Systems At Play
Camino City realises the diverse systems in play. To be recognised as a UK based sports care and consultancy agency does not mean we are enclosed to the British Islands, nor will we operate without considering the backgrounds of our clients, partners, or those generally involved in our care side. Our commitment to research and education is pivotal for us as an agency that prioritises care and education for the future.
Findings
Findings from the research project mastery dissertation was completed at the Global Institute of Sport, Etihad Campus, by the CEO Joel Lawrence. The findings covered across the UK, US, and Spain around the systems by nature and their differences, and more specifically the “Player Care & Aftercare” in youth academies. The task of interviewing parents of youth players in these territories, as well as professionals and experts in the field including coaches and player care heads of these leagues, allowed for a collective understanding and a consensus within these systems.The findings found for instance the taboo in Spain regarding being open about their feelings, nor within the academy walls or toward their coaches. Even not that the players were finding things difficult, in case they were not playing for instance, but more crucially that they did not get offered the support or feel comfortable approaching a coach or feel the need to. On a positive note, the systems of the UK, US, and Spain offered rationale for investing in their youth players for them to play and have success. Despite little knowledge on their efforts to prioritise aftercare for when players are released, they had given the a platform and opportunity to thrive and know-how of who has the chances of so-called “making it” and parents of these systems, particularly in the US, placed heavy emphasis more on education, more than their European counterparts. Findings also led to the need for investigation into women football and girls academies, and how much emphasis is being placed and the state of conditions that would allow them to prosper on and off the pitch in football education or in comparison to other college sports. Please reach out if you would like to have access to this paper.
Conclusion
As mentioned in our “education” page, a new study will take place of Joel Lawrence that has been commissioned to interview professional female players and youth players, in the elite boys and girls youth category. The study will held at Northumbria Newcastle University, with prime partner of Constructor Sports Tech and external supervisor and professor Stefan Walzel. Updates of the study will be delivered in due course, that will be the beginning of a groundbreaking study.
