What should parents be aware of when sending their child for football training

Every parent wants their child to go to the best school in the city. 

So how does a parent know which is the best school for their child's education? 

They would check on the -

• the institution’s reputation
• the teachers
• the students / results / track record
• the values

Similarly parents must also research about the football academies they send their child to.

Sports is a science and so is football. The current level of football is miles ahead and different from the football played 5 to 10 years ago.

Today’s top club player is more intelligent, leaner, fitter and technically sound. These players spend over 10,000 hours of training under a professional coach. They are confident and can adapt to any position.

Your child’s time is precious and you do not want them to go through their golden age of learning without being taught the correctly. So before your sign up at an academy check their credentials. 

Ratings :

Avoid         *

Okay         **

Excellent **

Who is running the academy?

• Event managers or Marketing Agency *
• Single coach **
• Football Club **
• Football Academy ***

The Event managers and Marketing Agencies are doing it solely for the money and to satisfy their client. They do not care about the development of your child.

The single coach will stifle the growth of the child as he will limit his exposure.

The Football club are looking for players for their teams, so if your child does not meet their standard they may release him.

Academies will have a structured program and monitor the progress in a non stressful environment. Good academies will associate with foreign academies for technical knowledge. 

Find out who is the technical director, what are his qualifications (ideally UEFA/AFC) and track record with youth development.

Who are the coaches ? 

• Ex player *
• Foreigners / Indian with no qualifications *
• Licensed ***

Avoid classes that have untrained or unqualified coaches be it Indian or Foreigners they will do more damage to your child, especially foreigners as they are ignorant to the needs of  Indian children. Unqualified coaches have no idea to train. Their classes will be 70%  playing matches and the balance irrelevant drills, the child will enjoy but will learn very little.

(Just because you studied in school does not qualify you to be a teacher, you must do a teachers course to be able to teach. Similarly being a player does not qualify you to  coach)

Licensed coaches will focus on the elements of the game and conduct their session age specific and to a plan. Improvement will be guaranteed.

The football coaching licenses you should look for is AIFF, AFC or UEFA.

What is the track record of the academy ?

Questions you can ask

·        Has the academy produced players for the national & state teams.

·         Have the academy team won tournaments

·         Have the academy coaches won tournaments

·         Is the academy recognized by the state & national body

·         Does  the academy  have a future map if he is a serious player?

If the answers to this is yes then  the academy is for your child.

What are the values of the academy ?

·         Does the academy have a vision, can your child be part of this vision.

·         What is the ratio of coach to child. Ideally a Level 1 coach can handle not more than 12 kids.

·         Does the academy give high value to the physical and mental well being of your child?

·         Are the promoters of the academy qualified or just financial investors?

·         Has the academy invested in coach development or do they take coaches from other academies unethically?

So parents, if you are looking for the right academy for your child these are some of the questions you must be asking.

Children will follow their coach make the right choice for him.  Your child may be the next Messi, so provide him the right opportunity.