Andy Barlow on Players Education

Through education, players can prepare for another career - says Andy Barlow

It may be the end of the football season but while some players are booking holidays abroad others have put the sunny beaches on hold and are looking to the future and attending coaching courses run by the PFA.

One course currently running is at Ashton Curzon FC. PFA coaches Andy Barlow and Geoff Lomax are overseeing 30 candidates take their level 3 UEFA coaching certificate.

Barlow believes that the PFA are fulfilling an important need for players.
He said: "The key thing is that through education, players can prepare for another career. Our research show that over 70 per cent of players want to stay in the game when they finish in some shape or form, not necessarily at the highest level but in some capacity.

"It may be in an academy or maybe education in a university or college. For many players coaching is secondary career in which they are doing what they like doing and what they have great knowledge on." Barlow runs a whole raft of courses in the north of England and often goes into the clubs to allow the players the opportunity in a busy schedule not to miss out.
One player on the course in Manchester is Wigan's Premiership goalkeeper Mike Pollitt. He said: "I have found the course very useful. I would like to stay in the game, ideally, and be a goalkeeping coach eventually when I stop playing.

"During the sessions I have been playing out field and normally I don't think about it but now I am looking at the picture from an outfield player and they are looking at it from my point of view which I found very useful.
"It's very challenging trying to put yourself in someone else's shoes. To pass this would be a real feather in my cap because I would be able to coach all players and not just goalies."

But besides the knowledge gained on the course, Pollitt has enjoyed the company of people from all parts of the game. He said: "It has been really good meeting different people on the course from all parts of the game from schools, academies right through to first team coaching. You can all learn from people from all walks of life and the PFA course has done that."
Another player who is looking to the future is former Liverpool and Blackburn defender Stephane Henchoz. He said: "I am enjoying the course very much. There is a lot to do and a lot to take in. I have been injured for most of last season and am waiting to see about the future.

"I feel I have one or two more seasons left in me before I go into coaching but I would like to stay in the game. I would like eventually to become a manager but you have to start somewhere and work up. I think that if I go back to Switzerland this course will help me if I go into coaching."