VAR proponent. Game has changed and the referee’s will illicit criticism either way. They are professional, and train accordingly. Good people. Just remind fans of Man Utd losing the league in 2010. Mike Dean missed 2 penalties Utd v Chelsea and the off side goal is embarrassing.

As a sports scientist by nature, I love the impact it has made on the game. Taken the game to exciting levels. But put it into perspective. SAF has openly commented that Cantona, Giggs, and Scholes were WC. That was before our impact. We just supported them in their development.

There is no template for success. No DNA process that spits out a graduate/WC player. Otherwise we would produce the same outcomes every year. We don’t! Therefore appreciate the contextual factors. And don’t absorb in self gratification.

No better feeling when a player exceeds in the professional game. It’s what Academies were set up to do. Player development is multi-disciplinary and complex at best. Developing them is a team sport. Not sure why so many practitioners pinpoint their ownership in the process.

Across the Premier League that could be £900 million in injury related costs. Surely that is worrying for all stakeholders.

On average, it is estimated that a Premier League Team lose £45 million a season due to injury-related decrements in performance. £36 million on underachievement and £9 million on salaries to injured players. We are already into week 3 and the number of injuries is worrying.

Seems like a good time to introduce a Player Health & Safety Committee. Key themes - Health & Safety, governance of external fitness practitioners, recommended rest breaks, fixture cadence, data ownership and data protection etc

Injury rate per 1000 hours exposure increases X6 when 2 matches are played in a week. In 2019, 6 PL players were injured every 24 hours across a 13-day period (Christmas). Last season, one team had in excess of 50 injuries.

Injuries are rising in football. The proportion of all injury absence days caused by hamstring injuries has increased from 10% in 2001/02 to 20% in 2021/22. Incidence and medical claim costs have continued to rise exponentially. Claims in excess of £200,000 per year for teams.

Adding multi ball system at the same time means the intensity and volume of games is increased simultaneously.

4000 minutes a season is an exceptional return for any player. Extra added minutes will push the demands to nearly 5000 for those who play every game.

If every game in championship plays 15 mins added time, that equates to approximately 8 games per season playing time. Which is an additional 17% output. #rulechanges will push demands on all squads.

Great facilities for the FAW players.