When the Dream Ends: What Academy Release Really Does to Young Footballers

McGlinchey and colleagues describe release as a moment that “instantly alters the lives of footballers” and creates huge psychological shock in adolescents.  For many players, the experience is sudden, unexpected and traumatic.

Several were given little notice, vague explanations and minimal support. One participant described being informed he was being released in a 90-second meeting, leaving him confused, powerless and overwhelmed.

Many players in the study reported:

• Disbelief and shock
• Feeling emotionally numb
• Panic about the future
• Shame, embarrassment and fear of telling others
• A sense of being “cut adrift” from football

These themes mirror what I hear regularly from released young players who move into professional environments with high hope, only to face abrupt and emotionally devastating release decisions.

For many, academy life is their life. Their identity, friendships, routine, confidence, future aspirations and everything sits within football. So when release happens:

It’s not just losing a contract — it’s losing a sense of self.

Marginalisation Before Release: The “Drop-Off” Players Notice

One of the strongest themes in McGlinchey’s research is premature marginalisation when players feel pushed aside before the official decision is made.

Players described being:

• Included less
• Given fewer opportunities
• Dropped from squads
• Spoken to differently
• Slowly excluded from the group

The study notes how many players sensed their release “long before they were formally notified,” creating anxiety, confusion and hypervigilance around small changes in treatment.

Young players on loan or in U21 squads often recognise these patterns:

• Reduced minutes
• Vague feedback
• Less communication
• Emotional distancing from staff

This perceived marginalisation can be more damaging than the actual release, because:

1. It erodes confidence slowly

Confidence becomes fragile when players feel they are no longer wanted.

1. It increases performance anxiety

Players push harder, get tense, overthink and perform worse.

1. It blocks help-seeking

If staff distance themselves, players assume:
“They don’t want to help me.”

Recognising these patterns early is crucial for emotional wellbeing.

Identity Loss: When Football Is the Person

A core finding of this study is how deeply identity is tied to football. One participant described football as “my world, my friends, my whole life,” so release left him feeling like he had “nothing.”

In psychology, this is called identity foreclosure, when young people commit strongly to one identity before exploring others. Football has structure, community and purpose but it can swallow a young person’s sense of self.

So when release hits:

• Who am I now?
• What do I do next?
• How do I tell people?
• What is my identity without this club?

Parents and coaches need to know this:
Players aren’t just losing a career pathway. They’re losing a part of themselves.

This identity crisis often leads to:

• Isolation
• Depression symptoms
• Emotional withdrawal
• Loss of confidence
• Shame about speaking up

Supporting identity expansion — not just performance — is crucial for wellbeing.

Lack of Aftercare: The Hidden Trauma

Several players in the study reported feeling “abandoned” after release, receiving little structured support or follow-up from clubs. Some described being removed from group chats, training environments and staff contact almost immediately.

For young people, this creates:

• Emotional trauma
• Social isolation
• Sudden loss of structure
• Difficulty transitioning into education or work
• A belief that football doesn’t care about them

One participant compared release to “falling off a cliff,” emotionally and socially, with no support net underneath.

For young professionals footballers especially those moving between loans and first-team football, this lack of aftercare remains a major issue.

Psychological takeaway:

• Young players need continuity of care during transitions.
• Even two or three sessions of structured psychological support can dramatically improve outcomes.

The Social and Family Impact

McGlinchey’s study reflects how families often struggle as much as the players. Parents reported:

• Feeling helpless
• Struggling to console their child
• Not understanding the academy’s processes
• Emotional pain watching their child suffer
• Worry about mental health

Some parents also experienced guilt for encouraging the football dream.

Supporting parents is essential, because:

• Parents influence how players interpret release.
• Parental emotional regulation helps stabilise players.
• Healthy conversations at home reduce shame and isolation.

Parents need simple tools:

• Listen non-judgmentally
• Validate emotions
• Avoid rushing solutions
• Avoid making comparisons
• Focus on the child, not the outcome

Clubs should also involve parents more during release processes.

From Release to Renewal: Signs of Post-Traumatic Growth

Despite the pain, McGlinchey et al. also highlight post-traumatic growth  a hugely important finding that strengthens this research for your audience.

Players eventually reported:

• Greater self-awareness
• Increased resilience
• Better perspective on football
• New opportunities in coaching, education or semi-pro football
• Renewed motivation
• Healthier relationships with pressure

This reinforces a key message:

Release is emotionally brutal, but it can be the catalyst for greater personal maturity.

As a psychologist, I see the players who thrive long-term share three traits:

1. They rebuild identity outside football

Education, work, hobbies, social relationships.

1. They talk to someone

Support accelerates recovery.

1. They find new meaning

Football becomes part of their life not their entire life.

Practical Guidance for Players (18–21+ Years Old)

1. Feel the emotions, don’t block them

It’s normal to feel hurt, embarrassed or angry.

2. Talk — don’t isolate

Silence magnifies distress.

3. Use mental skills tools

Routines, confidence scripts, goal setting and reframing all help rebuild identity and purpose.

4. Reconnect with football slowly

Play for joy before chasing trials.

5. Build a new routine

Structure stabilises mental health.

6. Challenge negative beliefs

Release does not mean you’re not capable.

7. Expand identity

You’re more than a player — you’re a person with strengths beyond sport.

Guidance for Parents

Parents should:

• Normalise emotional reactions
• Avoid pushing quick decisions
• Reinforce unconditional value
• Encourage small steps forward, not major leaps
• Promote help-seeking
• Maintain hope while staying realistic
• Ensure social connection

Parents are often the emotional anchor. Their support shapes recovery and confidence.

Guidance for Coaches

Coaches can significantly improve welfare by:

1. Communicating clearly and compassionately

Avoid rushed or vague release conversations.

2. Providing transitional aftercare

Even one follow-up meeting makes a difference.

3. Avoiding premature marginalisation

Players notice. It harms confidence and wellbeing.

4. Treating release as a welfare event, not an admin task

These moments impact lives.

5. Reframing release constructively

Guide the player toward their next step.

6. Keeping doors open

“Let’s check back in” is powerful.

Conclusion: Release Isn’t the End. It’s a Turning Point

McGlinchey et al.’s research paints a powerful picture of how release impacts young people emotionally, socially and psychologically. But it also shows something else:

Young footballers can grow, rebuild and thrive after release.

With the right support from family, coaches, psychologists and themselves, they can discover new pathways, rebuild confidence and develop a stronger, more grounded sense of identity.

Release isn’t the end. It’s a turning point.  And with holistic support, players can write a new chapter that’s richer, healthier and more resilient than the one they imagined before.

>> Read: “From everything to nothing in a split second”: Elite youth players’ experiences of release from professional football academies

>> The Psychology of Loan Moves: How Football Coaches Can Help

>> For Soccer Psychology or Mental Skills for Football Resources