A report prepared by Doctor Rafael Bisquerra, Emeritus Professor at the University of Barcelona and President of the International Network for Emotional Education and Well-being (RIEEB), acknowledges the value of FC Barcelona's Personal Development Programme and positions La Masia as a global benchmark in this field.

Dr. Bisquerra concludes that “on average, the group has improved significantly” and that the evidence indicates “it is worth continuing with emotional education training ... as the results are clearly positive.” He also highlights that this experience is probably the first of its kind to be carried out at a club like Barça.

This recognition positions FC Barcelona as a leading club in the holistic training of its athletes, and La Masia as an international model of reference.

Shaping people beyond sport

Last season, FC Barcelona took a major step forward in the non-sporting education of its young athletes by reformulating and expanding the off-pitch training traditionally offered to La Masia residents. The La Masia Personal Development Program, presented and endorsed by the Youth Football Department and the club’s presidency, is designed to support the more than 600 athletes (residents and non-residents) in the youth structure of the club’s professional sports sections, across the sporting, academic and personal spheres. It does so from a unique sporting identity, with the aim of ensuring these athletes are recognised both on and off the pitch and can achieve success both individually and collectively.

Emotional education as a core topic

One of the main innovations of the programme is the incorporation of emotional education as a core driver of personal growth. This strategic commitment provides young athletes with the tools and resources to face the challenges of both sporting and personal life with maturity, autonomy and resilience, while embodying and transmitting FC Barcelona’s iconic values: humility, effort, ambition, respect and teamwork.

The team of emotional tutors, made of psychologists, supports the athletes through a system of graduated intensity, adapted to the amount of time each young person spends at the club’s facilities. All athletes take part in a minimum of one group session and one one-to-one tutorial each month with their emotional tutor, along with a quarterly review involving their families.

Residents and athletes with a closer connection to La Masia, such as those who study or eat at the club’s facilities, or those flagged for specific support by the section, the family, or La Masia itself, receive more intensive support. This includes work in small groups, emotional reinforcement sessions, more frequent one-to-one tutorials, and personalised academic monitoring.

Holistic and personalised approach

Each season begins with a psychosocial interview between the athlete, their emotional tutor, and their family. These interviews with both new arrivals and returning athletes help to establish and maintain a strong bond between La Masia, the athlete, and their immediate environment. They also generate an individualised profile that is essential for coordinated work between the educational team, psychologists and coaches.

Another distinguishing feature is the implementation of a shared educational pathway for all the club’s professional sections. This is rolled out through workshops, activities and training sessions adapted to the specific needs of each age group, section and athlete.

Integral development

The Personal Development Programme is structured around four main areas:

  1. Personality and self-awareness: emotional management, decision-making, values, and leadership.
  2. Academic development: study techniques and strategies for balancing sporting demands with education.
  3. Invisible training: healthy habits, rest, and nutrition to optimise performance.
  4. Identity: knowledge of the club, connection to the country, and promotion of communication in Catalan.

With this programme, La Masia reaffirms its commitment to the holistic development of its athletes, providing not only high-level sporting preparation, but also the personal and emotional tools they need to face the challenges of the future.

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