Physical training
"Does this mean the program's duration will change from one year to nine months?"
Hamilton, who had been expecting this question, smiled and nodded.
"I'm glad you asked that, Gil," he said, addressing the whole class.
"The program's overall duration will remain the same: one full year. The difference is that these three months of condensed learning will be added to your final practical month. So, instead of just one practical month at the end, you'll have four."
The class was silent for a moment, trying to grasp what that meant. Four months of hands-on experience sounded much better than just one.
Hamilton continued, "Those final four months will be like your graduation practical, you will have more time to work with professional teams. Think of it as an extended trial period. You'll be placed with professional clubs, and during those months, you'll be doing real managerial work, scouting, analyzing, preparing training sessions, everything you've learned here."
A few heads nodded in understanding, clearly excited by the opportunity. It was a big change, but as Hamilton explained more, it seemed like an advantage.
"In addition to giving you more time to apply what you've learned, you could have a better chance to impress potential employers. Four months of working with a professional team is a significant experience. Some of you may even be recruited by the clubs you're assigned to during that time."
Gil, who had asked the question, nodded, seeming satisfied with the answer.
Hamilton then continued, "I know this is a lot to take in but trust me, this adjustment will put you in a much stronger position when you finish. You'll be entering the professional world with real experience, something that can set you apart from other managers just starting out."
As Hamilton wrapped up the discussion about the program changes, he shifted to another topic with a smile.
"Now, let's talk about something I'm sure you've all been wondering about; your results from the past month."
Kay leaned forward, feeling the familiar tension of waiting for feedback. It had been a month of intense work, and while he felt confident about his performance with Starlight FC, he was still eager to hear how he measured up.
"I've been really impressed by the results you've achieved, you here are the top-performing group among all the styles' classes."
"And because of that, this month's ranking is going to be unexpected. And there's something new this time. We asked your teams to fill out evaluations for you, something we've never done before. They rated you on a five-star system and wrote reviews. These evaluations will give us real insight into how your teams viewed your management."
He reached under the desk and pulled out some papers, which immediately caught everyone's attention.
"These," Hamilton said, waving the papers, "are your team evaluations."
"Let's start with the stars," Hamilton announced, flipping through the papers.
"The scores were generally very high. Almost all of you received between four and five stars, which is excellent. It means that you've demonstrated a solid understanding of management, and your teams were satisfied with your results."
"Now, for the reviews only two teams went beyond just giving stars and wrote detailed reviews. Those two teams were Starlight FC and Watford FC."
When Kay heard that Starlight FC left a review for him, he doubted that the review would be written by Mr Collins.
Hamilton glanced at the papers and then at Kay. "Let's start with Starlight FC's review of Kay, this is what they wrote: 'Kay demonstrated strong leadership and tactical insight. His ability to adapt during matches was impressive, especially given the limited resources he had at his disposal. His understanding of the player's strengths and weaknesses allowed him to create strategies that maximized our potential. We look forward to seeing what he can achieve in the future. Five stars.'"
When Kay heard the review, he was now sure that it was written by Mr Collins, he then thought that if all teams' managers were like Mr Collins the football world would be better.
Hamilton then interrupted his thinking, "Now, Watford FC's review for Busquets: 'Busquets' knowledge of tactics and player development is top-notch. We feel confident with him leading the team and expect even greater things in the future. 4.7 stars.'"
Hamilton smiled as he finished reading. "It's not often we get such detailed feedback from teams, and I want you all to take these evaluations seriously. They're a reflection of your work, and they show that even at this early stage, you're all capable of making a difference in the professional world."
"Now, I want to tell you something important. Your impressive results are doing more than just reflecting well on you individually. They're helping to ensure that the general style classes continue."
"As I told you before, the administration was considering closing this program because of the few number of students each year, but after your wonderful performance, they understood that this class even if it is not producing many managers, is producing excellent future managers, which is perfect for the marketing of their school. So, keep up the good work, because you're making a case for the future of this program."
"Now, let's talk about the rankings for this month. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait just a little longer. The judges need more time to discuss the results. It's important to reach a fair and accurate ranking, so you'll get the official results in two days."
The students nodded in understanding as they knew that fair rankings required time.
"Now, let's pass to next month's chapter: Physical Training, goalkeeping, and sports psychology. We will begin with fitness and physical preparation first."
Hamilton continued, "We're going to cover the fundamentals of physical training, but only what you need to know as managers. This domain is deep and very specialized. It's easy to get lost in the complexities, so we're focusing on the essentials; the knowledge that will help you guide your fitness staff and make informed decisions."
Then, Hamilton glanced toward the door, and a figure walked in. "To help us with this chapter, we've brought in an expert. Please welcome our guest for the next few weeks, fitness coach Mark Sheppard."
Coach Sheppard was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a serious but friendly expression. He gave a quick nod to the room before introducing himself.
"Good morning, everyone. I'm Mark Sheppard, and I'll be your guide through the world of physical training."
The students leaned forward in their seats, eager to hear what this expert had to say. Sheppard exuded confidence, the kind of person who knew exactly what he was doing.
"Now, physical training is an essential part of football. A team can have all the tactics in the world, but if the players aren't physically prepared, they'll never execute those strategies at the highest level. That's why fitness is just as important as technical skills."
He looked around the room, making sure everyone was paying attention. "That said, I'm not going to turn you all into fitness coaches. Your job is to manage the overall direction of your team, not to handle every detail of the fitness regime. But you need to understand enough to communicate effectively with your fitness staff and make decisions that keep your players in peak condition."
Sheppard continued, "We're going to go over the basics; things like player conditioning, recovery, nutrition, and injury prevention. These are the building blocks of fitness in football. You'll learn how to assess your players' physical limits and know when to push them and when to hold them back."
He glanced at Hamilton, who nodded encouragingly. "But today, we'll keep it simple. I want to give you an overview of the key areas we'll cover next. Physical fitness is complicated, but with the right knowledge, it becomes manageable."
See you in the next chapter...
- - - - Author's note - - - - -
Hey everyone!
Kay's starting a new chapter in his coaching program. This chapter will include two months of classes followed by a practical month, just as announced before.