The dreams are big, but the chances are slim. The reality is that only a fraction of young talents will achieve their dream of becoming professional footballers. Most young talents know this, which is why it makes sense to balance their football ambitions with an education. However, this will require a closer and more ambitious collaboration between elite training environments and educational institutions. It's about developing mutual understanding of and respect for the values and importance of sport and school, says Associate Professor Kristian Raun Thomsen from the Sports Science programme at Aarhus University:

"Young people who are involved in both elite football and, for example, an upper secondary education, need the two worlds to work together rather than against each other. That's why it's important for educational institutions and clubs to work together and understand the values that drive the other. This collaboration can then help ensure that young talents have the flexibility to be both elite athletes and students, so they don’t fall behind in the education system or lose ground on the pitch."

A difficult balancing act

Elite sports are demanding, even at an early age. There’s training camps, morning and afternoon practices, and weekend matches, all of which demand time and commitment. And by the time they reach high school, the athletes are on the verge of a possible career breakthrough, which coincides with an increasing workload at school. This causes many young male footballers in particular to give lower priority to their homework, says Kristian Raun Thomsen:

"These are young people are on the brink of achieving their ultimate dream, a dream they have literally put their blood, sweat and tears into since they were very young. Gilded contracts and multi-million kroner incomes for 18-year-old footballers are not uncommon, so it's not surprising that they’re tempted to focus wholeheartedly on their sport. This is where football differs from all other sports thanks to the massive amounts of money involved and the enormous media attention the sport receives. So, if we don't make sure that education and football work better together, we risk that the vast majority of young athletes will end up with a broken football dream and unimpressive grades.”

The approach to a dual career is what needs to be revised, says Kristian Raun Thomsen:

"If the ideal of a dual career is to be reflected in practice, then it’s essential for young football talents that we build a system around them that can help and support them to both pursue their football dreams and get a good and relevant education. This will require more ambitious efforts, and, more specifically, closer collaboration between teachers and coaches. We see this too rarely today, and it often means that schooling becomes deprioritised, which can have consequences later on."

Creating a foundation for both an academic career and a career as an athlete will require that teachers and coaches actively collaborate, understand and respect each other's perspectives and values.

"If we are to succeed in making the idea of dual careers a reality and helping our young athletes reach new heights academically as well as athletically, then teachers need to know when to prioritise sport and why - and the club's coaching staff need to be aware of when they need to free up time for studying, exam preparation or study trips. It doesn't necessarily require major adjustments; it's more about understanding and respecting the values of both worlds."

Kristian Raun Thomsen hopes that increased focus on the issue can improve the approach to dual careers, so that clubs and educational institutions become more focused on working together to support athletes.

"Clubs invest heavily in young talents, and the prospect of media exposure and transfer incomes may overshadow the importance of preparing young people for a future beyond the football pitch. Acknowledging and taking responsibility for this will require a cultural change at the clubs. But it will also require that educational institutions recognise that elite sport is a legitimate career path that requires flexibility on their part."

Behind the research results

• Type of study: The article is a commentary based on a previous study on the socialisation of young football talents into elite football and the article uses document analysis as a methodological approach.
• Partners: None
• External funding. None
•  Conflicts of interest: None
• Peer reviewed article: The International Journal of Sport and Society https://doi.org/10.18848/2152-7857/CGP/v15i04/115-125

Contact

Teaching Associate Professor, Kristian Raun Thomsen
Aarhus University, Department of Public Health, Sport Science
Phone: +4540123038
Mail: thomsen@ph.au.dk