Who are you when football is such a big part of your life – and what happens when young players are encouraged to discover who they are beyond the game?

At the EDU-DC International Conference on Dual Career, taking place on 25 September 2026 at BayArena in Leverkusen, our fourth workshop will explore why developing a strong and broad identity can provide young players with a solid foundation for both life and football.

A Strong and Broad Identity as a Solid Base in Life and Football

By Athletic Club Bilbao

The workshop will be led by David Rincon, Sports Psychologist at Athletic Club Bilbao, who will introduce participants to GaraTHuz, the club’s holistic player development programme.

At Athletic Club Bilbao, developing talent goes beyond sporting performance. Through GaraTHuz, the club aims to support young footballers in becoming autonomous, responsible and well-rounded individuals, capable of achieving sustainable performance both on and off the pitch.

This interactive workshop will focus particularly on identity and social development. Following an introduction to the GaraTHuz model, participants will take part in practical activities exploring how experiences both inside and outside football influence who young players are, who they want to become and how they relate to the people around them.

Rather than seeing personal development and football development as two separate paths, the session will invite participants to consider how a broader sense of identity can become an important foundation for both.

How can clubs help young players develop not only as footballers, but as people?