Understanding Player Care in Academy Football: Lee Wood

On this enlightening episode, we're joined by Lee Wood, who shares his journey from sports science and personal training into player care at Wigan Athletic FC. Lee is passionate about personal development and emphasises how vital it is for anyone in a professional sports role. Listen in as he breaks down the concept of player care in football, elaborating on its core principles and the critical aspect of aftercare during a player's transition journey.

The conversation moves on to some of the challenges and misconceptions in player care and academy football. We examine the persistent stigma around mental health in football, the progress made to tackle it, and the ongoing struggles. We also debate the need for cultural shifts in academy football to support player care effectively. Lee then talks about how to improve player care by creating supportive environments for players and their families, discussing ideas such as parent programs and how to deal with the pressures on players.

#playercare #football #sport #sportsscience #athlete #welfare #mentalhealth

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⏰ Timecodes ⏰

(0:00:00) Coming Up (0:01:16) Football Player Care (0:07:47) Challenges in Player Care and Development (0:14:08) Challenges and Misconceptions in Academy Football (0:26:55) Improving Player Care and Support (0:34:09) Challenges and Engagement in Youth Football (0:42:26) Player Care and Its Evolution (0:47:33) Emerging Job Roles in Player Care (0:57:18) Appreciation for Player Care and Podcast