loyalty.

As the landscape of youth football continues to evolve, belonging offers a timeless advantage. It is the foundation not only of retention but of humanity in the game.

“The measure of a great academy isn’t how early it finds players, but how deeply it connects with them before they ever sign.”

Derby Day by Numbers: Goalkeepers and the New Meaning of Shirts in Manchester

The first Manchester Derby of the new Premier League season comes with a twist: for once, the spotlight isn’t just on the strikers but on the goalkeepers.

At Manchester City, all eyes are on Gianluigi Donnarumma. Will Pep Guardiola hand the Italian his Derby debut in the No. 25 shirt? Traditionally, the goalkeeper’s jersey is sacred — the No. 1 has long been the mark of trust and authority. But that shirt has already been claimed by James Trafford, the academy graduate who returned to City this summer to reclaim the number he first dreamed of wearing as a boy at City.

Donnarumma, who famously wore 99 at Milan, has had to settle for 25 — though at City it is not so unorthodox. The shirt was also worn by Joe Hart in both of his spells as City’s No. 1. And after much speculation, the choice has meaning: 25 marks the date of Donnarumma’s Serie A debut on 25 October.

Across town, Manchester United are also beginning a new chapter between the posts. André Onana has departed, leaving the gloves to Turkish international Altay Bayındır, who claimed the No. 1 role and claimed that number too. But the club also swooped on deadline day for Senne Lammens, who will wear the No. 31 shirt, a number previously worn by Darren Fletcher in his youth breakthrough, and by midfielders such as Nemanja Matić and Bastian Schweinsteiger. For goalkeepers, it has been the shirt of Nick Culkin, Martin Dúbravka and Jack Butland — less about superstition, but more about squad dynamics and availability.

Manchester City’s Standout Numbers

• 25 – Gianluigi Donnarumma: Blocked from his beloved 99 by Premier League rules and with No. 1 already occupied, Donnarumma settles on 25 — a number also once held by Joe Hart, and chosen to mark his Serie A debut on 25 October.
• 47 – Phil Foden: A personal tribute to his grandfather Ronnie, who passed away aged 47, now an indelible part of Foden’s brand.
• 52 – Oscar Bobb: Retains a high number from his academy days, embracing it as part of his journey.
• 82 – Rico Lewis: Another academy product with a number far from the traditional first XI.
• 33 – Nico O’Reilly: Once listed at 75, the academy graduate has switched to 33 — a shirt steeped in City history thanks to Vincent Kompany, the captain who defined a generation.

Manchester United’s Standout Numbers

• 31 – Senne Lammens: A practical choice with history at United, worn by both midfielders and goalkeepers. Not symbolic, but part of a familiar tradition of squad players waiting for their chance.
• 15 – Leny Yoro: The teenage signing from Lille inherits a shirt once worn by Nemanja Vidić, hinting at big expectations.
• 37 – Kobbie Mainoo: Has made this high squad number synonymous with his rise from the academy.
• 43 – Toby Collyer: A youth prospect now integrated into the senior squad.
• 30 – Benjamin Šeško: A nod to his Salzburg and Leipzig days and a quiet (but not on Derby Day!) homage to Erling Haaland’s own early career shirt.

When Obscure Becomes Iconic

Some Premier League stars have turned unusual numbers into statements:

• 25 – Gianfranco Zola (Chelsea): Turned an otherwise ordinary squad number into a cult classic.
• 26 – John Terry (Chelsea): Assigned when he first broke into the squad, and it stuck — proof that happenstance can become legend.
• 32 – Carlos Tevez (West Ham, United, City): Carried across clubs as part of his personal brand.
• 45 – Mario Balotelli (City, Liverpool): Insisted on 45 because 4 + 5 = 9, the striker’s number — and famously ranted to management if not given it.
• 66 – Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool): A random academy allocation turned iconic — until his Real Madrid move this summer, when La Liga rules limiting outfield squad numbers to 1–25 forced him to switch to 12 (6+6).

Why Players Choose Them

• Personal meaning: Tributes, lucky numbers, birth years.
• Branding: A unique number can cut through in merchandising.
• Superstition: Many stick with debut numbers for luck.
• Respect for tradition: Younger players often avoid “big shirts” until proven.

The Derby Subplot

So when the teams walk out this weekend, the backs of the shirts tell a story of their own. Donnarumma’s 25 against possibly Lammens’ 31, with both No. 1s potentially waiting in the wings. Foden’s 47, steeped in family meaning; Bobb’s 52 and Lewis’s 82, carrying the badge of City youth; and O’Reilly’s new 33, carrying echoes of Kompany. Across at Old Trafford, Šeško’s 30 nods to his past and to the influence of Haaland, not a great look on Derby Day.

It is a reminder that shirt numbers are no longer just about tactical order. They are about identity, heritage and brand — sometimes practical, sometimes symbolic. And increasingly, the rules themselves matter. Donnarumma’s 99 was blocked in England. Trent’s 66 couldn’t follow him to Spain. In Manchester, as in Madrid, numbers have become part of the theatre.

In a Derby where every detail is magnified, even the digits on the back carry weight. The story will begin with the goals and saves, but it will also be told in the quiet symbolism of the numbers players choose — or have chosen for them — to wear into battle.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve looked at the headline law changesshaping the new Premier League season — from the “Captains Only” referee protocol to the new eight-second goalkeeper countdown. I’ve also broken down the Youth Development Rule updates that affect every academy, including stricter mental health governance and the requirement for HCPC-registered psychologists.

But what about the very start of the pathway? For clubs, families, and young players involved in Pre-Academy and Development Centre programmes, there are some subtle but important changes to note in the Premier League Handbook for 2025/26.

The Core Framework Remains the Same

The fundamentals are unchanged:

• Pre-Academy applies only to players below U9, with activity ceasing when they reach the registration age.
• Development Centres are still club-run satellite coaching hubs that require Premier League approval.
• Both must follow strict rules to avoid being used as back doors into recruitment outside permitted areas or through prohibited inducements.

In practice, sessions, contact hours, and age boundaries are consistent with last season’s rules.

What’s New in 2025/26

1. Safeguarding Language Aligned to Wellbeing

In line with wider Youth Development Rule changes, the language now explicitly refers to “mental and emotional wellbeing” rather than the narrower “welfare.” This reinforces the League’s emphasis on holistic player care.

2. Clear Named Responsibility

Every Pre-Academy and Development Centre must now designate a responsible person for safeguarding and wellbeing. While this was implied before, it is now a formal requirement in the 2025/26 handbook.

3. Stronger Link to the Academy Performance Plan

Development Centres must now show clear alignment to the club’s Academy Performance Plan and comply with the Premier League’s safeguarding standards, not just the club’s internal policies. This is about ensuring satellite programmes meet the same benchmark as the main academy.

Why It Matters

These aren’t sweeping structural reforms — but they do reflect the Premier League’s broader shift towards tighter governance and safeguarding standards across all youth football activity.

The key tasks required are:

• Update safeguarding documentation to reflect the “mental and emotional wellbeing” terminology.
• Name and record a responsible safeguarding lead for Pre-Academy and Development Centre activity.
• Check that Development Centres’ plans and processes are clearly mapped to the Academy Performance Plan.

The Bigger Picture

Taken together with the wider Youth Development Rule changes we analysed earlier — such as the HCPC registration requirement for psychologists and the stricter annual deadline for mental health referral processes — it’s clear the Premier League is raising the bar on player care, compliance, and accountabilityacross the entire pathway.

That means from U7s at a Pre-Academy session right through to U21s in the Professional Development Phase, the expectations on clubs, staff, and programmes are aligned more tightly than ever.

As the Premier League returns for 2025/26, the focus isn’t just on the first teams. Behind the scenes, the League’s updated Youth Development Rules set the standards for every club’s academy — from U9 right through to U21.

While much of the framework is familiar, this year’s handbook introduces important changes in staffing requirements, mental health governance, and terminology that academies need to action.

Here’s my breakdown of what’s new and what’s unchanged.

What’s New for 2025/26

1. Head of Coach Development – A New Name and Scope

The role previously titled Head of Academy Coaching is now Head of Coach Development across all handbook references. The duties, qualification requirements, and EMCC Foundation Award obligations remain, but the rebrand reflects a broader brief around professional development for all academy coaches.

2. HCPC Registration for Academy Psychologists Now Live

Last year’s rules flagged this as coming for 2025/26 — and now it’s here.

• Category 1 clubs must have an HCPC-registered Academy Psychologist.
• Additional psychologists must also be HCPC-registered or on an approved route to registration.
• Transitional provision: staff employed before 1 July 2025 who are already on an approved training route can continue while completing registration.

3. Mental Health & Wellbeing Plan – Stricter Process and Deadlines

The requirement for a mental and emotional wellbeing action plan is now more prescriptive:

• A designated board-appointed individual must oversee it.
• The referral process must be submitted to the Premier League by 1 September each year.
• The plan and referral process must be made available to players, parents/guardians, host families, academy staff, and the League on request.

What’s Staying the Same

While the headlines above require action, the core operational framework is unchanged:

• Academy finance & expenses: Budgeted figures due by 1 July; actuals and prior budgets by 1 September. Prohibition on unapproved payments remains.
• Compensation model: The fixed training cost table (e.g., U9 £5k → U14–U16 £80k/£50k/£25k) is unchanged.
• Player number caps: U9–U14 capped at 30 players per age group; U15–U16 at 20; U17–U18 at 30 combined; U19–U21 at 15 per group.
• Coaching hours & training models: No changes to the prescribed hours or permitted formats by category and phase.

Wording & Presentation Tweaks

• “Plan” → “Curriculum”: In the Player Care requirements, the Personal Development and Life Skills Plan is now the Personal Development and Life Skills Curriculum.
• Rule renumbering: Many clauses are now in different sections (e.g., Finance & Expenses now Rules 341–350 instead of 335–344).

Why This Matters for Academies

For academy managers and heads of department, these aren’t cosmetic changes — they touch governance, compliance, and safeguarding. The HCPC requirement and mental health plan deadline will be clear audit points, while the rebranded coaching role may influence job descriptions, contracts, and internal development programmes.

The new Premier League season kicks off tonight — and while the spotlight will be on fresh transfers, new managers, and title talk, there’s also a rulebook refresh you’ll notice from the first whistle.

Here’s your quick guide to what’s new, what’s changed, and what’s gone — so you can watch with insider knowledge.

New for 2025/26

• “Captains Only” interaction with the referee (IFAB adoption). Referees can invoke “Captains Only”; only the nominated captain (or a designated outfielder if the captain is the goalkeeper) may approach, and must do so respectfully. Intended to improve participant behaviour.
• Goalkeepers’ “eight-second” control rule (time-wasting). If a goalkeeper controls the ball in their hands/arms for more than eight seconds, the first offence now results in a corner to the opponents (replacing the old indirect free-kick). Persistent offences escalate to a warning, then a caution. Referees will visibly count down the final five seconds.
• Dropped ball restarts clarified. If play is stopped with the ball inside the penalty area: dropped to the goalkeeper; outside the area: dropped to the team who had (or would have had) possession.
• Penalty “double-touch” clarified. Accidental second touch by the taker ⇒ retake; deliberate ⇒ indirect free-kick to the defending team.
• Non-player inadvertent interference. If a substitute, coach, or technical staff member unintentionally touches a ball that’s clearly going out, restart is an indirect free-kick with no sanction. Deliberate or impactful interference ⇒ direct free-kick/penalty + red card where appropriate.
• Assistant referee positioning at penalties. The AR now remains on the touchline, in line with the penalty mark; VAR monitors goalkeeper encroachment.
• VAR transparency upgrades. Referees will announce VAR decisions on the stadium PA (except for purely factual offsides). Big screens will show definitive clips/images for disallowed goals and overturned decisions. Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) will be in full use all season after its late 2024/25 introduction.
• Officiating points of emphasis. Stronger, earlier penalising of holding at set pieces (expect more penalties), tougher stance on simulation, and tighter management of head-injury stoppages (mandatory exit for assessment and minimum 30 seconds on the touchline after play restarts).

Financial Regulation

• Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) remain in force for 2025/26 — no switch to Squad Cost Rules (SCR) yet. The planned transition has been deferred, so the familiar three-year loss limit framework continues.

Amended from 2024/25

• Behaviour management formalised via “Captains Only”, building on the 2023 Participant Behaviour Charter.
• VAR processes and stadium communication enhanced — 2024/25 introduced “Referee’s Call” and early SAOT; 2025/26 adds PA announcements and mandatory screen replays for overturns and disallowed goals.

Deleted / Superseded

• Legacy “six-second” goalkeeper handling rule (indirect free-kick sanction) in practice. Enforcement now uses the eight-second → corner framework.

Likely Unchanged from 2024/25

• Squad size and home-grown rules — 25-player squad limit (U21 exemptions) and existing home-grown definitions remain.
• Substitutions — still five substitutions from nine named players on the bench (unchanged since 2022/23).
• Loan and registration window structure, core disciplinary framework, and club obligations (safeguarding, EDI/PLEDIS, medical protocols) continue as before.

Tonight’s opener won’t just mark the start of a new title race — it’s the first live test of these rules under the spotlight.

The Football Association’s FutureFit reforms, set for full implementation from the 2026/27 season, represent one of the most significant structural evolutions in the grassroots-to-academy pathway in a generation. Designed to put the needs of the child first, the reforms focus on developmentally appropriate formats, ensuring young players enjoy the game, develop core skills, and avoid early over-specialisation. But this brings with it a unique challenge when it comes to goalkeepers.

The New Playing Landscape

From 2026/27:

• U6s and U7s will play 3v3 — no goalkeepers.
• U8s will play 5v5, with the goalkeeper role introduced for the first time.
• Academy registrations for the Foundation Phase will continue to take place at the end of U8.

For outfield players, this transition is smooth: 3v3 creates more touches, better decision-making, and enhanced skill development. But for goalkeepers, the change means they will only have one season — their U8 year — to experience the position in match play before selection decisions are made.

Why This Matters for Goalkeeper Recruitment

Historically, academies have had two to three seasons to observe, assess, and develop young goalkeepers before committing to them  for the U9 season and beyond. Scouts would watch U6, U7, and U8 fixtures, tracking not just technical skill but bravery, resilience, game understanding, and personality often over time.

Under FutureFit, that three-year scouting window collapses to one. The implications are clear:

• No goalkeepers will be visible in U6 and U7 grassroot matches.
• Match exposure as a GK won’t come until U8 — and recruitment happens that same year.
• There will be limited time for development before selection.

Supporting the FutureFit Vision — While Adapting for GKs

FutureFit’s aims are right: broaden early experiences, prevent premature specialisation, and allow children to explore different roles without pressure. But goalkeeping is different. It is a position with its own technical language, mental demands, and developmental trajectory.

The challenge, then, is to support the reforms while creating complementary pre-academy strategies that prepare goalkeepers for the U8 recruitment moment — without breaching the spirit or letter of the new formats.

A Four-Stage Adaptation Plan for Goalkeeper Pathways

1. Exposure (U6–U7, 3v3 Format)

Even with no GKs in matches, clubs can create parallel development opportunities:

• GK Taster Sessions – Fun, engaging “goalie days” with safe, age-appropriate drills.
• Rotation in Training – Short spells in goal during practices to spark interest.
• Footwork & Ball Mastery Clinics – Building agility and distribution skills that serve both outfield and GK roles.
• Observation of Core Traits – Bravery, coordination, reaction time — all visible in 3v3 play.

This approach keeps early specialisers engaged while allowing new prospects to emerge organically.

2. Identification (Early U8)

Scouting will have to be sharper, more focused, and aligned to long term potential rather than the here and now:

• Looking for transferable traits: bravery, agility, composure under pressure, quick decision-making.
• Focus on personality: resilience, enthusiasm, and adaptability are just as important as shot-stopping.
• Act fast: with only months before registration, the scouting process will have to be proactive and deliberate.

3. Development (Mid–Late U8)

Once a goalkeeper is identified, targeted support must be immediate:

• Fundamentals First – Handling, positioning, diving technique, 1v1s.
• Micro-Formats – 2v2 or 3v3 with GKs to maximise involvement and repetitions.
• Confidence Building – Helping young keepers embrace mistakes as part of learning.

This is not about creating a “finished product” by U9 — it’s about setting the foundations for long-term progression.

4. Selection (End of U8)

When making final recruitment decisions:

• Prioritise long-term potential over current performance.
• Select for coachability as much as current skill.
• Provide wraparound support from Day 1 of the Foundation Phase to accelerate development.

The Big Risk — and the Big Opportunity

The risk is obvious: without intentional planning, many talented young goalkeepers could be lost to outfield roles or fail to develop the confidence to stick with the position.

The opportunity is just as clear: clubs that embrace FutureFit’s philosophy while innovating for the GK role can position themselves ahead of the curve. They will spot the hidden gems earlier, nurture them through the “no-GK years”, and be ready to sign well-prepared young keepers into the Foundation Phase.

Final Word

FutureFit is the right step for the game. But its success for goalkeepers will depend on our willingness to adapt. The new landscape doesn’t close the goalkeeper pathway — it changes its starting point.

If we innovate now, we can ensure that when the first FutureFit U8s arrive, we have a clear, engaging, and child-centred route that turns a one-season window into a lifetime in the game.

As a Pre-Academy Coordinator with responsibility for parental liaison and a specialist in child mental health and well-being, I write this from both a professional and safeguarding standpoint. I witness first-hand the immense pressures placed on children and families navigating the world of pre-academy football — a world that is increasingly intense, fragmented, and poorly understood outside its inner workings.

British law has long recognised the primacy of parents in determining the best educational path for their children. Any move toward heavier regulation of pre-academy football must be viewed through this lens. Greater regulation would mark a significant departure from this principle and could undermine the right of parents to choose an approach they feel best meets their child’s long-term needs — particularly in an area as emotionally charged and competitive as youth football.

That said, it is precisely because of these pressures that parents need meaningful education — not more regulation. Only through informed decision-making can we hope to address the hidden but growing risks of overtraining, burnout, and early disillusionment.

The EPPP Framework: Safeguarding in Principle

The Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP), introduced in 2012, was designed to produce more and better homegrown players while prioritising their holistic development. A collaboration between the Premier League, the Football Association, the Football League and others, the EPPP promotes a player-led model structured across three development phases:

• Foundation Phase (U9–U11)
• Youth Development Phase (U12–U16)
• Professional Development Phase (U17–U23)

The 2024/25 Premier League Handbook sets strict parameters around pre-academy training centres. These include:

• Maximum of two contact sessions per week for U7s and below
• Maximum of three for U8s
• Prohibition on overnight tours
• Travel time restrictions

These measures are well-intentioned, rooted in safeguarding, and designed to keep football fun, balanced, and developmentally appropriate in the earliest years. But their current scope — regulating clubs but not players or parents — creates a critical disconnect.

The Pre-Academy ‘Arms Race’

Pre-academy football at U7 and U8 level has become highly competitive. For families in football hotspots like the North West, which hosts 23 professional clubs across the top five divisions, the stakes feel incredibly high. The ultimate prize? Securing a U9 academy registration.

In this environment:

• Parents feel pressure not to miss out on opportunities
• Children often attend multiple clubs weekly, weekend grassroots matches, and private 1-to-1 coaching
• The perception that “more is better” prevails, regardless of age-appropriateness

This arms race is not just unsustainable — it’s unsafe.

A Vicious Cycle of Overtraining

Without clear boundaries across all activity, children as young as six are effectively playing or training every day. The cycle looks like this:

• Parents worry about falling behind
• Children are enrolled in multiple clubs
• Clubs compete for early access to talent
• Safeguarding principles are slowly eroded

Even though Premier League rules like Rule 136 now require clubs to maintain attendance registers and player records, the spirit of EPPP is undermined when the limits on contact sessions don’t follow the child across clubs.

A Proposal: Player-Focused Compliance

A simple regulatory enhancement could make a powerful difference:

• Apply contact session limits to the player, not just the club
• Require monthly submissions of attendance registers across clubs
• Use this data to ensure no child exceeds the safe threshold

This would allow the Premier League to monitor safeguarding in practice — without excessive intrusion into family autonomy.

However, greater enforcement would also place significant administrative burdens on the Premier League and clubs, effectively asking them to police parental decisions — a task that runs counter to the principle of parental primacy in child development.

Why Education Must Come First

The solution is not heavier-handed regulation but more effective, structured education for parents. Many pre-academies already offer excellent information via sports science and psychology departments. But these efforts remain inconsistent — and often fail to cut through against the allure of perceived progress.

Parents must understand that:

• More is not better
• Rest is developmental
• Early specialisation is risky
• Long-term success is driven by love of the game, not early pressure

Without this education, regulation may ultimately become inevitable — but it should be a last resort, not a first response.

The Risks Are Real: What Science Tells Us

1. Injury

Children’s bodies are still developing. Overuse injuries such as growth plate damage, tendonitis, and long-term movement imbalances are all linked to excessive repetition and lack of rest.

2. Psychological Burnout

Early signs include anxiety, sleep problems, and emotional withdrawal. A 1996 study by Gould et al. found that high training loads and parental pressure were two key causes.

3. Delayed Athletic Development

Children who only play football may miss key coordination and movement experiences. Multi-sport play builds better long-term athletes.

4. Loss of Love for the Game

When football becomes a job at age seven, joy vanishes — and so does long-term potential.

Rest Is Not Optional

• Children need 1–2 rest days per week
• 9–11 hours of sleep per night is critical for growth and injury prevention
• No child benefits from training 6–7 days a week at this age

This message must be championed by clubs — but it must also be accepted by parents.

Conclusion: Culture First, Regulation Last

The current culture of pre-academy football risks running counter to the very principles EPPP was designed to uphold. A regulatory response may feel like a solution — but without first addressing the underlying causes, it risks becoming a blunt instrument.

We must first equip parents with the knowledge and tools they need to make developmentally safe decisions. If we get that right, stronger outcomes will follow — and the Premier League can focus on nurturing talent, not policing parental choices.

The message is clear: informed, balanced, and child-centred approaches will yield not just better footballers, but happier, healthier young people who love the game for life.

Football fans love a good moment of ingenuity—especially when it doesn’t come from the pitch. Who could forget that now-iconic Champions League night in 2019 when a quick-thinking ball assistant at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium caught the eye of none other than José Mourinho?

The then-Spurs manager praised the young Callum Hynes for his alertness, saying, “He understands the game, reads it, he’s not just to look at the stands, he’s living the game and playing it very well.” It was a heartwarming subplot in a high-stakes match—and a shining example of how football is a game not just played by 22 on the pitch, but experienced and influenced by everyone in the stadium.

But fast forward to today, and moments like that are all but extinct in the Premier League. Why? Enter the Multiball System.

Multiball: Designed for Efficiency, Not Drama

The multiball protocol, introduced into Premier League matchday operations last season, has a simple aim: reduce downtime when the ball goes out of play. With up to 15 match balls in use—one in play, one with the Fourth Official, and 13 distributed evenly around the pitch (including two behind each goal)—there should always be a ball available.

Sounds logical, right? Less time-wasting, more football.

But here’s the catch: ball assistants can no longer actively participate in play restarts, except in a single, highly specific situation. They may only hand a ball to the goalkeeper of the team restarting with a goal kick. For outfield players? No matter how urgent the moment, the ball assistant must simply point to the cone.

So when players sprint over, demanding a ball for a quick throw or corner—and then grow irate when they’re met with a polite gesture towards a cone—it’s not petulance on the assistant’s part. It’s protocol.

A System That’s Misunderstood

The multiball system has brought structure, but at a cost to spontaneity. It’s clear that fans—and many players—don’t fully appreciate the shift. In a heated moment, many still expect the kind of rapid restart that made Callum Hynes an overnight sensation. Instead, the crowd watches as a player must manually retrieve the original ball or jog over to the nearest cone.

The rules are firm:

• Ball assistants may not retrieve or provide balls to outfield players.
• Only goalkeepers may receive a ball directly from the assistant.
• Participants (including substitutes and technical staff) must not interfere with the multiball setup.
• Cones and assistant positions are fixed throughout the match.
• Referees retain discretion to disable the system in exceptional circumstances.

If any of these protocols are breached, the Premier League may launch a formal investigation. So next time you see a ball assistant unmoved by a frantic winger gesturing for help, remember: they’re following rules designed for consistency and fairness.

The End of an Era?

There’s no doubt multiball brings benefits—especially in curbing time-wasting and ensuring smoother match flow. But it also closes the door on the kind of organic, human moments that used to dot our footballing memories.

Moments like Callum Hynes’ will live on, but under current rules, they won’t be repeated.

So spare a thought for the matchday staff, especially the ball assistants. They’re not lacking initiative or empathy—they’re just part of a system that’s prioritised protocol over personality.

And maybe, just maybe, we’ve lost something in the process.