New research from academics at Hartpury University has revealed how time spent in professional football academies can help young players develop valuable transferable skills that are relevant far beyond the pitch.
The study - carried out by senior lecturers in Sports Business Management at Hartpury University, Dr Alex Kay and Michael Green, explored whether participation in a professional football academy system helps create personal and professional qualities valued by employers across a range of industries. Focusing on players moving into, through and out of academy environments, the research identified four core skill areas developed during the journey: Interpersonal skills, Dependability, Enterprising behaviours and Adaptability, together forming the IDEA framework.
Drawing on interviews with 25 former academy players from eight professional clubs in the English Premier League and Championship, the research found that academy environments can play an important role in shaping behaviours such as communication, emotional intelligence, resilience, time management, problem-solving, self-awareness and future planning.
The findings offer important insight into the wider value of high-performance sporting environments, particularly for young people navigating uncertain career pathways. With only a small percentage of academy players going on to secure long-term professional contracts, the study argues that these experiences should also be recognised for the broader employability skills they help develop.
This study also highlights the importance of helping young athletes recognise and articulate the skills they gain during their sporting journey. Researchers suggest that with the right support, academy players can better understand how their experiences translate into wider education and employment opportunities.
For students, this kind of research reinforces the value of being part of an educational environment that understands both the opportunities and challenges of elite sport. At Hartpury University, students benefit from learning shaped by real-world research that connects academic study with career development, wellbeing and long-term success beyond a single profession. The institution is already an education provider to the Premier League, having created a Student-Athlete Scholarship Programme that allows Premier League Academy graduates to progress their education and explore career paths within the sports industry.
Michael Green said: “This research shows that academy football develops much more than sporting ability alone. The experiences players go through can help build highly valuable transferable skills, from resilience and communication to adaptability and problem-solving, which are relevant across a wide range of careers.”
Alex Kay added: “What is particularly important is ensuring young people recognise the value of those skills. By better understanding how these qualities develop, we can help players feel more prepared for the future, whatever pathway they go on to pursue.”
The research also has practical implications for the sport sector, suggesting that academy programmes could do more to support players in reflecting on and applying these skills throughout their journey. The authors propose embedding structured personal development and employability support into academy education, helping young people prepare for life both in and beyond football.
For Hartpury University students, the study reflects the institution’s commitment to research with real-world impact, research that not only advances knowledge, but directly supports student development, career readiness and personal growth.
