Psychological characteristics of development in a football academy

The current project is designed to build upon preliminary data collected in the Exeter City Football Club (ECFC) Academy that categorised the best performers in each age group based on a range of psycho-social, technical, tactical, and physical characteristics. However, performing as an age group ‘elite’ is a poor predictor of eventual attainment of elite senior status and as such a more developmental approach is sought. Psychological characteristics (e.g., resilience, ability to learn, self-regulation, etc.) are proposed to be pivotal in enabling ‘talented’ footballers to negotiate the key developmental opportunities and challenges along the pathway to professional status. However, there is limited focus on psychological development and training in football academies compared to other factors (technical skill or physical conditioning). As such this project seeks to identify and then develop psychological characteristics related to academy players’ ability to learn and progress.

The specific aims are negotiable and candidates who are invited to interview will be encouraged to discuss their own ideas. However, preliminary discussions with the Academy Director have resulted in four phases of work being proposed. Specifically, we propose to (1) interview recent graduates of the Academy who have been (a) offered a contract at a Premier league team; (b) offered a contract at ECFC; or (c) not offered a professional contract, and triangulate this data with the opinions of their coaches and Academy director. (2) We will compare the themes that emerge from these interviews with the data we have collected from all players using MacNamara & Collins’ (2011) Psychological Characteristics of Developing Expertise Questionnaire (PCDEQ). (3) We will explore the influence of other psychological attributes and skills that are likely to increase the likelihood of flourishing within an Academy structure that are not explicitly assessed within the PCDEQ (e.g., grit). (4) We aim to develop and trial a psychological training intervention within ECFC Academy, based on the outcomes of the previous phases of the PhD.

This award provides annual funding to cover UK/EU tuition fees and a tax-free stipend. For students who pay UK/EU tuition fees the award will cover the tuition fees in full, plus at least £14,296 per year tax-free stipend. Students who pay international tuition fees are eligible to apply, but should note that the award will only provide payment for part of the international tuition fee and no stipend.
Studentships will be awarded on the basis of merit for 3.5 years of full-time study to commence in April 2017.