It’s difficult to deny the rise of Player Care in recent years – with new and evolving roles in Premier League clubs, extensive research undertaken and even the birth of consultancy firms, it’s become one of the most rapidly expanding sectors within sport.

When we unravel the term, which broadly involves supporting players and families off the pitch with their mental health and general well-being, it is unsurprising as to why. With increased focus placed on the psychological well-being of professional athletes, and a greater understanding and acceptance of its correlation with on-pitch performance than ever, the investment in players beyond their ability to kick a ball was a long time coming.

Find out more about GIS' MSc Player Care in Football Click here

Why, then, is Player Care so important? It feeds into the broader shift towards focusing on a player, or person, more holistically, both because this is the right thing to do for their psychological and emotional welfare, and because it’s scientifically proven to improve performance.

On top of this, there are several financial and commercial reasons as to why investing in Player Care benefits an organisation. The players, while people first, are also important assets, and a positive experience for the athletes is likely to result in a growth in player retention, more buy-ins and lower costs overall.

While working in Player Care unsurprisingly has human relationships at its core, the approach to monitoring player wellbeing is increasingly data-driven, allowing organisations to effectively measure the happiness of players in new environments.

Ultimately, caring about your Players is investing in both your employees and your greatest assets. You’re not only likely to improve their on-pitch performance, but transform the team spirit that, as any great manager would tell you, is a prerequisite for success.

Find out more about GIS’ MSc Professional Qualification in Football.

Find out more about GIS' Certificate in Elite Player Care and Wellbeing.