{"id":29821,"date":"2025-03-25T11:14:23","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T11:14:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leadersinsport.com\/performance-institute\/?post_type=article&p=29821"},"modified":"2025-12-15T05:10:45","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T05:10:45","slug":"what-are-the-risks-when-monitoring-slips-into-surveillance","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/leadersinsport.com\/performance-institute\/articles\/what-are-the-risks-when-monitoring-slips-into-surveillance\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are the Risks when Monitoring Slips into Surveillance?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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\n 25 Mar 2025 <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>Articles<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

What Are the Risks when Monitoring Slips into Surveillance?<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n \n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Category<\/div>\n Coaching & Development<\/a>, Leadership & Culture<\/a> <\/div>\n
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There is a time for high levels of observation, monitoring and professionalism, but let\u2019s consider when this might be appropriate.<\/p>\n \n \n \n

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By Iain Brunnschweiler<\/h6>\n
Within many of the highest performing football academies in the UK, the average 12-13 year-old is subjected to a level of monitoring \u2013 actually, let\u2019s call it surveillance \u2013 that is tantamount to being a person of significant interest to the national security agencies!<\/h6>\n

Whilst this is well-intended, imagine having your every output filmed, your individual footage analysed and, in many cases, your every performance graded, your distance and speed outputs tracked using high tech GPS systems, and every weight you lift being measured and monitored. Every six weeks your bosses (your parents) are brought in for a performance review and update, with figures discussed and plans updated.<\/p>\n

Just pause for a moment and consider: how might this make you feel if you were in their shoes?<\/p>\n

Clearly, there are some significant positives. Youth development, when delivered effectively, will always include some form of monitoring and review processes that allow coaches, support staff and those investing in the system to gain an insight into how their efforts are trending from a player development perspective. Video footage, match grades and player reviews can be a hugely useful tool in providing feedback to all stakeholders.<\/p>\n

But imagine if this level of scrutiny was the norm in your adult working environment. My sense is that this would bring up different emotions for different readers. For some, this would excite them with the level of professionalism involved; precise numbers and figures indicating an elite performance environment. For others, this could evoke feelings of anxiety and possibly fear, considering the level of scrutiny being applied.<\/p>\n

Mastery and<\/em> joy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Academy in football in the UK is a major business. Huge amounts of money are being spent in order to unearth the \u2018next big thing\u2019 and I\u2019m certain that these dynamics will drive some potentially unhelpful adult behaviours.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also seen some incredible efforts. At a recent visit to a Premier League club, I witnessed some absolutely brilliant work from the U9-U10 lead coach. She has brought in music, dancing, and a sense of childlike joy to the footballing environment \u2013 the group even had a pumpkin carving night! \u2013 whilst also encouraging the players to engage in 1v1 battles and high levels of competition. She encourages a sense of joy as they enhance their mastery of the ball.<\/p>\n

This highly skilful coach has positioned herself as an appropriate resource to the young people in her care, sensing that they probably don\u2019t need any additional pressure than is already present simply by engaging with academy football. I did not get such a sense of surveillance at this place compared to others and I suspect it will yield better talent development outcomes.<\/p>\n

I am aware that in some industries there is rigorous monitoring of time on task and productivity. I have, however, been fortunate to have operated predominantly in roles where I had guidance from senior leaders and a level of autonomy that allows me to deliver my role in my own personal manner.<\/p>\n

This autonomy was not simply given without direction. My manager ensured that I was clear on the overarching mission that we were all in it for, as well as my part of the puzzle. I was the recipient of weekly or fortnightly catchups where progress in my area was discussed in a manner which felt safe to me, whilst also holding me to account.<\/p>\n

However, this has not always been the case. I have also experienced at close hand senior leaders seemingly ruling with fear and overt scrutiny, rather than an appropriate level of challenge and support. My experience of this was that it was much more unhelpful than helpful. It caused anxiety in many and actually resulted in the more stubborn folk still doing things the way they wanted, when out of sight!<\/p>\n

Surveillance shows up in many different ways. The French philosopher Michel Foucault studied the impact of how surveillance is used to control society. His 1975 book Discipline and Punish<\/em> built on the theory of British philosopher Jeremy Bentham\u2019s \u2018panopticon\u2019 as a metaphor for how power circulates through the use of surveillance, but it also talks to the positive impact upon self-discipline. (I recommend an internet search if you want to know more.)<\/p>\n

The right balance of challenge and support<\/strong><\/p>\n

I wonder what the level of surveillance is within your environment. To what extent have you considered the consequences (intended or otherwise) of this subtle force on those within your care and guidance?<\/p>\n

How does surveillance, and indeed pressure of any kind, show up in your environment?<\/p>\n

For any of us who have read some research around optimal performance states, one is likely to agree that having a level of perceived pressure is probably useful, but too much can be challenging or even catastrophic to an individual or individuals. Think of the \u2018inverted-U\u2019 theory in the Yerkes-Dodson law, which is beautifully simple and has stuck with me since my undergraduate degree many, many years ago.<\/p>\n

Of course, this subject talks to some complex topics and provokes several questions for leaders:<\/p>\n