Education stimulated by PFA Scotland

Since its formation in 2007, PFA Scotland has had a Full-Time Education Officer
in place as we fully recognise the need to support players to develop an
“exit strategy” from the game. PFA Scotland Education is not just about
supporting players to develop their educational attainment and gain qualifications,
but treats ‘education’ widely, as being just as much about providing players with
the support for the personal development they need as they make the important
transition from football to a career in an industry other than football. Players are
encouraged to become involved in education and training to acquire the skills
and qualifications needed to support their transition out of the game and to
enter a career outside football. In addition to formal education/ securing
qualifications etc, players are introduced to the additional, ‘employability’
skills they will require to secure employment out with football.

One initiative which emphasis PFA Scotland’s commitment to life long learning,
is PFA Scotland’s Careers Day. The main objectives of the event are to
ensure players realise that there are careers after football and that they have
gained excellent transferable skills whilst playing. This is a foundation event that
players continually return to and rely on annually. This year there was an
attendance of 382 players and 36 organisations interested in
employing / recruiting players. The event was hailed as a great success and
feedback from the surveys stated that 100% of exhibitors would be interested
in future events. The majority of the event was reported as being
successful; any negative comments have been taken on board and
addressed for future event.
 
One player who has utilised such initiatives is Stuart McCaffrey. ‘I had been
out of education since leaving high school in 1996, where I completed a
fifth year and gained 3 higher grade passes, before leaving for a career in
professional football. So despite having the academic ability, I was a little
apprehensive to do traditional form of study again, but in 2008 I began a
Sports Therapy course at Further Education level, this course gave the
confidence to then look at Higher Education courses. Through the support
network of PFA Scotland, and listening to presentations at the Careers Day,
I was guided towards the Open University. After discussions with PFA Scotland
Careers Advisor and The Open University guidance staff, I decided
on starting a degree in Business Studies. I was amazed at how many courses
where available to me and how easily I could fit them into my current training
and playing schedule. At present I spend between 12-18 hours per week
studying, this enables me to be flexible if I have 2 matches per week.
The learning resources and tutor support have been excellent; I can’t speak
highly enough of this mode of learning. I believe this particular course will give me
career options for when my playing days are over. I also hope by gaining the
degree, it will further my career options in football, as I have aspirations to
coach in USA where higher education qualification is mandatory to coach
in the college system’.