ADVANCED Certificate in Player Care
Places are limited on the football industry’s first Advanced Player Care course for 1st Team staff. Enrol your staff today.
“I found the advanced player care course incredibly valuable for my professional growth, as it covered a range of themes and real-life situations that player care staff face daily. It was filled with practical information and fresh ideas that can be applied directly in the role. The course encourages reflection and pushes you to develop further.”
New for 2025, the ‘Advanced Certificate in 1st Team Player Care’ is the new market leading course, written by experienced Player Care professionals to challenge and grow those currently working in the industry.
This eight-week live online remote programme gives participants all the skills and knowledge they need to understand and implement Player Care best practice through tested theories, discussions, debates and practical takeaways - taught within a limited class size of high quality peers.
“I was delighted to be asked to take part in this course and it certainly did not disappoint! Learning, discussing and engaging in all aspects of first Team Player Care with other students in the sporting industry, whilst being presented by some of the most knowledgeable experts in Player Care. Would highly recommend to anyone currently in player care who are looking to expand their knowledge whilst networking with like-minded individuals.”
Taught exclusively by Hugo Scheckter [ex Brentford, West Ham & Southampton], Elle Cooper [ex Manchester United] and Jon Wolf [ex NBA], some of the industry’s leading Player Care experts (see full bios below), your staff will be fully supported, challenged and mentored from Day One.
By the end of the programme, you will:
- Be able to focus on proactive rather than reactive Player Care
- Carefully consider the decision making needed in high pressure situations
- Create documents & policies to help organise the department
- Consider how to appropriately vet suppliers
- Be challenged by real life scenarios
- Be exposed to a number of different approaches to Player Care to help create a personal philosophy
“We’ve designed this course as we wanted to really help Player Care staff with the ‘how’ of Player Care. There’s so many different ways of doing things - so we have 3 tutors who’ve been there, done that - having made some mistakes too - so you can learn and build your own philosophy & playbook. ”
Your tutors for the Advanced Certificate in 1st Team Player Care
Our 8 live sessions cover the following topics:
Session 1: Player Recruitment, Presigning & Onboarding
Focus on the recruitment process and how Player Care can impact it, club/player buy-in, and onboarding logistics such as accommodation, visas, banking, orientation, and family integration. Includes real-world examples, welcome packs, trusted signing processes, and balancing needs vs. wants.
Session 2: Player Development & Education
Covers individual player development across mandatory and optional education, personal growth, and club-wide learning opportunities. Topics include financial literacy, media training, cultural education, and skills for life. Strategies for player buy-in and aligning development with club culture are explored.
Session 3: Ongoing Phase & Crisis Management
Explores the day-to-day support phase, identifying changes in behaviour, problem-solving, and escalation protocols. Covers emergency logistics, insurance, media control, and personal security planning. Defines support vs. education in grey areas.
Session 4: Family Engagement & Perception Management
Examines the importance of family support, partner vs. club roles, and performance vs. perception in Player Care. Discussions include club policies & balance, and managing internal/external relationships. Uses scenarios to debate reputation and influence within the club.
Session 5: ‘Unreasonable Hospitality’ & Player Care Department Management
Based on the book ‘Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara’, this session focuses on creating meaningful experiences for players and families beyond the transactional. Moving onto how to manage a department, includes building trust, office design, hiring the right team, working patterns, and how to measure success. Encourages creative thinking and aligning care delivery with club values.
Session 6: Player Care Team Management cont, Offboarding & Supplier Management
Continues internal team structure, recruitment, and communication strategies. Includes offboarding procedures, exit planning, and managing supplier relationships through due diligence and risk assessment. Covers emergency cover, legal boundaries, and managing upwards.
Session 7: Academy Integration, Medical Team Integration & Player Care for Loan Players
Outlines academy-to-first-team transitions, medical team collaboration, and tailored approaches for injured or loaned players. Focuses on proactive onboarding, communication structures, and the variety of loan types. Life event management and development during injury periods are included.
Session 8: Welfare, Tailored Discussions, Final Project assignment
Concludes with a focus on welfare delivery, including internal vs. external support, escalation procedures, and club psychologist collaboration. Discusses ethical boundaries, personalisation of support, and the difference between welfare and performance psychology. Time included for custom topics based on roles/experiences and includes project guidance and wrap-up.
Advanced CERTIFICATE IN PLAYER CARE SESSIONS - COHORT 2 - 3-5pm UK time live on zoom
First come, first served. Must be in a club currently or a graduate of the ‘Certificate in Player Care’.
Player Recruitment, Presigning & Onboarding, Mon 6th October
Player Development & Education Mon 13th October
Ongoing Phase & Crisis Management Mon 20th October
Family Engagement & Perception Management Mon 27th October
‘Unreasonable Hospitality’ & Player Care Department Management Mon 3rd November
Player Care Team Management cont, Offboarding & Supplier Management Mon 10th November
Academy Integration, Medical Team Integration & Player Care for Loan Players Mon 17th November
Welfare, Tailored Discussions, Final Project assignment Mon 24th November
Plus 6 modules to work through in your own time, on Player Care Theories, Match Days, Team Scheduling. Admin & Safeguarding, Player Appearances, Fan Mail/Engagement & Signed Items.
Meet The Tutors
HUGO SCHECKTER
Hugo has served in Player Care roles at 5 Premier League clubs and has taught hundreds of students about the ins and outs of Player Care. He founded The Player Care Group in 2020 and is now one of the world’s leading authorities within Player Care, having helped over half of Premier League clubs with their provision since launching TPCG.
Hugo has served in senior Player Care roles at Southampton FC, West Ham United FC and, most recently, Brentford FC as well as consulting with elite clubs worldwide. He holds a Business and Sport Administration degree from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., is a qualified football coach, is on the Board of Trustees at London based charity Football Beyond Borders and was formerly the reserves manager at non-league side Stonewall FC.
EllE cooper
Elle spent nearly 8 years in Manchester United’s Player Care department, most recently as Player Care Manager. Elle is trilingual and is currently completing a masters in Performance Psychology. She brings a passion for welfare, policies and experience of working with some of the highest profile players in the game.
Jon Wolf
Jon spent 9-years at the NBA where he led the NBA’s player development initiatives and strategy for NBA players from high school through retirement. His work included launching the NBA’s first development programs with USA Basketball’s Junior National Team & NIKE’s Elite Youth Basketball League, consulting NBA & G League clubs on creating frameworks for long-term player development, and leading NBA Player Development’s strategy and development of new projects to grow business by connecting player development with the larger goals of the NBA and its partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
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This course is designed to give those already working in Player Care roles a stronger understanding of the job and so the course is best suited to those with prior or current experience.
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Yes. Please email contact@playercaregroup.co.uk to arrange to pay by invoice. Full payment must be received before the place is confirmed.
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We will always do our best to provide you with a recording of any missed session, up to a maximum of three sessions. However, it is highly recommended you attend each session live to benefit from the interactive nature of the course.
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If you cancel up to a month before the first session, we will issue a full refund. If you cancel less than a month before, we will only refund you if we can fill your place. Once sessions have started, no refunds will be issued.
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You’ll receive a confirmation email, the full course schedule, and a Welcome Pack to read through ahead of the first session.
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No. We want you to focus on the live sessions, where our tutors will answer any questions you may have. Between each session, there will be a summary of learning as well as some items to consider for next time. But there’s no written homework due.
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We are still working with academic partners to confirm the final assessment criteria but it will be assessed and graded.