A Premier League academy must put in place a staffing structure for its category, led by an academy manager. A Category 1 academy needs at least two full-time physiotherapists beyond the senior academy physiotherapist and three full-time performance analysts, while a Category 3 academy needs one full-time analyst.
Core staffing duty and the one area of flexibility
Any club that runs an academy has to establish a staffing structure that includes the mandatory posts for its category and reflects the guidelines and best practice within the Elite Player Performance Plan. The obligation is about the structure as a whole as well as the named posts attached to each category.
A club need not employ every mandatory post, provided it can show the league, the independent standards organisation or the professional game board that its structure includes the same expertise and achieves the same results as if all those posts were filled. That flexibility has a clear limit. It does not apply to the academy manager, the senior academy physiotherapist, the physiotherapists required by the rules, the academy doctor, the head of safeguarding, or the coaches described by the rules.
Every member of academy staff must receive a written job description and an annual performance appraisal. Where the rules require continued professional development, the club must provide it and take all reasonable steps to make sure it is completed.
How staffing changes by academy category
Here are the category-based requirements for the named posts.
| Post | Category 1 | Category 2 | Category 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full time physiotherapists, beyond the senior one | At least two | At least one | Not specified |
| Performance analysts | Three full time | Two, one of them full time | One full time |
| Head of education | Full time, QTS or QTLS | Full time, QTS or QTLS | At least 20 hours a week, teaching qualification |
| Education programme support | One person full time, extra to the head of education | Not specified | Not specified |
| Academy doctor qualification | Current ATMMiF | Current ITMMiF | Current ITMMiF |
Management team, registration, and reporting lines
Each club must establish an academy management team led by the academy manager. The club board can include whatever other officials it considers necessary. That may include the head of education, the head of sports science and medicine, the head of recruitment, the head of coach development, the head of safeguarding, the academy operations manager, and the academy secretary.
The staff registration system has to be updated at the start of each season. It also has to be updated within seven days whenever a member of staff changes role, joins the club, or leaves it.
The head of education reports to the academy manager. The head of recruitment also reports to the academy manager, with responsibility for the club's policies and procedures for recruiting academy players and for recruiting and training the club's scouts.
Physiotherapists, academy doctor, performance analysts, and the head of education
The physiotherapy roles come with firm qualification rules. The physiotherapists required by the rules must be registered members of the HCPC. If their duties include clinical leadership at matches, they must hold a current ATMMiF or a qualification accepted as equivalent or higher. If a club employs a sports therapist, that person must work under the management and supervision of a registered physiotherapist.
Every physiotherapist and sports therapist must hold a current ITMMiF or better and undertake continued professional development. Every academy must also appoint an academy doctor who is a registered medical practitioner licensed by the General Medical Council. The academy doctor must be available to assess playing injuries and, where appropriate, treat them, must be available for consultation at the academy at least once a week in addition to attending matches, and is responsible for preparing the club's emergency action plan.
Performance analysis also has set minimum standards. In a Category 1 academy, at least one performance analyst must hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent in performance analysis, sport sciences, or sports coaching. In Category 2, one analyst must be full time and degree-qualified in those fields, and in Category 3 the single analyst must be both full time and degree-qualified.
The head of education is responsible for organising, managing, and delivering the club's education programme, for the educational progression of every academy player, and for making sure that a player on the hybrid or full-time training model is not educationally disadvantaged by it. At Category 1 and 2 level, the post requires QTS or QTLS with relevant experience. At Category 3 or 4 level, the minimum is a teaching or further education teaching qualification.
FAQ
How many physios does a Premier League academy need?
The answer changes by academy category. Category 1 needs at least two full-time physiotherapists beyond the senior academy physiotherapist, Category 2 needs at least one, and Category 3 has no specified number in this requirement.
Those rule-required physiotherapy posts cannot be covered by the flexibility clause. Where matchday duties include clinical leadership, the relevant physiotherapist must also hold a current ATMMiF or an accepted equivalent or higher qualification.
Does a Premier League academy have a doctor?
Yes. Every academy must appoint an academy doctor, and that role is outside the area where a club can rely on an alternative staffing solution.
The qualification depends on category: current ATMMiF for Category 1, current ITMMiF for Category 2, 3, or 4, unless an accepted equivalent is held. The doctor must also be licensed by the General Medical Council.
What qualifications does an academy head of education need?
At Category 1 and 2 level, the head of education must hold QTS or QTLS and have relevant experience. At Category 3 or 4 level, the minimum is a teaching qualification or a further education teaching qualification.
The time commitment changes as well. The role is full time at Category 1 and 2, and at least 20 hours a week at Category 3.
What is an academy management team?
It is the management group each club must set up for its academy, led by the academy manager. The club board decides what other officials are needed around that lead role.
Possible members include the head of education, the head of sports science and medicine, the head of recruitment, the head of coach development, the head of safeguarding, the academy operations manager, and the academy secretary.