Reading’s Martin Dean: the ‘moral obligation’ academies have to help young players gain a career ‘inside or outside’ of the game

Coach | Relationships | Martin Dean | 16.06.2022

Academy coaches have a ‘moral obligation’ to help young players gain a career ‘inside or outside’ of the game, says Martin Dean, Lead Youth Development Phase coach at Reading FC. (pictured above).

Learning:

-  The ‘moral obligation’ professional academies have to help young players develop a career ‘inside or outside’ of the game

- Providing mentoring and support to ensure young players receive an ‘all-round’ education

- The role of the lead phase coach and multi-disciplinary team in supporting individuals to reach their potential

Academy coaches have a ‘moral obligation’ to help young players gain a career inside or outside of the game, says Martin Dean, Lead Youth Development Phase coach at Reading FC.

“Academy life is not just about football,” explains Dean, who has worked at Reading FC for over 15 years. “It's also about the education and mentoring we provide and the life skills that develop from within that.”

Dean explains that Reading academy have over 30 boys on a full-time academy training model with the players attending the same school. Many of those young players are U15 and also live with host-families.

“For any players who come in on our U15/U16 full-time model our aim is that they leave having highly benefited in one way or another from those two years with us. Otherwise, it really hurts me.”