09 Nov 2017 15:06:13
Hi ED2, I know you're a busy man living the bachelor lifestyle travelling the four corners of the world but if you can let me know what's the best way in getting your child into a football club, sorry if it sounds like a daft question. I know there are of course children that get scouted playing for their schools or local teams but talking in terms of league team academies. I have heard of a growing number of young boys opting to learn their trade in academies abroad, what is your opinion on this and which countries if any or clubs have a strong reputation in nurturing young talent?

{Ed001's Note - they are paid academies. But, personally I would not recommend you put your child through one at this time. If I was to recommend one, it would be the La Liga academy in the UAE or Aspire in Qatar.}


1.) 09 Nov 2017
09 Nov 2017 15:20:33
Thanks for the quick response and will make a note of those countries but out of curiosity hows comes you would recommend on holding tight on putting them through one at this time?

{Ed001's Note - because I don't think they are the best environment for children. They should be enjoying being children not pressured into academy football. Let them play with local sides, if they are good enough they will get scouted. Once they hit about 14, when they sign schoolboy forms, is the time to worry about academies.}


2.) 09 Nov 2017
09 Nov 2017 16:55:55
if your kid is playing in the sunday league or kids league and make it into the top (or A) league for your area then scouts will watch and your kid will be invited to train with the local academy or school of excellence. A few boys from one of my team were picked. I was gutted as I felt I was better than one or two of them. I was pretty skinny though tbf.


3.) 09 Nov 2017
09 Nov 2017 17:37:14
Ed is right saying age 14 is an age to look at your child's development more seriously but that does not necessarily mean that at a younger age academy football can't be enjoyable and beneficial. I think it benefits them to do both as long as you research well before deciding which academy is right for your child. The coaching should be of a higher standard at academies so your child can enjoy the best of both worlds. Fun and enjoyment with friends with lower coaching standard at a local club and mixing and making new friends with higher standard of coaching at an academy.


4.) 09 Nov 2017
09 Nov 2017 19:55:55
The coaching should be better at academies but not necessarily so. i've watched a few in my area both running training sessions and at matches and some of them are pretty ordinary. There is a lot of pressure on them to win and this can come at the cost of the kids improving. So kids are taught to play safe and not take risks. To follow orders and not learn to think for themselves. And if you aren't in the best 11 then you can struggle for game time if the coach doesn't have a policy of sharing game time around. Plus they can pigeon hole your child into one position which will also stifle their development. However some are very good. So before signing your kid up to an academy, my advice is to go to some of their training sessions. Watch how they speak to the kids. Do they have a plan for the session. Are they able to explain it to the kids. Are the sessions fun. Do they teach the kids the skills they need. Do they teach the kids how to think and be adaptable? Is the coach prepared beforehand or do you have to wait for them to setup? Do they talk too much.
Then go to some matches and see how the coaches behave when the pressure is on. Do they abuse the kids if they make mistakes? Yell at the refs? Give game time to all the kids? Encourage them? Allow them to learn or try to control them like robots?


5.) 09 Nov 2017
09 Nov 2017 20:48:24
Phil is correct. If the kids are having fun, improving then that is the place you want to sign up your child to.
It is very important for their cognitive part to be evolved, for them to be able to think for themselves because in the end, they are alone on the field and have to make decisions on their own.
Drills are fine, but they are only okey in certain situations, instilling fundamentals and incorporating tactics, but if ypu learned how to think in certain situations you will not need drilling as much.


6.) 09 Nov 2017
09 Nov 2017 21:00:39
Cheers guys.