1. Qualifications of Medical Staff

Academy Doctor

The Academy Doctor shall be either:

  • The Full-time Club Doctor or a Doctor who shall be itinerant or part-time and have no duties or responsibilities for the club’s First Team Squad.

Academy Physiotherapists

  • 2 full time physiotherapists be employed by an Academy to provide the medical services stated in the medical criteria governing Academy status. 1 x Full Time Chartered Physiotherapist, the second shall be full time who shall be either an additional Chartered Physiotherapist or a Therapist who holds the FA’s Diploma in the Treatment and Management of Injuries. (Note: The second post can be of full time equivalent status through the employment of 2 or 3 physiotherapists holding the stated qualifications.

Coaching Staff – Medical Training Recommendation

  • Every Coach must have attended an FA Emergency Aid Course (valid for 3 years).
  • Each Team should have in attendance for all games a representative who holds the following medical qualifications:
  • FA Emergency Aid Training (Attendance Certificate) (Valid for 3 years)
  • FA Recognised Valid First Aid Qualification (Valid for 3 years)

2. Medical Screening

Football Academies to conduct medical screening of Academy players in the form of:

  • Cardiovascular Screening
  • Orthopaedic Screening

Cardiological Screening

  • a.) 'On' Entry (9 Years Old or at Any Age up to 16 Years Old)
    Each registered Academy Player to undergo a medical examination by the Academy Doctor that includes standard cardiovascular system assessments. Referral for specific cardiological assessment test to be organised by the Academy Doctor where there are clinical indications following the medical examination inline with, The FA Cardiological Screening Policy on Entry”. All costs incurred for these specific tests to be met by The Academy.
  • b.) U17 Age Group Screening
    All U17 age group players to be given the opportunity to undergo cardiological assessment free of charge (paid for through the Joint FA /PFA Funding Mechanism). Orthopaedic Medical Screening (U17 Age Group Players) All players in Football Academies to be offered the opportunity to undergo an Orthopaedic assessment carried out by a regional orthopaedic surgeon free of charge financed by the joint FA/PFA Funding Mechanism.

Orthopaedic Medical Screening (U17 Age Group Players)

All players in Football Academies to be offered the opportunity to undergo an Orthopaedic assessment carried out by a regional orthopaedic surgeon free of charge financed by the joint FA/PFA Funding Mechanism.

3. Medical Records

Up to date Medical Records for all Academy players to be maintained and securely controlled by Academy Medical Staff. Total player confidentiality to be observed. The Medical Record content to be designed by The FA Medical Education Centre for use by Academy medical staff.

4. Advisory Visits

Advisory Visits to be made by the staff of The FA Medical Education Centre to Academies to advise on medical procedures an0d provide an opportunity for feedback from Academy Medical Staff.

5. Medical Insurance for Academy Players

The medical insurance cover should be of an adequate level to offer the young player expedient and quality diagnostic procedures and, where necessary, specialist assessment, treatment, surgery or rehabilitation when accidents have occurred or injuries have been sustained.

The insurance policy should offer benefits for the following medical provision for both 'Personal Accident' and 'Injury' sustained by an Academy player:

  • i Full diagnostic services and clinical investigative procedures
  • ii Medical expenses for medical, surgical, specialist fees, hospital, Nursing Home, nursing attendance charges, physiotherapy costs, residential hospital services costs and ambulance hire.
  • iii All forms of 'injury' should be covered, both 'traumatic' and 'non-traumatic' in nature.
  • iv There should be no 'excess' to each claim, (e.g., the first £250 of each and every claim).

6. Medical Research Requirement

The Academy Medical Staff to comply with and actively undertake The Football Association's Medical Research Projects currently involving:

6.1 An Audit of Injuries in Academy Football- Longtitudinal Study
This research project to cover Academy players of all age groups in order to:

  • Identify the prevalence of injuries in specific age-group Academy players
  • To identify potential injury risk factors of young players
  • To reduce the prevalence of injury through preventative strategies.
  • To correlate injury patterns with measurements in 6.2 below.

6.2 Orthopaedic Musculo-Skeletal Evaluation Research- Longtitudinal Study
Academy young players to be evaluated by Academy Medical Staff using a standardised orthopaedic musculo-skeletal Evaluation programme devised by The FA Medical Education Centre in conjunction with Academy medical staff.

  • To establish age specific measurement norms and ranges.
  • To identify orthopaedic / biomechanical abnormalities in young players that may predispose injuries in specific age groups in academy football and later in professional football

7. In-Service Medical Training

The guidelines regarding the provisions outlined in this paper will be provided to Football Academy Medical Staff as part of their annual 36 hours specific in-service medical training provided by The Football Association.

Medical Criteria for Football Centres of Excellence

1. Qualification of Staff- Medical

1.1 Centre of Excellence - Medical Practitioner Support
All Centre of Excellence attendees will have registered with their own Family General Practitioner in their Health Authority 'catchment' area. This is the first 'line of call'.

Medical advice has been sought, indicating that the club have a legal and medical responsibility for the medical welfare of all boys attending the club's Centre of Excellence, the Club Doctor should hold a register and relevant medical history notes so that he/she is aware of the medical history of all young players attached to the club and is in a position to liaise with a boy's General Practitioner.

1.2 Coaching- Staff
With the number of age groups and teams involved, there is a need to ensure that adequate "first line" medical cover is available for training/games.

Given that the Coaching Staff at Football Centres of Excellence will be in attendance at all training/games and with each team they should have successfully completed and maintain valid qualifications in the following medical courses:

  • FA Emergency Aid Course
  • FA Recognised Valid First Aid Course

2. Medical / Cardiological Screening

It is recommended that the existing Association Football cardiological screening programme for all 16 year old trainees attached to professional clubs be maintained.

  1. Examination by Club Doctor
  2. Completion of Medical Questionnaire
  3. Completion of Attendee Medical History Questionnaire by Parents/Guardian
  4. Electro-Cardiograph x 1 
  5. Echo-Cardiogram Assessment x 1
  6. Consultant Cardiologist Report

Please Note: Regional Cardiology Units and Consultant Cardiologists have been recruited for the current Screening Programme for all Youth Teams attached to Professional Clubs.

3. Medical Records and Injury Reporting

As stated in (1) the Club Doctor should keep relevant medical history notes on each Centre of Excellence attendee and be in a position to liaise with the boy's registered General Practitioner. Significant injuries sustained by a Centre of Excellence attendee should be reported to the club doctor for note in the medical records.

4. Medical Insurance for Centre of Excellence Attendees

A 'Personal Accident Insurance' covering benefits for Accidental Death, Loss of Sight, Hearing, Speech, Limb(s) and Immobility of Regions of the Body sustained in accidents is recommended.

England International Teams Medical and Exercise Science Staff Duties, Responsibilities and Practices

We have a standardised working document specific to the England International Teams Medical and Exercise Science Staff.

It covers a wide range of duties, responsibilities and practices. The contents of the document are as follows:

  • Medical Staff
  • Medical Administration
  • Medical Cardiological Screening Arrangements
  • Medical History, Medical Recording, Confidentiality, Report Procedures, 'Follow-Ups'
  • Medical Funding, Medical Insurance
  • Medical Equipment, Medical Training Requirements
  • In-Game, Medical Staff, 'On-Field', Injury, Protocol Medical Procedure for Multiple Injuries
  • Role, Duties and Responsibilities, England Doctor, 'Pre-Game', Practice / Training, 'In-Game', 'Post-Game'
  • Role, Duties and Responsibilities, of Physiotherapists 'Pre-Game', 'Practice Training', 'In-Game', 'Post-Game'
  • Role, Duties and Responsibilities of Exercise Scientists 'Practice Training', 'Pre-Game', 'In-Game', 'Post-Game'
  • Physiological Support- Development of International Teams and Players Physical and Physiological Profiling of Player
  • Medical Player Injury Status, Decision- Making Process, 'On Field' Assessment Routine, Injury Assessment Protocol, Post-Injury Functional Fitness Tests
  • Medical- Injury Prevention Strategy · Role of FA Medical Education Centre
  • Miscellaneous Notes