On the final day of EFL Development Week, we continue to bring you features from around the Academy of Light which highlight the key elements of our player development programme.
Fin Lynch has now been at Sunderland for over a decade, and is currently undertaking the role of Under-13/14 Cell Lead at the club.
The Irishman initially joined the Academy of Light as a part-time coach in a spell which went on to last nine years, before becoming full-time as Assistant Coach to the club’s Foundation Phase – later leading this phase.
Having now moved up into the Youth Phase – working with older players than in the Foundation Phase – Lynch now oversees the development of boys in school years 8 and 9.
“With moving up the age groups as a coach and into the Youth Phase, I’ve seen the progression that the players need and want as they move up through the Academy,” Lynch explains.
“At this age now, it’s about what the boys need individually. We have a great team here who all work together, and we link both with the Foundation Phase, and then onto the PDP [Professional Development Phase] which is when scholars move onto professional contracts.
“A big priority in my role is planning and preparing training sessions and games, and making sure each individual has their own programme which best suits their needs. We want to challenge the boys as much as we can – that might be a physicality thing, or technically and tactically.”
Early teenage years are usually the most crucial in terms of securing a strong educational springboard for any child. Lynch talks through how the group’s educational needs are carefully handled whilst the club ensures a close relationship with regional schools.
“We’re lucky to have a good system in place here at the club with regards to looking after the boys’ educational requirements.
“We have Don [Peattie], our Head of Education, who receives a report on how each of the players are doing in school every six weeks or every half-term. We’re big believers that they have to work hard in school, and if they’re not working hard and achieving the grades expected of them, they don’t come on Day Release with us.
“Education is first and foremost and that has to be the case for lads of school age. We don’t know which kids will go on and make it in football, so we must ensure that when they do leave here, they leave a better individual with a good education behind them.”
Various age groups in the Youth Development Phase [YDP] are offered Day Release throughout school term time.
Lynch discusses how this system works for the U13s and U14s, and takes us on a typical day at the AoL for the boys.
“Day Release is on throughout the whole year, from September until May or June. That’s why we have a good relationship with schools, because we have to ensure they’re hitting the targets to be able to come in. When they are on Day Release, we give them a variation throughout the day – it’s not just football all day.
“A regular day of Day Release would be to arrive at around 8am, starting education at 8:30am with at least two hours guaranteed. Don and his team will be with them until 10:30am, before they start training until midday – that will involve a range of focuses, technical and tactical, related to each player’s individual plan.
“Lunch will be afterwards. We have Emmy [Campbell] here now, our nutritionist, who helps us ensure the players can perform to their best in terms of their nutrition and that’s brilliant for us. Then we bring them into the gym, where they each have their individual programme, before a session with the video analysis team, a great learning tool for the lads. After that session, we’ll be back out training, before some free time to end the day. This gives the boys some empowerment to work on their own needs.”
A close relationship with the players’ families during their progression through the ranks is paramount. Lynch wraps up by demonstrating how the club is in constant communication with parents and guardians, ensuring an all-round transparent relationship in player development.
“We’ll always make sure families are heavily involved and are consistently aware of our planning and assessment of certain situations.
“There are incidences when lads might have to be moved up or down in age group, depending on their physical stature – which can often be the most challenging concept for us. It’s a careful age group to navigate, so we ensure that parents always have our decisions explained to them.
“Each player has their individual schedule which is shared with the parents, so they know where their son is going to be and the reasons behind it. We work with the physios and sports science staff to ensure each plan suits each individual, because success for these lads breeds confidence and we want to get the best out of them. Clear communication is vital.”