Harry Robinson

Saturday 06 July 2024 10:58 Share With email Copy Link In a fascinating 30-minute insight into one of world sport's leading youth development institutions, the second Lifeblood film - focused on innovation - opens the doors to Manchester United's Academy and offers a series of valuable lessons for those wishing to work in football, or who want to learn from an elite sporting environment.

Here are ten pieces of wisdom to take from Lifeblood: Innovation...

EMBRACE THE UPS AND DOWNS

The second Lifeblood film sees graduate Scott McTominay return to the Academy building to discuss his pathway to the first-team. After attending a development centre in Preston, McTominay played at the Academy from the age of nine and, since becoming a senior player, has made 252 United appearances, earned 52 Scotland caps and won two major trophies.

His path was far from smooth, though. He reveals he hardly kicked a ball between the age of 15 and 18, with pains in his groins - due to accelerated growth - preventing him from even passing.

"It was a tough time," he remembers. "I'd go home and say to my dad 'What's happening here?'"

But that experience made him.

Early look at 'Lifeblood' Video

The brilliant new episode of 'Lifeblood', starring Scott McTominay, is dropping soon! Watch the trailer here...

"That builds that mental resilience," McTominay reflects.

And the current Academy staff back that up, too. Since Scott graduated from the youth set-up, the focus and breadth of support offered to players undergoing such difficulties has grown further still.

"You've got some of the boys who might be a little bit behind on that growth who are frustrated because they can't compete physically in the way they're used to," explains Dan Ransom, Lead Academy Psychologist.

But the Academy have no appetite for letting these players go, nor do they try to ignore the problems entirely.

"What that highlights is the ups and downs that are a normal part of that journey and I think one of the things we do try and recognise is that those ups and downs are normal and they're not something we want to avoid or smooth out too much either, because those challenges present opportunities to learn about yourself, learn about the skills you've got and about the people in your support network."

As Alex Ouzounoglou, YDP Athletic Development Lead, tells Scott about his experience: "You were naturally developing those coping strategies, you were having to make quicker decisions." The result? A highly successful career at the elite level.

LOOKING BEYOND THE PERFORMANCE

That successful career might not have happened, though. Less considerate or educated coaches might have seen a poor performance from McTominay and attributed it to attitude or lack of skill. United's staff were experienced enough to recognise the root issue and respond accordingly, permitting him time to adjust, providing him reassurance and giving him the resources required to progress even while not playing.

At the core of this was one fundamental value that persists today, even in a more advanced data world.

"We are data informed," explains Matt Walker, Head of Performance Services, in Lifeblood: Innovation.

"We don't make huge judgements based on one particular day or one particular test because there's so much going on with young players."

Instead, it's about understanding the player's journey, assessing the data where required and looking for other reasons. "It might be as simple as a coach noticing something - some performance clumsiness."

Essentially, United stick to the principle of seeking explanations and solutions, rather than judging performance alone.

EDUCATE WITH SIMPLICITY

Once a player has been deemed in a risk category due to their rate of growth, a programme of education for player and parent is undertaken, as explained by Alex Ouzounoglou in the film.

McTominay's response to seeing this information is telling.

"It's good for the parents and the boy who's got trust [in the data]," Scott reviews.

There is a balance, though. Walker insists the Academy are keen to avoid an overload or overreliance on data. It's the staff's job to understand the complex numbers behind a player's development. What is then presented to the parent and player is something much simpler with a core message and explanation.

McTominay credits his Dad's calm, encouraging demeanour in helping his development as a young player.

KEEP THE PRESSURE OFF

In McTominay's opinion, his parents' calm response to his predicament was ideal.

"My Dad put very little pressure on me to play for Man United," he says.

"He just said you enjoy it, you have a good time, I'll take you three or four times a week no problem - my time is your time."

United did the same - "they offer so much reassurance" - and that combination allowed McTominay to get through a tough time and come out stronger on the other side.

TRUST THE EXPERTS

"A lot of parents are - as every father and mother are - they're always super invested in how their child is getting on but sometimes you have to leave things to the experts," McTominay says.

"They've seen every case multiple times over and they know how to manage situations like that."

UNIQUE PATHWAYS

And every case is different, everyone in Lifeblood agrees.

"There's no right or wrong way," McTominay says.

"You see Wayne Rooney or Michael Owen were playing in the Premier League at 16 or 17. But, their bodies take a lot more later down the line. I started at 19 or 20, so my career could go longer. I could play until I'm 37 or 38, subject to injury. Everyone's got different rates."

While Rooney stunned on-lookers with his performances aged 16 at Everton, McTominay didn't make his Premier League debut until he was 20.

Alex Ouzounoglou says the same - "everyone's slightly different" - and Matt Walker emphasises how individual United's programme is. While football is a team sport, at these age groups, each player has an individual Athletic Development Programme with goals for the season regularly reflected on, adapted and added to.

The key lesson is that each individual's requirements are different, and thus their pathway, too. Young players shouldn't try to exactly emulate the journey of another player. It's not possible. Instead, they should embrace their own route to success, whatever that might be, and the same might apply to others working in or out of football: your journey is unique to you.

BE FOCUSED

A focus on specifics is clear in Lifeblood: Innovation, and in a variety of ways. The Academy call it 'Athletic Development' rather than 'Sports Science', for example. This is part of a desire not to over professionalise the lives of young players. And during bio-banding weeks, teams are split not into 'advanced, medium and beginners' but into 'Approaching Argentina' and 'Peaking Portugal' to inspire the players rather than making their identity linked to a stage of growth.

In terms of technology, there is a clear focus, too. "Will it make the boat go faster?" Walker asks, borrowing a phrase, he says, from Olympic rowing. There's a constant reflection on activities and technology to determine its true value to player development.

EMBRACE INNOVATION

That being said, in the realm of technology, the Academy show a keenness to embrace the innovation of others, too. Walker explains a recent trial project in association with the Premier League where United's young players wore custom-fitted gumshields which in turn provided data on the impact of training to their bodies and brains. That's one of many examples seen in the film.

Article The next chapter in a brilliant documentary series, taking you deep inside our Academy, will be streaming very soon.

NEVER SETTLE

"Never settle, never think that you've cracked it, be open-minded," Nick Cox, Director of Academy, summaries when discussing innovation.

"Regularly scan to see what is out there, what's going on in terms of research or development in equipment. It's about a commitment to ongoing learning, for players and coaches, with that open mind to know that you're on a journey of improvement to develop ourselves as well.

"If you don't continue to scan the horizon to find ways to stay ahead of your competitors, you go stale and potentially lose your competitive advantage. So it's across all areas and disciplines of the Academy."

McTominay agrees.

"The scope to learn for young Academy players, first-team players, coaches, coaches who have been in the game for 20-50 years, you never stop learning," he said.

"The game evolves so much so you can never sit and say ;this worked two years ago so I'll continue doing that'."

TAKE OWNERSHIP

"The Academy put everything in place for you, they educate you how a Man United player and person operates, the things that they do on and off the pitch but it comes down to the individual," McTominay says.

"It comes down to how much they want to be a football player because if that drives not there, you can forget about it. If they've not got that inner fight to do it, it's pretty difficult to go anywhere and improve. There are so many kids across the world, it takes more than people think, along with a little bit of luck along the way.

"If kids are serious about wanting to be a football player, they'll take ownership of sleep and nutrition and they'll find an interest in it because they want to be a football player."

Watch Lifeblood: Innovation across our platforms now.

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Harry Robinson

Saturday 06 July 2024 10:58 Share With email Copy Link Back to Top

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