Plymouth Argyle's new first-year apprentices will have many challenges to overcome as they take the next step in their careers, according to the club's academy director Kevin Hodges.
Some of those hurdles will be based around football itself, but others will be caused by off-the-pitch factors, such as living away from home for the first time.
Argyle's eight new apprentices include goalkeeper Harry Townsend, centre-backs Isaac Burdon and Oliver Tomlinson, and left-back Reuben Collum.
The others are midfielders Jude Boyd and Joe Seery, winger Mani Skett and striker Rubin Wilson.
Hodges told Plymouth Live: "Our new apprentices will have many challenges to overcome during the coming days and weeks.
"Some of the boys will be adjusting to living away from home for the first time.
"They all have to overcome the intensity of pre season training, endeavouring to become fitter whilst remaining injury free.
"We are particularly proud of our education programme.
"Yes, fundamentally we are here to develop players that become good enough to challenge for place with the first team but we expect our apprentices to be fully committed to our education programme.
"If they are capable we would encourage them to take an extended diploma.
"The apprentices have to complete a lot of induction modules in the early days that include apprentice well being, rules and regulations, health and safety and employment rights.
"That is a lot of information to take on board and retain.
"Before we know it the games programme will be upon us as well as the (South West) Peninsula League fixtures.