Are Non- League players Dual Career Athletes?

Non-league football has in recent time been a great production line for teams in the football pyramid playing full-time. However, in the face of multiple sources of stress do we need to nurture and redefine the non-league player and fancify their roles by calling them Dual-Career athletes?

What we already know about stress in the modern game:

The advancement of the modern game, is very much illustrated by the consistency elite footballers are able to maintain post-30 years of age.

Nowadays, modern footballers are much more refined as physical specimens as well as being technically gifted. This is all aided by the advancement in technology, medicine and innovative exercise programmes.

Not to mention, the conscious effort to optimise the psychological care of footballers in recent years. Despite all of this, stress remains to be an immovable part of the game.

Stress is very much relative but unrealistic expectations set either internally or externally, lead to a persistent continued stress.

For instance, we are now seeing how young football players in the academy systems are becoming much more prone to leaving the game as a result of disinterest and or losing their enjoyment for the game.

The Academy system has always been sold as the attractive route into the professional game.

However, given that less than 2% manage to break through at the elite level, we are finding more and more talented players apply their trade in the lower levels of the pyramid and being propelled back up into the elite levels.

The existing success stories of non-league graduates has only made this level of the pyramid a much more attractive prospect for young hopefuls. Even if they have to take up a day job to maintain some sort of financial stability amidst chasing their dream.

So what to expect from participating at this level?

An elite level player generally faces pressure to perform in ways we can only imagine nonetheless, an argument can be made that there are much larger volumes of sports related stress at a non-league level as opposed to the ones in the football pyramid.

Diets and injury prevention/rehab aren’t managed as intimately so these injuries are largely treated by an already overworked and understaffed National Health System.

Often players at non-league levels will have to endure sharp turnarounds in fixtures with the various cup competitions that merge with their league schedules. So, odds are heavily stacked against these players to perform.

A majority of the players at this level are very much reliant on the wages of their day job as well as their club. Quality of performances then doesn’t always become a certainty.

Therefore, discipline becomes key. You’ve got to want to maintain high standards whilst at the same time trying to give your best efforts during your day job.A significant consequence of this may be stress surrounding levels of fitness and motivation to compete at all.

How can performances at work and on the pitch, both be at a high standard? Is there a subconscious effort towards achieving one over the other?

What is a Dual Career Athlete?

A “dual-career athlete” is a term that has widely been used to define top level performers who share their time pursuing higher education. A student athlete, most commonly seen in the US, experience different pressures on their road to sporting success.

Although personally, semi-professional players at the non-league level should qualify under this fancy term. They compete on year to year contracts, where competition off the field for guaranteed contracts is just as fierce as competition on the field.

Given the fact that it isn’t sustainable to have a heavily invested contract for a semi-pro player, the onus is now on them to find financial stability with day jobs whilst performing to the best of their abilities as well as maintaining their competitive drive.

Last year, I completed some research examining the ‘’dual-career athlete” and their stressors, where I presented several arguments about how achieving athletic excellence is very much difficult to achieve whilst holding down another occupation.

Using a series of interviews, of a handful of student-athletes and non-league players, 5 participants in total. The general finding is that optimum performance is difficult to maintain as there are only so many sport related and non sport related stressors that can be contained.

The table below shows the general themes I encountered whilst analysing their interviews:

Theme	Verbatim example
Sponsorship and Endorsement	“For Now, I need to start branching and producing highlight tapes that would help professional clubs take notice of me”. (Participant #3)
Career Progression	‘’ I’m trying to reach the highest level my ability will take me, I believe I’m good enough to play at National League level…” (Participant #4)
Premature Discontinuation	“I know this will become more difficult to keep in the future as I will be working’’. (Participant #1)
Interpersonal Interactions	‘’we are much more engaging with the fans…” (Participant #5) ‘’…it’s about performing on the pitch so these players don’t get too vocal with you.” (Participant #4)
Milestones	“.. it was a big change and opportunity in my life I couldn’t say no.” (participant #2). “…where I got picked up by Dagenham& Redbridge.” (Participant #5)
Preparation	“I can’t recall a moment where mental focus didn’t make a difference.” (Participant #2) “I would also be repeating we can win this game to pump myself up.” (Participant #1)

Through analysis of their interviews, each participant produced quotes  that could be categorized into themes:  Sponsorship & Endorsement,  Career Progression, Premature Discontinuation, Interpersonal interactions , Milestones and finally Preparation.

Sponsorship & Endorsement covers representation and the desire of wanting to be endorsed for the efforts being put on the pitch. Participant 5 in particular often spoke with excitement when speaking on this particular theme.

Career Progression is a popular motivation amongst athletes. The drive to be better and compete amongst better players is natural in high level sport. Participant 4 in particular has his eyes set on the mountain top of the non-league pyramid; their burning desire very much evident in his tone and delivery.

They have since gone on to accomplish their goal and now has eyes set on the football pyramid.

Premature Discontinuation is just as important of a theme that plays on the mind of dual-career athletes. The sport- work life balance can take its toll and there are moments where players may want to take a step back from the game especially younger players.

Interpersonal Interactions are vital to any successful team. Dressing room hierarchy can be enjoyable at times but you often come across alpha-male like character who persistently demand excellence. Participant 4 certainly looked to be contained within themselves when speaking on their own dynamics with team-mates.

Milestones are very much an individual concept. The more popular form would be trophies whether they are team or individual based.But for some recognition and the opportunity to represent a well-known side becomes a milestone in itself. Participant 5 seemed to be in their element when discussing this.

The participants I spoke to winning a trophy, making a debut as a young player, surviving relegation and any individual awards taste that much sweeter in the face of all these stressful conditions

Preparation was a heavy theme throughout. The burden of taking responsibility of logistical , organisational, physiological and psychological needs can be a lot to think about. Participants 1 and 2 relish this challenge and very much view it as struggling means to fruitful ends.

Success ultimately feels different for these players; lifting silverware almost vindicates the struggles, where financial rewards and career development is likely to follow.

The players in the study all collectively preferred to achieve their sporting milestones over any sort of vocational progression and a common coping mechanism was found to be the support and love of family and friends.

I’ve certainly highlighted the pessimism surrounding the effect of these existing “stressors”. However the participants have shown humility and strength of character to endure all they have done so far. Time to start recognising these efforts

Give the modern day Dual-career athlete their flowers:

Stress is inevitable and immeasurable. Yet non-league players or if you want “dual-career” athletes contend with both sport related and non sport related stress.

The dream as a kid primarily to be a great footballer that competes at the highest possible level but the reality for these dual-career athletes is that there is a demand to excel in a day job simultaneously.

We therefore have to appreciate the grind application and rise by the likes of Jamie Vardy, Troy Deeney, Charlie Austin and anyone else whose efforts were recognised at non-league and translated the unique character that can be found there onto our TV screens.

To live your dream whilst combat ”real-world” problems is something to be admired. Football is very much an emotive game and as a majority of fans are working-class citizens, a non league graduate story receives all the more appreciation.

Ultimately, what could be achieved at this level is very much dependant on what each individual player is able to tolerate. What we can do in the meantime is recognise and give much more fashionable definitions to their efforts.

Jason.B. Bitibiri