Has anyone had a dc scouted for a football team at young age ??

[Lilyloo]

Am in a dilemma tbh
ds is only just turning 7 next week
He loves football and is part of a local footy club but they only train until they can start matches in Sept as he is too young yet.

When he isn't doing football sessions he is running around the house with any item that resembles a football or watching random footy matches on tv.

He really has a passion for it and has done from being little.

Today he goes to a kids football party and the coach afterwards asks dp to take him up for a trial for a premiership team.

I have absolutely no idea what this involves and we haven't discussed it with ds yet.
I am just worried that he is too young to get into really competitive stuff yet. Also would it be setting him up for dissapointment etc
Then dp says this may be great chance to get some real quality coaching etc

Have no idea what to do and just wondering if anyones dc has been involved with anything similair.

TIA

Blimey. Had no idea this was even a possiblity for a 7yo!

Edam i think they take them from 5

I know of 2 6/7yo's who have been scouted - though for local city team not premier league.

Not sure how it is going for either of them.

Lily - I was asked to go to a stables once (apparently) when I was about 5 as I was showing HUGE signs of being a good horsewoman.
I went, I was good and Mum and dad said no as they thought I'd get bored of it in a few years and would be too much to deal with school etc.
I really wish that they'd said yes OR not told me about it now as I carried on with horses till I was 17.

If you think DS can cope with the football and school. I'd say go for it as any experience is good but keep an eye on how they're coping with losses etc. IE: If they blast them out for losing I'd stop.

Obv they aren't getting trials for places in that team
Just training at the academy i think

I just not sure if it will be really competitive etc
It can be bad enough at the side of the field on a Sunday morning at the little local footy sessions! LOL!

from what one of the mum's said she was in two minds about letting him do it, but they decided that they had to let him have the chance.

One of my relatives was in the Stoke juniors (not sure from what age) and took it really badly when he was dropped (like a stone) at 17. V difficult when you have made something your life.

Chasing thanks
my nephew had trials for Leeds but he was often left out of the teams etc and he had to travel a lot to play other teams. After 2 years was dropped and has become disheartened with it all.
I cannot imagine how it must be to get to 17 and be dropped.

I don't think you should deprive him of this opportunity as it may never arise again.

Yes he might be disappointed at some point, but less disappointed at never having been allowed to try at all.

think of your early retirement!!

he is the cousin of a cousin (so not an actual relative of mine). I think he kind of dropped out for a couple of years, but then got on an apprenticeship and had not got a good trade.
But must be v v tough at that age.

On the other hand he could turn out to be the next Beckham.

Umm, on that thought - don't let him do it

My DS was approached aged 6 for Man U.

I think it is a disgrace. Its supposed to be fun at this age. Not a career.

Givepeas that is part of my worry.

But i would hope it is more an opportunity to access top class coaching as i should imagine there are 100's of boys taken into the academys rather than a career at the moment ????

I would have a chat with the coach about what it would involve first - difficult to make a decision about that sort of thing without knowing all the facts.

Just have a chat with him about how competitive it would be, where it could lead etc etc

Then if you're happy with what he says, I say go for it, but just be prepared to rethink if it all becomes too much.