PREMIER LEAGUE

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT RULES
SPORTS SCIENCE AND MEDICINE
Sports Science and Medicine Programme
184. Each Club which operates an Academy shall establish a Sports Science and Medicine Programme
(in accordance with the criteria set out in these Rules which apply to the Category of its
Academy) for the benefit of its Academy Players.
185. Each Club’s Sport Science and Medicine Programme shall be managed by its Head of Academy
Sports Science and Medicine (in the case of a Club which operates a Category 1 or Category 2
Academy) or by an appropriately qualified Official (in the case of the Club which operates a
Category 3 or Category 4 Academy).
186. The Sports Science and Medicine Programme of each Club should detail the planned provision
to each of its Academy Players of at least the following areas:
186.1. sports science (including physiology, biomechanics, physical testing and measurement);
186.2. physiotherapy (including hydrotherapy and sports massage);
186.3. medical services (including the prevention and treatment of injury and diet and nutrition);
186.4. Performance Analysis; and
186.5. psychology.
187. The progress and development of each Academy Player under the Sports Science and Medicine
Programme (including without limitation the results of the tests set out in Rule 188, and full
details of any injuries, the treatment thereof, and the length of any period of rehabilitation)
shall be noted in his Performance Review and recorded in his Performance Clock.
188. Each Club which operates an Academy shall ensure that each of its Academy Players undergoes
the following tests to measure physical and physiological fitness (as such tests are defined in
the Audit Tool):
188.1. age-appropriate medical and physical screening;
188.2. anthropometric assessments;
188.3. physiological/fitness testing;
188.4. movement and posture/functional screening;
188.5. predictive testing of size and shape/maturation measurement (save that a Club
operating a Category 4 Academy shall not be obliged to conduct such tests);
188.6. psychological profiling (Category 1 Academies only); and
188.7. monitoring of physical exertion (Category 1 Academies only);
and shall submit to the League such information as it may from time to time require in order
to establish a national database of athletic development.
189. Subject to a Club complying with Rule 188, the League will make available to it (on an anonymised
basis) benchmarked data derived from the information provided to it by all Clubs.
190. Each Club which operates an Academy shall ensure that details of all injuries suffered by its
Academy Players and of all rehabilitation are recorded and provided to the League and the
FA in order that a national audit of injury and rehabilitation may be maintained.
191. Subject to a Club complying with Rule 190, the League will make available to it benchmarked
data derived from the national audit of injury and rehabilitation.
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