If your child is training with a development or elite centre through a professional club that does not mean they are ‘at an academy’. Many parents seem so desperate to use that phrase. Just let the process play out and stay true to what’s really happening. Don’t force it.

Remember football is full of a variety of opinions, concepts and ideas. The purpose of my tweets are to simply spark debate as it’s always important in life to understand the reasonings of others, whether you agree with them or not. Really enjoy hearing people’s views.👍🏻

With scholarships now being offered, a message to those who have been released: ‘Football does not define you. You have many other outstanding qualities, be open to discover them. Take these lessons learnt and apply them to your next move. An exciting new opportunity awaits.’

I get really concerned when 6 year olds are being taken to countless pre academies because it’s their ‘dream’ to become a footballer. Earlier that day they also dreamt of being Spider-Man! Whose dream really is it??!!

A professional club’s academy setting is a fantastic place for youth players to develop with great facilities, excellent coaches, plus competing with & against the best players. However it’s not forever so simply allow both your child & yourself to relax & enjoy the experience.

If your child is developing as a player don’t necessarily think the next step is moving to a ‘better’ team. This development could driven by the coaching they are getting and the environment being right. When the development & enjoyment stops is when you consider options.

As parents we get caught up in working hard to give our kids as much as we can. Never forget the greatest gift you can give them is your time. When my father passed away it wasn’t the material stuff that mattered, it was the memories of playing and kicking a ball around.

With the Christmas break approaching, please allow both your child and yourself to enjoy time away from the game. I so often see social media posts of children on the 27th of December with captions like ‘outwork your competition’ or ‘no rest days’ More to life than football.

Football is a game of hugely divided opinions. To one coach you simply aren’t what they are looking for but to another coach you are exactly what they need. Never allow unfavourable opinions stop you on your journey. ‘One man’s rags is another man’s riches’

As the scouting network of professional clubs is always expanding, more grassroots teams than ever are being watched by a scout. The attendance of a scout sends many parents into a frenzy! Our article touches on parents behaviour & the scouting process. theacademydad.com/post/ive-spott…

Hearing awful stories from parents about how professional clubs handled the recent ‘retain and release’ process. There is never a nice way of delivering bad news however it appears clubs are still not training their coaches in effective communication methods. Must do better!

Congratulations to all those players who have been offered a scholarship, what an achievement! For parents it’s a huge shift with many young players moving away and no longer needing to be driven to training/matches. Parents it’s ok to feel redundant but they still need you!

People always seem surprised that professional academy teams are created to facilitate the development of 2/3 children per team every season. That’s why I always tell parents not to force it, let clubs chase you and ask the club WHY your child’s attributes fit what they need.

Parents you cannot control a coaches opinion of your child or how your child plays in a match. You can however influence how your child feels when going to a match or how you approach the narrative post match. The saying ‘control the controllable’s’ applies to parenting too

And in a blink of an eye you are 16. So very proud of the young man you have become.