Girls ' football academies

[Thewitchofeastfinchley]

Does anyone have any experiences at girls' (10-11 year olds) Academy football in North London/Herts? We've had a few offers from big and not so big clubs for the next season and we need to decide this week, but we have received little information except from Watford Ladies which looks very organised but I'd like to get some references before we reject the big names...

Not specifically girls but in general the bigger clubs take on A LOT of kids and drop them just as easily whereas the smaller clubs are more focused in their selection and more willing to work with the players they pick.

We went the Arsenal route. It is tough, as it should be and quite vicious, as it should be. Lots of travelling at weekends for matches once they hit about 11. Didn’t find it very warm just very process driven.

Thanks @Nataliafalka, that's the impression I got - my fear is it would put DD off from doing something she loves... how many girls were in the U10s, U11s squads, roughly?

Quite a few and there were definite real favourites who got all the attention plus I have to be honest, the mothers were challenging too, so competitive

apologies to ressurect an old thread a year on but we are in this exact situation (although just one offer, from a league 1 club) - I'm quite concerned about uprooting her completely from her grassroots club and going into the academy, it feels like such a big step that neither of us were at all prepared for. Any advice/insight that can be shared would be great!

We are in our second year now with a big team academy. She's still playing grassroots on most weekends, both with her old girls team and with a boys' team. In many academies the girls are allowed to continue in grassroots until u13', which means less traveling on the weekends. They still get the academy training twice a week plus friendly matches with teams at similar levels every month or so. The level of training in an academy is MUCH better than any grassroots, but the environment is different. It's friendly but girls don't muck about so much and are pretty focused. There is also the expectation that you will be available for fixtures on holidays and half terms, when friendlies usually take place. At the end of season girls are evaluated and the ones that don't make the cut are dropped, so there is a bit of pressure which despite the team's best efforts they can't eliminate.

thank you for your reply @Thewitchofeastfinchley - you're lucky your daughter can carry on with the grassroots team, we have been told very clearly that its one or the other which feels like a massive decision when she is only 10 years old. The grassroots team has been incredible for her confidence and friendships and I feel so reluctant to just walk away from that. On the flip side, nothing lasts forever and with many of her team heading off to secondary school in the autumn it worries me that things will change there anyway, so if we turn this opportunity down, we could end up with nothing.

I just honestly cant believe we're having to make this choice for her and genuinely dont know what is the right thing to do!! I know that is often the case with parenting!!! ;)

@footballmom43 it is a big decision not only because of leaving the grassroots but because the schedule takes a lot of your daughter's (and your!) time. Even if she starts quite level headed, people make a big fuss when they hear she plays for a big team, and the team itself treats it as if football is the family's priority. She won't want to be dropped- and she will see the other girls' commitment and feel the pressure to catch up practising at home and not missing training sessions or fixtures. JPL fixtures are all over the place so give goodbye to your weekends if you want to watch her play..it is an amazing experience which she will be able to brag about for ever but it can be all consuming. You have to remember that the whole process is designed to producing 3 or 4 players for the main team and I'm sure that part of their selection criteria is commitment and ability to handle the pressure. Good luck with your decision!

Hi @footballmom43 I just wanted to add that I understand your dilemma. And also to say that 10 is really too early to tell who 'will make it' and so it's a lot of pressure for young kids.
My DD has just signed for a WSL academy and she is top year U16!
We decided not to go down the academy route so young as she wanted to play other sports as well as play for her school. Also the travelling for us is hard and she would never have coped so young.
We also have two older boys and it does eat into our ability to spend time with them which is not so much of an issue now they are older teens but would have been hard when they were that much younger .
DD played boys grassroots and always has. And she had extra coaching locally from an ACC (now called ETCs). And also private coaching that we sourced once she got older. It hasn't done my DD any harm!
She had a training contract with the WSL team last year and she carried on with her boys team and it was a tough year. She did 'feel behind' the girls who have been there since 9 yrs old. But she brings other things. The coaches like her creativity and she plays differently to the crowd which has ultimately seen her rewarded.
My DD knew at 10 that she 'wanted this' but I feel our route has been fine. The academy she is now in runs single age groups up to U14 and then culls at least half the U14s to make a 2 year U16 team. It's harsh- a lot of these girls thought they had already made it having been there since 10. The harsh reality is they can't assume anything.
My DD has a year to enjoy playing for the team. The next step to U21 is even more brutal.
I guess my point is it's not just the football to consider but also impact on herself, siblings, parents etc. And that deciding 'no' doesn't necessarily close doors.

Thank you to you both @Thewitchofeastfinchley and @Lottsbiffandsmudge - I really appreciate your thoughts/insight. Its good to hear that sticking with grassroots doesnt necessarily preclude you from being picked up again later down the line. I'm also worried about what the club will let her/not let her do if we do sign her up. As great a player as she is, quite honestly I'm not sure she has enough to go all the way and I dont want this to close other doors for her, or stop her from doing other stuff that brings her joy. She's 10 ffs!

Plus as you say - the wider impact on the family. We all love football and have been so committed to it for both her and her brother but I feel we are giving enough already, it is quite daunting to think that it could invade our lives even more...

Lots to think about anyway, i really appreciate you both sharing your experiences!

I know this is an old thread but thought I'd just say this. Why not just try a football academy for a year, you can always walk away if you or your daughter does not like it. If your daughter has been asked to join (especially) the big name clubs it is a big deal. I have been to a few trials now and have seen girls I definitely thought would get in be ignored over girls who in my eyes were not technically as gifted. You never know what the club is looking for and many times politics is in play and the most deserving players are not always the ones selected. What I'm trying to say is If your child wins the lottery of being selected for an academy, don't pass up the chance so easily because you are worried about travel, being dropped etc. Try it and see, it could quite easily change your daughters life in a positive way. And if not or its not for you walk away.