Expert: Man City risk mass exodus of rising stars as Premier League rule change confirmed
Man City risk alienating their young stars if they push them too hard at the pre-academy level.
That is the view of training ground expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
As relayed by Training Ground Guru last Wednesday (29 June), the Premier League has confirmed several new changes to pre-academy regulations aimed at clearly distinguishing the recreational and elite development stages.
There are fresh limits on contact time as well as new time-distance rules for under-8s, and kids will no longer be allowed to wear first-team kit in any match.
City came under fire in 2019 when it emerged that they ran an ‘elite squad’ for children as young as five.
Dinnery explained why it is so important to let kids enjoy football as a hobby before they even think about starting out on the path towards professionalism.
“We’re talking about a critical phase of development in a child’s life,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“That is physically, emotionally, educationally, nutritionally. It’s so important for kids to learn new skills and enjoy themselves first and foremost.
“All of these things you can gain away from football, they can enhance their playing ability and skills.
“As adults, you’re making judgements on behalf of these kids. There is no one-size-fits-all approach because people develop at different rates.
“You want to keep these young players involved. It serves no purpose to anyone if they drop out and hate the system further down the line.
“I’m aware of young players who have been at several clubs by the age of 16. By the age of 17 or 18, they have fallen out of love with the game.
“When you first play football, it’s not about the money. It’s just what you want to do. You want to have fun. When you go down a more serious route, that takes away that enjoyment. You don’t want to alienate people.”
In other news, Man City tell Nathan Ake he’s free to find new club amid Newcastle United update.