Manc in London
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 6 Aug 2008
- Messages
- 8,445
I am in no position to comment on the case of this young man. It's very sad and what I am about to say is not aimed at him or his family but it is related, in general, to kids who are involved with professional clubs.
Two of my nephews (from two different families), one aged 11 the other aged 12 are obsessed with playing football. They must train three or four times a week and then play for a local club at the weekend. They have gone for trials at various professional clubs and in some cases, been awarded spots on their training program. The parents ferry them from one place to another. The kids sometimes getting home late at night during the week, parents give up overtime and opportunities to go spend time with family and friends etc.. Whenever I speak to their parents, the first thing they talk about is what their children are doing in terms of football. I don't hear anything about how the kids are getting on in terms of school, what the family have been up to and how the non-footballer kids are getting on. All birthday and Christmas presents have to be football related. In their company, often in front of the kids, they give the impression their kids have some unique, God-given talent and that they have a good chance of making it as a top professional footballer. The parents are pretty much obsessed with their kids football careers.
I doubt these parents are unique in their attitudes. When these kids are told they are not good enough by clubs, you have to think that is a massive come down for them with the amount of effort they and their parents have put into it. In many instances, some will think they are worthless and failures, as well feeling guilty because of the effort their parents put in. No person should feel that way, especially those too young to deal with it effectively.
While clubs have a duty of care and should manage the expectations of those who join academies, the parents are, at the very least, equally responsible as they should be enabling their kids to manage their own mental health (e.g. building resilience) and provide them with support.
Two of my nephews (from two different families), one aged 11 the other aged 12 are obsessed with playing football. They must train three or four times a week and then play for a local club at the weekend. They have gone for trials at various professional clubs and in some cases, been awarded spots on their training program. The parents ferry them from one place to another. The kids sometimes getting home late at night during the week, parents give up overtime and opportunities to go spend time with family and friends etc.. Whenever I speak to their parents, the first thing they talk about is what their children are doing in terms of football. I don't hear anything about how the kids are getting on in terms of school, what the family have been up to and how the non-footballer kids are getting on. All birthday and Christmas presents have to be football related. In their company, often in front of the kids, they give the impression their kids have some unique, God-given talent and that they have a good chance of making it as a top professional footballer. The parents are pretty much obsessed with their kids football careers.
I doubt these parents are unique in their attitudes. When these kids are told they are not good enough by clubs, you have to think that is a massive come down for them with the amount of effort they and their parents have put into it. In many instances, some will think they are worthless and failures, as well feeling guilty because of the effort their parents put in. No person should feel that way, especially those too young to deal with it effectively.
While clubs have a duty of care and should manage the expectations of those who join academies, the parents are, at the very least, equally responsible as they should be enabling their kids to manage their own mental health (e.g. building resilience) and provide them with support.
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