RE: 10 Year Old Son wants to join Football Academy

I found it. It was 'Every Boy's Dream: England's Football Future on the Line' by Chris Green. It was such an eye opener, especially for me as I knew nothing about football and academy.

I can't remember the title but I read a book about football academy also. After I understood how it works I was not very keen to let DS go into the world. But it was up to him. Luckily he decided it was not his thing. I wouldn't like him missing school for football. But now he is into music which is no better than football career wise!

DS played premier league academy football for 3 years, was scouted aged 8.

It was a lot of work, for him & us. Also a lot of pressure. We withdrew him as he started having panic attacks during matches.

There are benefits - the coaching was amazing, he made a wonderfully diverse range of friends, learned a lot and travelled widely.

The big downside is once they get to 13-14 they have to start missing school....

Someone recommended the BT Sport documentary 'No Hunger in Paradise' to me when DC was talking about a 'career' in football.

It's worth watching for a view on the football academy system. Haven't read it but I think there's also a book. Definitely not for the faint-hearted.

My youngest son plays for a premier league academy. I don't know any child that has gone down the academy route without being scouted. My ds was scouted through his football club but his friend was scouted through playing football for school. It's hard work, we turned down the club twice but ds was determined to play for them. A lot of travelling but worth it.

But obviously if that's what the child want and the family is happy to support him 100%, that's great. But as someone said it's quite brutal even for mere 9-10 years old. You've got to have thick skin to survive.

One day we took DS to a local drop off weekend football. It was a very casual setting and anyone could come and play for fun. After the session we were approached by one of the staff and asked to bring DS to a trial for the junior section of a premier league. DS was then successfully invited to join in the u6 team - he was 5 at the time. When DS was 8 or 9, they held selection events which were open to anyone interested, not only for those in the junior teams. I think there were 300 or so kids gathered. They put some in the top division, some in the next division and I think the rest had no offer (sorry DH did all this so I don't know the official name of these things!). DS was placed in the top division. But at that time DS had developed other interest and was not keen to commit 3-5 days a week of training + matches + long journey. DH made DS continue for a year, but it was just too much. So we eventually asked to remove DS from the top division and now DS plays in the second division which has totally different atmosphere and lots more manageable and fun. Football Academy is def not for lighthearted families. Yes, I say 'families', not just the child himself. Lots driving, time/work juggling, unsociable hours commitments etc.

Does he play football for a team at all at the moment? They are usually scouted by academies from the local junior leagues. And then usually only from the top few divisions of the league. It is very competitive and most kids are scouted aged about 7. Also if you do get in the academy it is then very full on. My friend's son was scouted at 7 signed from the academy and had to sign papers saying he wouldn't play football in the street or go ice skating etc in case he got an injury.

Some clubs run school holiday courses that can result in an invitation to a trial. Mostly just Primary age though, so you would want to try to book something ASAP!

The thing is, the usual route is for a boy to be scouted - ie spotted while playing for their normal weekend [usually] team. They would usually have been spotted by your DS's age - DS was scouted at 7/8 and played for 3 years for the local lower league club's academy before being selected out.

However, the 'bigger', more well-known teams may well hold selection events as well: it would be worth googling [your local club] + academy to see what that brings up.

Beware that there paid-for football courses branded by some premier league clubs ( e.g. Liverpool Soccer Schools) and these are seldom a route into the main academy.

It's a pretty unforgiving world, though. Training 2-3x per week and weekend matches is normal, for children younger than your DS, and selection out is the norm. I think only 1 of DS's Academy mates have made it through to youth football with the club.

Has he been scouted and offered a place, or is it just a dream that he has?

Is it a Premier League setup at the club's training base, a satellite using the club's name, or a lower league club that you are looking at?