PREMIER LEAGUE

COACHING
Category 2 Coaching hours
per week
Permitted
Training Model
Category 3 Coaching hours
per week
Permitted
Training Model
Category 4 Coaching hours
per week
Permitted
Training Model
Foundation
Phase (Under 9
to Under 11)
3 rising to 5 for
older Academy
Players
Part Time,
Hybrid
Youth
Development
Phase
6 rising to 12 for
older Academy
Players
Part Time,
Hybrid, Full Time
3 4 rising to 6 for
older Academy
Players (See
Guidance overleaf)
Professional
Development
Phase
14 reducing to 12
for Academy
Players who have
commitments to
the professional
squad during
the Professional
Development Phase
Full Time
Part Time Part Time Full Time
N/A N/A 14 reducing to 12
for Academy
Players who have
commitments to
the professional
squad during
the Professional
Development Phase
Games Programmes
N/A N/A Full Time
Guidance
1. The above hours of coaching are the minimum the Rules require per week, subject to the Academy Player’s fitness. It
is acknowledged, however, that Academies can alter these hours as they see fit, provided that the above stated hours
are achieved on average over each six or 12 week Performance Review period (as relevant). As regards “subject to
fitness”, this includes not only where an Academy Player is recuperating from injury, but also where in the opinion of
the coaching staff and/or the medical and sports science staff, his coaching hours need to be reduced for him to receive
adequate rest and recovery and/or avoid overuse injuries.
Coaching in the above tables refers to on-the-pitch coaching (and for the avoidance of doubt exclude time in matches).
It is expected that Clubs will need to spend additional time in other environments off the pitch in order to work with
Academy Players to assist them in developing the key technical, tactical, physical and psychological skills.
Where an Academy falls short of providing its Academy Players with the above hours of coaching, the Academy will
need to demonstrate that despite this, its Academy Players are being provided with a proper coaching programme.
This can be demonstrated by the progression of the Academy Player at each stage of the development process.
2. For Category 3 Clubs in the Youth Development Phase, the hours stated above should be applied as follows:
U12 and U13 – 4 hours
U14 – 5 hours
U15 and U16 – 6 hours
12
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YOUTH DEVELOPMENT RULES