How does the academy scouting system work, and how do young players get scouted for academies in the UK?

How does the academy scouting system work, and how do young players get scouted for academies in the UK?

Published Thursday 28th of March

Many of the players who are in the pro club academy system in the UK get picked up from a very young age. The pro clubs have good contacts in the local schools and the grassroots clubs, and in younger age groups it is often quite easy for good players to stand out. You get some players who can run through a whole team. So, when it is a fairly young age group, it’s relatively easy to pick out the outstanding players in their year group as they stand out. Look at the early videos of Beckham or Messi. They won games on their own! 

Where do players get scouted from at this very young age? 

The answer to this question is that early on, a young player can be scouted from almost anywhere. Scouts will mainly attend school football matches and grassroots matches. They will watch the district teams or watch the Sunday league teams. The Junior Premier League or JPL teams are of interest because they contain some really good players. Some players will come in from open trials which are obviously open to anybody, some will come in from community projects that the local football club might run, and some will come from private academies and private coaching groups.  

It is important for all young players to understand that you never know when a scout may be watching you play. Scouts can literally be anywhere. One of the scouts who comes regularly to our UK Football Trials, famously scouted a player on a beach in Spain, who was playing keepy uppy with his dad!  

Also, it’s important to understand that with these younger age groups, scouts are looking to bring in lots of players to fill the academies and development centres, so it is relatively easy to get picked up and scouted. Some clubs have staff at their development centres who go out and do coaching sessions locally, to try and find and identify talented young players.  

Here at UK Football Academy Finder, we hope you understand now how young players get scouted at grass roots level by local pro clubs.  

Tags

best football academies UK football academies UK Football Academy Finder International football academies European Football Academies Private Football Academies Soccer Academy Football Universities Best Football Universities UK-Football-Academies-International-Football-Academies-Private-Football-Academies-In-Europe-Best-Football-Academies UK Football Academies,International Football Academies,Private Football Academies In Europe,Best Football Academies maximising football potential,football specialist universities,football universities uk,top football universities uk private football academies,how to become professional football,player pro club academies Academy Systems Scholorship football academy football trials football academy in uk football academy in england football training football academy in uk for international students england football football club Scouting How to get scouted apply for football academy in england private football coaching football academy scholarship football university uk apply for football academy best football academy near me uk football finder What do football academies do Skill Football Skills Football Technical ability Tactics Tactical Tactical abilities Long-Range Strikes Striker Techniques Football Shooting Drills Goal Scoring Tips Harry Kane Football Skills Training Striker Training Football Academy Tips Scoring Goals from Distance Football Strategy Goalkeeper Challenges Football Power and Precision Young Striker Development Mastering Football Skills Football Training Insights