To think the majority of kids can get into "invite only" football development programmes

I read an article about a charity set up by Trent Alexander-Arnold to support ex- academy players that didn’t make the grade. It’s called after the Academy. About 99% of boys that join academies age 9 (proper ones linked with football clubs) don’t make it to professional level. It was really eye opening, they keep a squad of players basically to support the best player/s. So for example there’s a squad of 20 players but the academy know maybe 1 or 2 will make it, the other boys are kept on to make up the numbers so there is a team to play in. They’re then dropped at age 17 or 18 when they’ve been doing school part time not been able to socialise with their friends and have dedicated their life to football. They don’t have great careers prospects.

My nephew attended a premier league London club junior team but they (my brother and Sil) did not pay anything. He was/is an amazing player, miles better than the best players in the school. He was invited to carry on but they wanted him to be academic so he didn't bother as the time commitment is too much. My brother played for a London premier junior team as a teenager in the very late 80s so maybe it runs in the family.

It's a money making scheme and gives kids false hope - although most of these 'academies' do have connections to Pro Clubs so if your child is genuinely talented they may get an opportunity to trial at a Pro Academy. My son was signed at the age of 9 to a League 1 Pro academy and we've never had to pay a penny - although it requires huge commitment from the child and parents as they train at least 3 evenings per week and play a match most weekends which can be hours away. He is 15 now and was given an (early) scholarship at the age of 13 so he will go to the club full time when he is 16 and live in digs. At this point they also get paid similar to a YTS training scheme. It's a tough road and he has had to make lots of sacrifices - he is the only one of the original U9s that is still there - and there are no guarantees. Our job as parents is to prepare them for that and make sure that they have a Plan B. Its also at this age that agents come sniffing around - its all about money and so many parents get carried away unfortunately !

My son plays for our local non-league team's under 7 team. They are a completely grassroots team but do have the benefit of nice facilities and all weather pitches. He plays against all the local teams as part of a league (as all grassroots teams do) and a fair few do call themselves "Academy" or "Elite" etc.

One in particular springs to mind because they are rumoured to charge £1k a year, which is significantly more than most teams. The parents (only dads tbf) refused to stand outside the fences that surround the pitch when requested, and the coaches were going on pitch and moving their boys into position for free kicks etc. It didn't go down well, but at that price I guess parents want to see results, so they do what they have to. It didn't look much fun though.

Before my son started, as I knew nothing about the game, I read 'No Hunger in Paradise' by Michael Calvin about how (genuinely) elite football picks up kids, gives them a dream and spits most of them out. It was eye opening.

‘It's just a way of getting the kids and parents all excited so they can go around bragging that their playing for an academy’

It’s really not just football though. Gymnastics, swimming, cricket and in and in, even dance… Friend’s kid is a talented dancer and the money they have spent on extra ‘elite’ classes, programmes, travel, shows…
One of mine is a theatre kid - and goes to paid classes. And gets parts in shows which = more classes/rehearsals which = more money and then we have to buy tickets to the final show itself… he’s been asked to joint the ‘advanced’ theatre grp = more money for that extra class…

‘junior Premier league’

H yeah, these guys. If your kid is really into football AND you can afford it … but it’s basically still a paid for thing. I know quite a few kids playing in it, and it’s a higher level than your average grass roots but still not particularly difficult to get into…

YANBU OP.

It's just a way of getting the kids and parents all excited so they can go around bragging that their playing for an academy or Pro team when it's just the name of a kids football club, nothing to do with a professional team.
It's all about the money.

My son was in one of these academies between 7 and 10 they definitely trialled players and didn't take everyone. He played in the "junior Premier league" which was basically lots of similar "academies" it cost a fortune, took over weekends and required travel. Some of his peers were picked up by proper academies and thankfully he lost interest after a couple seasons so we could knock it on the head. It was just extra football for us while he enjoyed it definitely think its a money maker though

We have these ‘academies’ having our players join their teams, and fixtures can clash and the kid has to make a choice.
The dad - it’s always the dad!- will push for them to skip our matches in favour of playing for the ‘higher level’ team but how much fun the kid is having is debatable. And are they actually a higher level? Not really, we come up against them in summer tournaments and beat them more than we lose to them.

Sometime we lose the player entirely for a while- every single one has asked to come back so far ( not always possible unfortunately because we fill their place ) because it’s just not the same as playing with your friends, and it’s not as much fun, and really where is it leading to for most kids?

If they're paying for their child to be there then in mu experience it's not all that selective. If the scouts genuinely see potential in a child then there is usually a separate academy that is not paid for and they often also will cover any expenses.

There was a big thing about this a while ago on the grassroots page.
These academy's are a money making scheme from gullible parents.
Stick with grassroots they seem to care about the children

‘My advice, let the players play with their mates with their grassroot teams.’

As a football coach I wholeheartedly agree with this! Learning to be part of a team, exercising, learning how to handle losing as well as winning, having fun, realising that being successful doesn’t always mean being top of the league or winning the cup = happy, well rounded kids and adults.

The poster has a good point. The types of "academy" the OP is referring to accept anyone, it's not about talent or ability. However, many parents seem to think acceptance to these money making schemes is a sign that their child will be the next Rooney. The pressure some parents put on their children to excel is immense, and in a lot of cases the child is never going to be able to live up to the expectations their parent has.

Many use the term 'academy', and they are not associated with a professional club. They cost a fortune, and a very small percentage (0.5%) of the players actually go on to play professional football. It's basically a money making scheme that many parents fall for! My advice, let the players play with their mates with their grassroot teams.

‘‘I think these pushy parents need to be really careful they are not screwing up these kids all ways up.’

well, that’s what you said so…

@Bibisitsnow if you read the rest of my post you'd understand what I meant.

My kids are both 'decent' swimmers. They swim at club and county level but the eldest certainly won't make nationals. So conversations have been had about putting education first, taking advantage of opportunities to coach, lifeguard etc whilst continuing in the sports they love.

I'm not saying a primary aged kid shouldn't play whatever sport at whatever level and be the best they can be. I just think there is a balance.

I think the OP however is talking about a complete con of a system which is nothing to do with sport and more to do with lining the pockets of those involved which is very sad.

‘I think these pushy parents need to be really careful they are not screwing up these kids all ways up.’

That goes for all sports, no? My kids play cricket and tennis too, and I see the little 5/6 years olds at tennis having 1-on- 1 lessons with club pros… or the little boys, and now girls, in the nets at cricket day in day out with the club pro there…

pushy parents are everywhere but then there are many, many elite sports people who credit their success to a pushy parent…

I think these pushy parents need to be really careful they are not screwing up these kids all ways up.

There is a lad who was in my dds class at primary, got picked for a championship development squad at about 9yrs old - all great. He moved to secondary and was put in the top sets for maths and science. He's still in a squad although has switch teams a couple of times I believe. However he only does 4 days a week in school - 1 day at this academy, and is now in the bottom set for maths and science, in Year 10, so GCSEs next year. He will be lucky to get GCSEs in maths/english/science or anything else. So let's hope he gets his place in the premiership as he is going to find it very difficult back in the real world in a couple of years if he doesn't.

‘don’t have any experience of this, but famously Arsene Wenger (distinguished PL football manager) said in an interview that age 7 is what he considers to be the cut off for football talent. ‘

well thats a load of shit! And an incredibly old fashioned way of looking at it. If anything kids should be encouraged to play different sports, have other hobbies too - well rounded, happy, secure adults, athletes included, come from having a chance to thrive and be themselves.
Not being hothoused at 7 …

I don’t have any experience of this, but famously Arsene Wenger (distinguished PL football manager) said in an interview that age 7 is what he considers to be the cut off for football talent. If they are not discovered and nurtured by age 7, they have a very slim chance of becoming a top footballer.

So I disagree with PP about elite academies etc. being only a bit of fun in primary school. It obviously isn’t for all boys.

‘Are they saying academy though?’

Yes, in my experience. That’s what these companies call themselves - ‘Academy’ or ‘Elite’ or ‘select’ sometimes ‘Pathway’ and of course the parents buy into it. You would.
You’ve been told your child has been chosen, has trialled and succeeded.

They don’t mention That almost everyone gets in, even the more ‘select’ ones let most in.

Our local Premiership club has an ‘elite pathway’ - part of their foundation/ charity arm- you trial and pay to train. Most clubs have them now as a community thing. It’s the level below ‘development’ pathway - you pay to train still in development - which itself is below the actual Academy.

Our entire team could easily get into that ‘elite’ pathway off the back of a trial, but god don’t the parents go in about it! It’s extra practice, which is great, run by qualified coaches but it’s rare a player moves up from it with that actual club.

The actual Academy is the real deal, incredibly hard to get into - you need skill, talent, focus, potential, solid academics, mental fitness, resilience, physical fitness. And each year they decide to keep you or boot you. And each year more and more kids are waiting to take your place.

Yes I agree with you have seen these kind of things advertised. One of my children has just been invited to trial for a PL coaching thingy, have only done the trial and it seems to be good quality coaching so am planning to sign up and pay up and see how it goes.

Honestly I’m surprised so many parents are apparently aspirational about their kids getting into football. I know it can result in a vast fortune for a very few people, but such a hideous environment/culture around the sport. I would far rather my son excel at pretty much any other sport (perhaps bar boxing for obvious reasons!)

Are they saying academy though? To me that means attached to a pro club. Grassroots clubs often have a development / advanced squad to differentiate those who are above average for their age and playing on a team versus just coming to weekly lessons. Not everyone gets on the teams near us but obviously that leaves lots that do so better than average but not amazing! Out of the approx 30 boys in my year 2 boys I think about 6-7 play on a team. Some wouldn’t be interested and some would be but may struggle to find one to take them as limited spaces, which is a shame. There is also a not huge but noticeable difference between the 1sr and 3rd team at his club but they are all in the ‘development squad’. Yes we pay but for 2x training a week with lower numbers than the regular classes and match fees I am happy with that,

‘I’m really surprised that schools provide reports for academies! Are the academies not attached to professional clubs, ie. big businesses? Why would a school provide confidential (?) information?’

in agreement with the child parent and schools. The FA are aware that most children WiLL. NOT become a professional footballer which means they need a good, well-rounded education. They have a responsibility to make sure the children aren’t giving everything else up.

A friends child was asked to trial for a Premiership club academy but the FA have said they can’t accept a place unless the family are willing to move closer to the training facility - they aren’t - because the commute would be too far for the kid to sustain school and training there.