Any Mums of girls in a WSL Team 16-18?

[Anjelika]

My daughter is in Y11 and has been invited to trial for a WSL Club with a view to joining the U21 team next season.

This would be a 2 year contract taking her through Y12 & 13 but I'm unsure about how this works with her education. I know their U16's have Day Release from school to train 1 day a week but I suspect it will be more than this. She wants to do A levels. Does anyone have any experience of how this works?

That’s amazing!! Rare to get that chance if not already there. Ask the specific club tho. Some have arrangements with specific schools and colleges. Some almost dictate options that they can accommodate.

@eurotravel that sounds about right. A couple of colleges have been mentioned but none are particularly local to us.

We occasionally have students training at high levels - some of it might be chatting to school if you’re already there about making good choices re blocking options if you know her training schedule.
we also supported by providing work but were small and can do that, and it needs a decent level of independence and motivation for the academics. Some did very well at a levels, some prioritised their sports and didn’t as much (ok but not great) - depends what’s right for them too making those choices

I think the college thing is about location in proximity to training / match venue so they can move from one to other quickly. Plus as far as I’ve heard they encourage eg sports science A or courses to compliment their footy career as opposed to going to uni at 18.

Thanks both. I don't want to get into it in too much detail with the club as there's every likelihood she won't get in so it will be a waste of time. She plays for an Academy at the moment but their Women's Team is not in the WSL so it's "just" 3 nights training and a game at the weekend. That would be the same next year too.

Evening training is fine. The question to ask if she gets an offer is how much day time training as it’ll mostly be and what time do they allow for them to attend college. Prob just the required 15 hours for 3 A levels. So it’s the timetabling that has to fit their training schedule I guess

@eurotravel I think it will be like that. The guy I spoke to mentioned a service where they pick girls up from the station. Trouble is we are an hour away by car and I work FT. Anyways, like I said, probably getting way ahead of myself but would like to be prepared.

I have a few friends with both DS and DDs in the academy system as teens at WSL / prem clubs. I think you are doing exactly the right thing. Seriously think what you and DD really want. My DC aren’t but following them has made me often reflect on the decisions they have to make.

@Anjelika maybe they whilst your dd is trialling try ask other parents already there. But also be warned (it’s not personal) that there will be a lot of very heavily invested parents who will be very anxious over own DC and may appear unhelpful. Your DD could take their place.

the other thing to bear in mind and ask outright is whether your DD is seen as a ‘squad filler’ place or a genuine future WSL player ( they are generally also on the England pathway)

@eurotravel I know exactly what you mean about the other parents! I doubt they will give much away and I am better asking my contact there for info. They have scouted her for a specific position but I take your point about game time. She's not on the England pathway but does play for one of the other home nations. She's really happy where she is so I kind of wish this trial offer had never come along.

If she plays for another national team she’ll be in their radar via that. Another option that several use this to pursue is US college scholarship. She could even end up with an offer of fully paid. I know 2-3 who did that or are heading that way. Is that something she’s considering?

@eurotravel the US scholarship option is something DD very much wants to do. We had a call with an agency? about a year ago and yes, the higher the level she plays in the UK, the bigger the scholarship amount she would get plus the better the college would be too.

I have a DD in the PGA system. PGA u21s play matches on Wednesdays, so they generally miss that day in full. Meet in the morning play in afternoon, bc long travel to the away games.
The PGA clubs have different levels of financing depending on what the overarching men's/boys give them.
The more developed set ups will provide some help with accommodation (eg host families full or part time) and travel (eg mini bus or taxi to/fro local train/accom/host family). Some with the most financing are beginning to offer post-16 education through the club - eg the extended national diploma in sports science / sports performance.
At the main clubs, the u21 girls are probably at the club 5-6 days per week; sometimes just light training/activation. The clubs are pretty careful to manage load. So you have to consider how she would get there if you have work and she lives at home)
Most have a linked school/s who have already agreed to adjust timetables to suit. But you're not obliged to go to those schools. Some girls move to on-line education.

Website with a PDF guide

https://www.englandfootball.com/england/youth/womens-talent-pathway/professional-game-academies#:~:text=Pro%20Game%20Academies%20will%20identify,professional%20club%20environment%20and%20culture.

@macbethany thank you for your reply and link. Both are really helpful. The team she is trialling for is on the PGA list so I will have a read of the guide. The person at the club who we've been in contact with said if she was offered a place the club would do everything they could to "make it work". My daughter really wants to do "A" levels rather than the national diploma but he knows that already.