CLIMBING THE FOOTBALL ACADEMY LADDER
WHAT IS A FOOTBALL ACADEMY?
Academies or centers of excellence are set up to help nurture and develop young players. The ultimate aim for an academy is to prepare young players for life in the professional game. All premier league sides now have academies as do most pro clubs these days. Even non-league sides run similar community schemes using the same basis to improve and grow young talent.
HOW DO I GET A PRO FOOTBALL TRIAL
A pro trial is not an easy thing to come by. Professional football is a fiercely competitive profession with limited spaces and very high applicant numbers. All academies employ scouts to find possible players for the club. For youth academies scouts will target local leagues or follow up on tip offs regarding promising players. If a player shows promise a scout may follow the player for 2 or 3 games before inviting them in for a trial.
There are now a number of companies that provide paid trials to players that feel they have what it takes. These companies work closely with professional academies. Players that may have been over looked in their local leagues or just not seen are given a platform to showcase talent. The football showcase events can be anything from a weekend to a full summer camp. During the showcase scouts are invited to watch the players, giving them every chance of being sign up or trialed at a top club.
Top clubs offer similar camps and showcases to young players. Pro football camps allow players to participate in a professional training program. The football camp gives players the chance to show their skills to top clubs with the chance of a contract. Clubs such as Barcelona, Valencia and some Premier league sides run such summer camps over the summer break in a search for new talent.
WHAT HAPPENS IF A CLUB TAKES ME ON?
Current rules prohibit UK clubs signing players younger than 9 years old. Many clubs have early development groups set up for players younger than 9 to prepare them for academy life. Between the ages of 9 and 16 schoolboy contracts will be renewed yearly or every 2 years if the club is happy with progress. Once 16 a club will offer a contract to join their Youth Training Scheme to develop a player to progress to the big stage. All Premier league sides now have Under 21 teams that are used as a bridge to the first team. Numbers are very limited and most players will find out around 19 whether they have a future with the club. There are obviously exceptions to the rule with players like Wayne Rooney signing a pro contract at only 17.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I’M REJECTED?
Professional football is a cut throat industry and with most young players getting let go at 16 or 19. For players released they usually drop into a central pool allowing other possible clubs to approach. But with limited positions many young player will simply not get a second chance. There are many success stories of pro players failing at their first second and even third trial before making a decent living out of the game. You really need thick skin in this game and a never say die attitude. For the few that make it the future is bright and well worth the heart ache