Directions devised, we hear, after athletic activity upset Nanny (9)
I believe the answer is:
nursemaid
'nanny' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'directions devised we hear after athletic activity upset' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'directions' could be 'se' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'se' is located in the answer.
'activity' could be 'aid' (aid is a kind of activity) and 'aid' is found in the answer.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for nursemaid that I've seen before include "Alice, for example" , "her charges are small" , "Woman employed to look after children" , "One employed to care for small children" , "One looking after children" .)