Understanding Neurodiversity in Professional Football Academies

A comprehensive training course designed to educate the staff of professional football academies on supporting neurodiverse players and their families.

Understanding Neurodiversity Professional Football Academies

April 2025
6pm - 9pm
Online via Zoom
£99 per person

Understanding Neurodiversity Professional Football Academies is a comprehensive training course designed to educate academy staff on supporting neurodiverse players and their families.

Learn strategies for:

  • understanding ND conditions
  • identifying needs and triggers
  • adapting training and communication methods
  • managing match-day scenarios
  • addressing misconceptions
  • building inclusivity

While helping neurotypical individuals understand the challenges faced by players with ADHD, autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

Neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD and autism are now more prevalent than ever (20% of people present at least one ND condition) and their rates are set to increase in the coming years.

Unfortunately, the system is seriously lagging, with thousands of individuals still waiting for diagnoses.

If you think you don't have any ND players in your academy, then you are wrong.

Equip yourself, your staff and your club with the tools to create a more inclusive, supportive, successful and safe football environment. 

£99 PER PERSON - BOOK NOW

Danny Matharu
Founder, The FMHA

Football is failing neurodivergent players, and we’re here to change that.

Professional Academies must be prepared to support neurodiverse players and their families, yet the majority are unequipped, due to the lack of systemic support.

Recently, more people are speaking openly about neurodivergence and attitudes towards it are shifting. From ADHD to Autism, nearly a quarter of the population lives with some form of ND condition and some footballers are beginning to share their experiences.

Yet for neurodivergent players in the academy system, these differences can feel like barriers to their progress. Stories like Charlie Austin’s ADHD diagnosis have highlighted a painful reality: support structures in football are severely lacking.

For some, this has created an unwelcoming environment for those whose brains work differently, suppressing the growth and participation of neurodivergent players at all levels of the game.

Together, we can ensure that neurodiverse players and their families receive the understanding and support they need, both on and off the pitch.
Recent studies have shown that neurodevelopmental Conditions are more common than previously thought
A comprehensive study found that 21.5% of children and adolescents presented with at least one neurodevelopmental Condition
ADHD shows a significant gender disparity, with male-to-female ratios reported between 2:1 and 4:1
ASD also shows a gender difference, though less pronounced than previously thought, with current estimates around 3:1 male-to-female ratio
DELIVERED BY:

Charlie Austin
Ex Southampton, Burnley, QPR

Charlie Austin is a former Premier League striker, UEFA B licensed coach and advocate for neurodiversity in football. His career has been marked by determination, goal-scoring prowess and a recent commitment to promoting understanding of neurodevelopmental conditions in the sport.

In 2024, at the age of 34, Charlie was diagnosed with combined ADHD. This diagnosis came after both of his daughters were identified as having ADHD and autism. His personal experience as both a professional footballer and a parent of neurodivergent children provides him with unique insights into the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in football.

Since his diagnosis, Charlie has become a passionate advocate for neurodiversity inclusion in football and is seeing an increased number of current and ex-professionals reach out to him in confidence to discuss the condition after sensing they may be neurodivergent.

Charlie brings his wealth of experience as a professional footballer, a coach and his personal journey with neurodiversity to the Football Mental Health Alliance to co-deliver this training, offering an unparalleled base of knowledge and experience in the arena of neurodiversity and professional football.

Tasha Walsh - (Accred.MBACP & Supervisor)

Tasha is a Relationally trained Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor. She has DDP (Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy) Level 1 and is a Certified Autplay Therapist which is a specialist play therapy devised specifically for Autism and other neurodivergent people.

Tasha worked for eight years within a cluster of schools in Leeds and now has a private practice. 

She's a private therapist, clinical supervisor and trainer & owner of Seen & Heard Therapy, the neurodiversity specialist at Northpoint - Service Manager CYP Service & Clinical Coordinator. 

She is a leading expert in neurodiversity. As both a qualified neurodiversity specialist and the parent of a child who has navigated the professional academy system, Tasha brings a rare and invaluable dual perspective - expert insight into neurodivergent conditions and first-hand experience of the challenges and opportunities within elite football pathways.

Her unique combination of professional expertise and lived experience makes her perfectly placed to help academies create inclusive environments where neurodivergent players can thrive. Tasha understands the pressures of the system from both a parent and player perspective, ensuring her training is not just theoretical but deeply practical and tailored to the realities of academy life.

She has a special interest in therapeutically supporting and advocating for children & young people and adults who are Neurodivergent.

Danny Matharu
Founder - The FMHA

Danny is a passionate grassroots football coach and the founder of The Football Mental Health Alliance (FMHA), created in response to the glaring lack of mental health support within the game. His journey began when one of his players experienced two devastating personal tragedies in quick succession. Struggling to find football-specific mental health resources, Danny set out to bridge the gap - ensuring that players, coaches and parents had access to the right support when they needed it most.

Since launching FMHA, Danny has driven the initiative to national recognition, partnering with England’s County FAs and hundreds of clubs to integrate mental health education and support across all levels of football. His work continues to reshape how mental health and neurodiversity are understood and addressed within the sport.

Danny also brings first-hand experience of neurodiversity, both as a parent and an advocate. He has a son diagnosed with autism, giving him a personal insight into the challenges faced by neurodivergent players and their families. This perspective has led him to author a children’s book on neurodiversity, part of the 'All Footballers Experience' series, designed to help young players understand and embrace their unique strengths.

With at least 25% of people having one or more neurodivergent conditions, the reality is that every academy already has neurodivergent players - whether they know it or not. Without the right support, these players won’t reach their full potential or leave for academies who can offer them the correct support.

Chris Bennett

With over a decade of experience delivering high-quality training in health and social care, Chris is a highly respected expert in professional development and compliance training. As the founder and director of Options Training, he leads a company dedicated to raising standards across healthcare, education and social care sectors.

Chris is a Member of the Association of Healthcare Trainers, a certified Mental Health First Aider, and an approved provider with Skills for Care. He also runs a fully accredited HABC (Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance) centre, ensuring that his training meets the highest industry standards.

In this programme, Chris brings his expertise in the ‘technical’ aspects of neurodiversity, ensuring that training is grounded in best practice, compliance and real-world application. His deep understanding of neurodivergent needs, combined with his extensive training experience, makes him an invaluable asset in helping academies build inclusive, supportive environments where all players can thrive.
DELEGATE FEEDBACK
FMHA_Help_Beyond_the_Pitch
Fantastic – definitely exceeded my expectations, it was really thorough and incredibly useful.
FMHA_Help_Beyond_the_Pitch
The course was really excellent, and I’ve taken away lots of knowledge to now feed back into our club. 
FMHA_Help_Beyond_the_Pitch
This has been incredibly useful,
I’m very grateful to have learnt SO much this evening – thank you.
FMHA_Help_Beyond_the_Pitch
Great information and superb delivery.
 
Thank you.
FMHA_Help_Beyond_the_Pitch
I really enjoyed hearing from other coaches and their ideas and approaches. Thank you for all your work in raising awareness and understanding on this topic, much appreciated.
FMHA_Help_Beyond_the_Pitch
Thank you so much for running such an informative and engaging session. It was fantastic to be a part of and I’m looking forward to implementing some changes across our team/coaching.
FMHA_Help_Beyond_the_Pitch
Excellent session. Was exceptional value for money and was worth every penny. Exceeded my expectations.

And all the content provided should be mandatory content on FA courses.
FMHA_Help_Beyond_the_Pitch
It was a very well presented and thought provoking session. It's nice to get ideas from other coaches as well who have to deal with similar situations. I am probably best described as old school so very much a new learning curve for myself.

Certainly think that some of it needs to be added into the Core Coaching qualification to help all Coaches better understand the needs that some kids may require.
FMHA_Help_Beyond_the_Pitch
Superb session, it certainly opened up my knowledge of ND and the wide number of characteristics which I can assimilate to players in my team. Thank you for the session, I will be highly recommending it to my club that managers attend future sessions.
FMHA_Help_Beyond_the_Pitch
Great course loads to take back to the club. I live with this everyday so I already do 90 percent of the stuff talked about but I know lots of teams at the club don't so will be very beneficial for them.
FMHA_Help_Beyond_the_Pitch
Thanks for the session, really helpful and great to hear from other coaches too about their approaches. Will definitely hold a session with my club's coaches!
FMHA_Help_Beyond_the_Pitch
The course was brilliant and there was so much new information.
FMHA_Help_Beyond_the_Pitch
Thank you so much! Such an amazing session!
FMHA_Help_Beyond_the_Pitch
Excellent training.
Really informative.
COURSE CONTENT

Module 1: Introduction to Neurodiversity in Professional Academies

  • Defining Neurodiversity in an Elite Setting: Explaining neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD, autism and dyslexia, emphasising their prevalence in young athletes and the unique pressures within professional football environments.
  •  
  • Tailoring Support for High-Performance Players: Discuss the distinct challenges neurodiverse players may face within the high-pressure world of professional football, such as anxiety from performance expectations and strict schedules.
  •  
  • Statistics on Neurodiversity: A look at the prevalence of neurodiversity and how we see it trending in the future.
  •  
  • Focus on ADHD and Autism: Characteristics, behavioural presentations and how these impact participation in football. 
  •  
  • Dyslexia and Dyspraxia: Their interactions with ADHD and Autism.  
£99 PER PERSON - BOOK NOW

Module 2: Understanding Neurodiverse Behaviour on and off the Pitch

  • Identifying Neurodiverse Behaviours: Cover on-pitch behaviours and social challenges unique to the high-competition context of professional academies.  
  •  
  • Performance Pressure and Anxiety: Address how neurodiverse players might respond to pressure and ways to prevent/assist with triggers, managing both on-field performance and off-field preparation. 
  •  
  • Common Misconceptions: Addressing why neurodiverse behaviours are often misinterpreted as "disruptive" or "unruly."  
  •  
  • Training and Game Day Adaptations: How to understand behaviours and adjust coaching styles.   
  •  
  • Recognising Stimming: How to recognise and support Stimming.   
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Module 3: Coaching Strategies for Neurodiverse Players

  • Pre-Match Preparation: Work with player care managers and coaches to create comprehensive pre-match routines tailored to neurodiverse needs, including specific communication strategies. 
  •  
  • Structured Drills and Feedback: Focus on structured drills that consider sensory sensitivity and tailored feedback that acknowledges the unique ways neurodiverse players process information. 
  •  
  • Individualised Goal Setting: Emphasise creating achievable goals that allow neurodiverse players to thrive without feeling overwhelmed by the typical high-stakes academy environment. 
  •  
  • Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria: Understanding RSD is, how to identify it on and off the football pitch and how to support players with RSD.  
  •  
  • Communication Techniques: How to communicate effectively with neurodiverse players.  
  •  
  • Pre-match Preparation for ND Players: Tips and examples on how to inform ND players about match day details in advance.
  •  
  • Handling Difficult Situations: Dealing with outbursts or inattentiveness empathetically and constructively. 
£99 PER PERSON - BOOK NOW

Module 4: Support for Families of Neurodiverse Players

  • Parental Perspectives – Supporting Families and Fellow Players: Empathising with parents/carers of neurodiverse players and understanding their challenges.
  •  
  • Team Dynamics: Helping neurotypical players understand and support neurodiverse teammates.
  •  
  • Creating a Supportive Environment for Players with RSD: Encouraging peer support and parent/carer/spectator involvement. 
  •  
  • Understanding ND Behaviours and Promoting Empathy: Empowering people to educate others to reduce common judgement and to understand the challenges ND parents/carers face.
  •  
  • Managing Medication and Banned Substances for Neurodiverse Players: Understand ND medications and how some are classified as banned substances in professional settings. Also learn how this could impact players as they transition into the professional game with the requirement to obtain a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). 
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Module 5: Creating a Neuro-Inclusive Culture within Professional Academies

  • Educational Workshops for Non-ND Peers: Develop empathy in neurotypical teammates and encourage a culture of support across player interactions. 
  •  
  • Inclusive Communication Across Academy Levels: Stress consistent, accessible language and expectations that avoid jargon and overwhelming information - essential in high-performance settings. 
  •  
  • Building a Neuro-Inclusive Legacy: Focus on the long-term advantages of neurodiversity education, setting a standard that reflects positively on the club’s reputation and supports players’ mental well-being and performance. 
  •  
  • Parental Perspectives – Supporting Families and Fellow Players: Empathising with parents/carers of neurodiverse players and understanding their challenges.  
  •  
  • Team Dynamics: Helping neurotypical players understand and support neurodiverse teammates.  
  •  
  • Understanding ND Behaviours and Promoting Empathy: Empowering people to educate others to reduce common judgement and to understand the challenges ND parents/carers face.   

 

£99 PER PERSON - BOOK NOW

ONLINE VIA ZOOM

April 2025
6pm - 9pm
£99 per person

Create a more inclusive, supportive, successful and safe academy environment for EVERYONE.

£99 PER PERSON - BOOK NOW
Football Mental Health Alliance Help Beyond the Pitch
Included in the price of £99 per person is:
  • Digital Certificate
  • Copy of the Understanding Neurodiversity in Professional Football Academies Presentation
  • Extensive signposting to ND specialist content
  • Certified Neurodiversity Support Club Digital Badge
  • FREE bespoke Club Neurodiversity Support Plan
  • FREE bespoke club-branded website/social media graphics to promote your club’s stance on neurodiversity
  • FREE bespoke digital A4 poster to print
  • Press release to announce the training on your socials and website
Understanding Neurodiversity in Professional Football Academies 

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The resources and support provided in The Vault are designed to promote mental wellbeing and provide general guidance on mental health related to grassroots football.

However, the content is not intended to serve as specific mental health advice or replace consultation with a trained professional. If you or someone you know requires personalised mental health support, we strongly encourage you to consult with a licensed mental health professional or seek appropriate services in your area.

The Vault also offers signposting to help you find organisations that can provide more specialised assistance when needed.
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