Football academies - any experience?

[Ilikeviognier]

Just just really. DS9 has had interest from more than one premier league club - one in particular is making noises about him joining their ET squad with a view to being signed for the academy. Obviously it’s a great achievement in and of itself but am worried about the brutality of it all in terms of being potentially dropped at any given second if it it does happen.

I realise I’m way ahead of myself here but I can’t help it as my first instinct is to protect him….just looking for others” experiences.

thanks.

[Oblomov24]

Both my boys play football, both of them immediately know when a boy is an academy player. It's exciting but can be brutal, but you talk to him about that side of things before you begin. Enjoy!

[murasaki]

Football Dreams:the academy, about Crystal Palace was a good documentary on this. I think it was on channel 4 so might be on all 4.

[dancinginthewind]

It can be brutal. It can also be the most amazing opportunity, giving him access to to brilliant coaching, support and a chance to play in an environment where all of the other players are of his calibre.
When it works, even after rejection, is when the family have seen it as a fun opportunity to take advantage of it whilst it lasts. If there's pressure on the child, particularly if the child is living their parent's (probably father's) dream then it can be really upsetting when they get rejected, as most of them will be.

[Ilikeviognier]

@dancinginthewind yes i think this is the right approach - Thankyou.

[Ilikeviognier]

@Oblomov24 how do you mean they immediately know- are they coaches? Thanks

[Parky04]

Please bear in mind that it will take up an awful lot of your time. Training twice a week and then match days where you could be travelling up to a couple of hours away.

[Ifailed]

If he's interested let him go, but prepare him for rejection.

[Ilikeviognier]

@Parky04 Thanks - but we’re already doing what you’re describing on a weekly basis anyway with his current training, so that wouldn’t make that much difference.

[MikeWozniaksMohawk]

I would take it step by step. Go to the development centre / trial and see if he likes it. Take that part as extra, free, high quality training. If they offer him the opportunity to sign, have an open conversation with him about the commitment and whether he has enjoyed the training and expectations so far. Also talk to the club about what’s expected of him and you as the parent(s) if they do ask him to sign. Going into it with your eyes open rather than being blinkered by the excitement and potential for what it could lead to is important, and it sounds like you are doing so that’s a good first step.

[MikeWozniaksMohawk]

If signed he won’t be able to play for his regular grassroots club any more either (some play grassroots still but aren’t signed, just in development centre/trials type set ups, like the first stage to being signed) so that’s a consideration too. Would he want to give up playing with his mates?

[Oblomov24]

Sorry, no both of mine just play football, a lot, aren't even academy themselves, but when we play teams, go to competitions, they both (and even me) can spot an academy player a mile off. We've never been wrong yet. It's not just because they are good, they just behave in a certain way, carry themselves in a certain way, that they are easy to recognise.

[Oblomov24]

Agree, with Mike, some players still play for school or in cups, competitions, or in our local league, even though some if them (most of them) really aren't supposed to, because their academy specifies that they shouldn't. I mean the academy doesn't want them getting injured do they? But some of them still do play. But you are basically missing out on playing with your mates. Is that what he wants?

[Loopytiles]

Heard a good podcast episode about this, about the tiny odds of success for those who enter, seemed to be well balanced.

[FortyFacedFuckers]

My ds played academy football for 10 years, it is extremely brutal, very high turnover, a lot of highs & lows

[Ilikeviognier]

@MikeWozniaksMohawk hes not currently playing grassroots (he’s playing in the JPL) so that won’t be an issue. And yes I knew that they can’t play for anyone else as well so it is a consideration.

[Ilikeviognier]

@FortyFacedFuckers Where did he end up in the end?

[FortyFacedFuckers]

He got let go from the academy after 10 years and I genuinely thought he was never going to play again but he ended up joining a local team that his friends dad coached and he found his confidence again, he now plays for a local ish semi pro club but his work is his main priority

[buttercupcake]

My son is an academy player and so far it’s been an amazing experience. He gets excellent coaching at state of the art facilities, access to physios, all kit provided and tickets to games. It’s a lot of pressure, new boys arrive every week wanting the shirt off his back. It’s extremely competitive. He knows that it could end at any time, and we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. It’s been fantastic to watch him develop and to see him living his dream.

[Ilikeviognier]

@buttercupcake Thankyou - can I ask how old he is and how long he has been there for? How are you finding the time consuming element?

[Ilikeviognier]

@FortyFacedFuckers Thankyou

[Ilikeviognier]

@buttercupcake can I also ask how he got scouted and what happened next?

[FortyFacedFuckers]

@Ilikeviognier

@FortyFacedFuckers Thankyou

Good luck to your Ds! Go & enjoy the experience!

[RedHelenB]

All the lads I know that have been academy players miss out on playing with their mates Not one of them has made it pro, most have been let go. Since there are other routes into pro football I wouldn't personally be rushing down the academy route. It's a bit different to something like gymnastics/ ice skating where you have to be intense at an early age.

[buttercupcake]

He got scouted from his grass roots club and attended a 6 week trial.

He trains 3 days a week and has a match on Sunday. He was already playing / training every day (he’s obsessed) so we’re actually finding this less of a commitment than before because there are guidelines as to how many hours they can train.

[Ilikeviognier]

@buttercupcake how long has he been with them for? Also do you feel able to say which academy it is?