To celebrate les Grenats’ return to Ligue 2, Sharkfoot is offering an FC Metz special this week, which will end with the publication of a webdocumentary on the club’s youth centre. 

At a time when “footballer” and “education” are two words that are rarely put together in the collective unconscious, the Moselle club are changing things up. Aware that the majority of their youths will never sign a pro contract, the youth centre’s staff is pushing them to get their baccalaureat (equivalent of A-Levels) as a priority.

“Last year we had a 95% A-Levels pass rate, as only one of our youngsters failed. But we regularly have 100%.” The tone is set by Denis Schaeffer, manager of FC Metz’s youth centre. Whilst Marseille attracted headlines last summer with a 100% fail rate amongst its youths, the Lorrain club makes it a point of honour to ensure the academic success of its players. It is not for nothing that it finds itself at the top of the 2011-2012 youth system league table in the academia section. The objective is simple: prepare its players for a non-footballing future. How to achieve that aim? Analysis…

First important factor: the youths of FC Metz are not taken out of schooling, as is the case in other professional clubs. Based on the academic track chosen, they are allocated to different academic institutions in the surrounding area, where they benefit from adapted – but not shortened – timetables. The youths have the same number of lessons as their “normal” peers. The only difference is that the others have their lessons between 8am and 3pm, the time that they are carrying out their daily training. After their shower, they start their day again! Onward to their classrooms between 6 and 8pm, where contributors take turns to help the players to complete their work. “We have agreements in place with maths teachers, French teachers, even economics teachers, whereby they come once or twice a week”, explains Julien Ducassé, head of pedagogy at Metz’s youth centre.

“Not bringing up champions”

Everything is put in place to keep failure down, because at Metz, like elsewhere, the problem is the same: the majority of young players are not going to make it and will never sign a professional contract. “parents entrust their children to us. We know very well that they will not all succeed. Our duty is to support them so that they receive their qualifications”, explains Julien Ducassé. In addition, a footballer’s career is short. Having the security of A-Levels means that they have the insurance that they will be able to change to another career, with the option of going back to continue their studies. “We’re not bringing up champions”, continues Pascal Deck, coordinator of the sport sector of the Secondary School – Lycée Cormontaigne. For him, “the school structure must incorporate the sporting side, and that that aspect does not in turn exclude the schooling side. We follow both projects – sporting and schooling – in parallel, and thus postpone the inevitable choice that needs to be made between one and the other.”

Today, it seems that mentalities are changing. A few months ago, Lyon striker Bafé Gomis admitted that he was studying for his A-Levels, which he had never sat. At Metz, some youngsters don’t hesitate to go on to higher education. That is the case with Théo Pierrot, who plays in the CFA, who is preparing for an accounting-management qualification, even though it means delaying the start of his sporting career. “It’s true that it’s not easy to juggle football and studies, but it was important for me to see and do something other than football. It’s a question of balance”, confirms the 19 year old youngster. For him, there is no obligation to complete his school hours, but he benefits from the help he receives from economics and law contributors. “The ex-accountant from the youth centre also comes to see me for two hours every Friday”, he adds.

You’ll have understood, schooling is a priority for Metz’s development set-up. During his presentation to the press, a journalist asked new professional Chris Philipps which he would choose between an appearance in the National and good grades in his A-Levels. I’ll let you guess his reply.

This article originally appeared in French on the excellent SHARKFOOT website. We thank them for allowing us to post the series in English. And a huge thank you to Jeremy Smith for the translation work.