AcademyClub experts help LFC Academy players improve skills

A broad programme led by the Academy’s education manager, Caitlin Hawkins, used experts from across the club to provide specialist training for the scholars (aged 16 to 18) in many different areas, gaining valuable additional qualifications.

All the U18s scholar group completed the compulsory qualifications, as expected by the Premier League, as part of their full-time education programme.

This programme gained the players a BTEC in Sporting Excellence and a new football-specific apprenticeship qualification known as the Sporting Excellence Professional. Both courses were delivered at the Academy by U18 education officer Ted Smith.

In a new arrangement for this year, as well as the above-mentioned courses, players were offered the opportunity to study A-Levels.

Isaac Mabaya and Niall Osborne studied Business Studies, while Charlie Hayes-Green and Luke Hewitson also managed their football schedule alongside their education to study maths and Spanish respectively.

Additionally, language teacher Amy Lewtas worked with international players like Fabian Mrozek, Mateusz Musialowski, Stefan Bajcetic and Melkamu Frauendorf in completing their qualifications in English as a second language, known as ‘ESOL’.

But above and beyond these, the Academy encouraged all the players to successfully take on extra learning in fields such as leadership, coaching, injury prevention, mental health and nutrition.

They have completed a series of additional qualifications, including Sports Leaders, Level 2 FA Coaching, Level 1 Mental Health and a course in the ‘Science of Nutrition and Healthy Eating’ with the Open University.

Hawkins said: “It’s vital to equip the scholars with a broad and balanced education which supports their development on their journey to becoming successful players and people.”

Different departments within the Academy worked alongside each other to bring their level of expertise and knowledge into the main education curriculum.

Academy nutritionist Tom Maynard took the lead on the nutrition qualification and Academy psychologist Yvie Ryan led on the mental health course.

Maynard said: “It’s great that the focus of understanding nutrition is forming part of young players’ education and setting them up to be independent, healthy players.”

Ryan added: “We want to ensure that players’ wellbeing is supported along with their emotional development and the opportunity to complete a formal qualification will underpin their understanding.”

A special celebration/awards event was held to recognise the educational achievements of the players upon completion of the football season, with all food for the event prepared by the players themselves as a culmination of the nutrition and cooking skills they had developed throughout the year.

Hayes-Green was voted Players’ Player of the Educational Year and Lee Jonas scooped the Education Endeavour award.

Mrozek’s kitchen skills saw him named Nutritionist of the Year, while Luca Stephenson was rewarded for his efforts throughout the year with the Teachers’ Award.

In addition to this, goalkeeper Harvey Davies was awarded Scholar of the Year in recognition of his academic achievements and represented the club at a Premier League awards ceremony in London as a result.