Sports psychology has become an increasingly important part of how young sportspeople develop their talent.

Speaking on Friday’s OTB AM Des Ryan, Arsenal's head of sports medicine and athletic development, said that it’s important for parents to put less pressure on their children.

“Parents can apply a lot of pressure to the players. They need to be managed so we’ve a lot of workshops for parents", Ryan told Off The Ball.

“Here at Arsenal, we have a lot of resources to educate parents and players. If [a club] don’t have that it can be a pressurised environment”.

The BBC reported back in 2015 that English clubs will stop at nothing to sign the next great prodigy.

It appears to be a race to the bottom of sorts where scouting children as young as six years of age and offering scholarships to private schools are the norm. 

With that in mind, it’s hardly surprising to read reports of teenagers becoming disillusioned with the game before they even make a first-team appearance.

Comfortable in the chaos

Ryan’s role at Arsenal sees him in charge of the development of the roughly 180 players that are in the Gunners’ academy from year-to-year.

The club tries to take as much of that pressure off children as possible, with them just letting kids be kids.

“You have to be comfortable in the chaos - they’re eight-years-old. They can’t tie their laces yet,” he said. 

He added: “Every session we listen for laughter. Like on Fridays we have our ‘fundamental Fridays,’ and we make sure that every session is about enjoying the journey.”

Ryan couldn’t stress that point enough. “Laughter and being comfortable in the chaos” may perhaps sound like buzzwords to some, but they are important in protecting children from being put under too much pressure from an early age.

To that end, Arsenal and Ryan encourage players to take an interest in as many different sports as possible.

“On Wednesday it’s play-day, we have every sporting equipment - including hurleys, Gaelic football and cricket. We’ve great interest in multi-sport and how that benefits [players],”  he said.

A player’s journey through the Arsenal system can last a decade. There is a transition from “laughter and chaos” to “rules and repercussions” as the elite players rise to the top and they’re shaped into young professionals.

“When it gets to 13s and 14s they have to get used to rules and repercussions and it starts to get a bit more serious. 

“Then when it gets to 16s, 18s, and 23s it’s like they’re young adults. 

“We involve them in the decisions more, chat to them more and prepare them for that high pressure, high-intensity world of going on loan or training and playing with the first-team,” Ryan explained.

However, it’s important for Ryan that the club continue to look after their player from outside influences as they get older.

“You’ve got agents, parents, and followers on social media for these teenagers and that can be quite stressful but thankfully we’ve got psych-social support. 

“We try to create that environment that they enjoy what they’re doing and, gradually, they learn to manage the environment they’re in.”

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