While it is every young boys dream to become a professional footballer and it represents one of the most popular avenues of success in sport, unfortunately this venture is fraught with many difficulties and pitfalls and while many thousands of young boys choose to follow their dreams very very few ultimately achieve their goal.
We have compiled the following Q & A format which may be of help to parents and boys considering professional careers in football:
TRIALS
Most English & Scottish clubs have people employed in Ireland on a scouting system. These scouts observe players playing in their own leagues and at representative and international matches, a player is sometimes invited by these scouts to participate in tournaments for the scouts club. A player showing promise is then invited by the scout to his Club for a trial or a series of trials. St Kevins Boys have operated an Academy structure since 1999/2000 in which our most promising players receive added coaching / training so as to help them in their quest for a career in football.
In 2003 we entered into an Academy partnership with West Bromwich Albion which is still in existence and gaining in strength. All of our most promising players are assessed regularly by WBA but that does not preclude them from attending trials at other clubs.
Q. What is involved in a trial?
A. Players are provided with some training including match situations where they are observed, matching their skills against other players also attending the trials from different parts of the UK and beyond. Some UK Clubs operate academies or centres of excellence in these cases players are assessed against players already in those Clubs Academy / Centres of excellence. St Kevins Boys have put in place procedures whereby arrangements for players going on trial can be monitored, this procedure is outlined below:
TRIAL REQUESTS
PROCEDURES & GUIDELINES
1. Any trial request must be first be brought to the attention
of the Director of Football (Ken Donohoe)
and Club Coach (Paul Boyle)
2. The manager of the team that the player is attached to is then notified
3. Consultation will then take place between the The Team Manager, Club Coach and Director of Football. It is then decided when would be the best time for the player to go on trial. Taking into account his Club commitments, Development squads and his physical and mental fitness.
4. Parents will then be notified.
5. At this stage the player will be notified
6. Trial length will be 3 days maximum and not to take place over weekends (except during breaks outlined below)
7. Times of year for trials are as follows and subject to DDSL
rules and Vinny Butler guidelines:
Summer break, October mid term break, X mas break, February mid term break
and Easter.
There should be no requests for the players to attend trials in the period
after Easter and before the
Summer break the only exceptions being that players are not involved in important
League and Cup
Club games at this time.
8. Clubs must furnish SKB with player report in writing upon
his return to Dublin as to his behaviour and
performance on and off the football pitch, also to their future plans for
the player if any.
9. Clubs should deal through the SKB office and not directly
through parents. In the interest of player
safety SKB must be aware of dates, flight times and venues etc
Q. What do scouts look for in a player?
A. The four main areas that Clubs look for in assessing potential players are commonly referred to as T.I.P.S.
1. Technique:- The players technical ability on the ball is assessed
2. Intelligence:- The players football intelligence is assessed by looking at his positional sense and his use of the ball etc.
3. Personality:- The players personality
is observed by seeing how he interacts with other players, how he reacts to
referees decisions etc. In general has he the right attitude?
4. Speed:- This area covers the players physical speed as well as his speed of thought. Todays footballers are required to be first class athletes as well.
Some players receive invitations from a number of Clubs while others only receive one. There is nothing to suggest that this player will be any worse off other than having less options, the important aspect is that every avenue is explored to ensure that the right decision is made in the best interest of the player.
Q. At what age should a contract be signed by a player to go to a UK or foreign Club?
A. A player should not sign a commitment until he reaches his 16th birthday and he cannot sign a professional contract until he is 17. At 16 he is contracted on a YTS or Scholarship basis.
It must be stressed here however that it is the parents/guardian and the boy who make the final decision in relation to trials and contracts.
Q. What information should be sought by parents if a boy is asked to go on trial?
A. The main areas to cover are transport arrangements, accomodation, supervision, insurance, contact telephone numbers and access to a phone for calling home.
It is also important to find out what is said to the boy at the conclusion of the trial and what feedback is given to the parents and by whom. We at St Kevins Boys seek a formal written report from each club that any of our players attend for assessment. Care must be excercised by all so as not to build expectations. At the same time where a club is genuinely interested in a player it is not appropriate to talk to a 14/15 year old without the involvement of a parent/guardian or an SKB official, any feedback to a player about his performance must be in general terms and carefully handled.
What kind of contract is being offered?
The types of contract normally offered are a mixture of Youth Training Schemes for the first year which are similar to some F.A.S schemes and one to four year professional contracts. On a Y.T.S scheme the player is paid a small basic wage and is required to do jobs around the club, such as cleaning boots etc. A player cannot sign a professional contract until he is seventeen. A one year Y.T.S and a one year contract would not in our opinion be a commitment to the player from the club, or indeed a two year Y.T.S contract. He may be better off staying at home.
Such a contract will normally set out precisely the players salary and conditions throughout the contract and the player is tied to the club and the contract for the full term.
Initially parents are brought over to visit the club when a contract is being considered. Most times they are wined /dined and see a match from the executive box. While this is very acceptable, parents should recognise it as selling the club to the parents. What is important is the facilities that are available to the player.
UK Academy Clubs now offer Scholarship Contracts which addresses the educational side of higher level that YTS etc. don’t and are worth exploring if the player has a high academic tendency.
What is important in a contract?
Salary/Bonuses – Lump Sums – Accommodation Changes – Visits Home Parents Visits – Education – Injuries / Insurance.
Where can you go for further advice ?
St. Kevins Boys will provide concerned parents with names of parents who have already been down this road. Their independent advice is invaluable.
St Kevins Boys can also put parents / players in touch with players who have been down this road as well and their experiences regarding all aspects of a professional football career again would be invaluable.
Former National Team manager Eoin Hand has been appointed careers guidance officer of the Football Association of Ireland. His job is to advise Schoolboy Clubs, parents and players of opportunities in Ireland as well as advising those who wish to leave the Country. The advice will cover scholarships, contract possibilities and the responsibility of clubs to the general welfare, health schemes and accommodation of players.
The club can introduce parents or players to people who have extensive experience in these areas i.e. contracts, legal etc. as requested.
How will the players Education be affected ?
This is usually one of the most difficult decisions to make
by parents. It is however important that the players formal education be considered.
Areas to be considered are:
What are the child’s educational prospects at present?
Has he the desire and ability to go on to third level education?
Apart from football has he any other career in mind?
What educational programme is being offered by the club if any?
What happens if he fails to get a professional contract?
Most reputable Clubs do arrange courses in Computers, Personal Finance etc. as well as the ‘R’s but it is up to the individual to attend. In a lot of cases players do not consider the possibility of failure and drop out of classes. It can also be difficult for players to integrate initially with different ethnic groups.
The position of a player with more basic academic abilities is the easiest one to consider in that he has nothing to lose in having a go. A player however, who would normally complete his leaving certificate with a further desire to go to third level at some stage has the more difficult decision to make. But always remember a player cannot sign a professional contract until he is seventeen.
Where are Soccer Scholarships available?
UCD, DCU and Trinity College Dublin, provide a number of Soccer
Scholarships for students who have finished their Leaving Certificate Examinations.
Applicant students must qualify and be seeking entry to the University in
the first instance. U.C.D and DCU normally hold trials in July, which is before
the exam results are known. Trinity College normally wait for the results
before commencing trials. Application forms can be obtained from the relative
sports departments in the Universities.
Soccer Scholarships are also available for students in some American Colleges.
It is advisable to have completed your Leaving Certificate Examination before
making an application. In most colleges this will save you from having to
do an entrance examination, obviously depending on your results. It is important
to check the quality of the degree course on offer, some degrees are only
recognised as being valid in America.
How will the player cope with being away from home?
Some players suffer some form of homesickness initially. Others
seem to take it in their stride. It is not uncommon for players to run up
large telephone bills in contacting home and friends. These costs are not
covered by most clubs. Concerned clubs provide payphones for player’s
convenience in contacting home.
Players are normally allowed home approx. every six weeks for the first year
or two. Parents are allowed to visit the player at the clubs expense normally
two to three times a year.
Some UK clubs have dedicated Welfare/Social Officers to help players settle and it is worth discussing with them the various areas to ease the player settling in.
What kind of accommodation is being provided?
There are a number of different accommodation arrangements made
by clubs and it is very important that parents check them out. The first is
where the club provides accommodation for players in a purpose built facility
on their own premises. Meals, supervision, laundry etc. are looked after by
a husband and wife team who live on the premises. The second is where a player
is accommodated in digs. Again supervision is provided by the Landlady and
feedback to the club is available. The third is where accommodation is provided
in a hotel environment.
Supervision in this type of environment is more difficult, especially at night.
It is important for parents to have contact telephone numbers of the Development/Welfare
Officers in case they need to make urgent contact.
What kind of insurance is the player covered for in the event of injury etc.?
The player needs to have cover for Personal Accident. This cover is for medical expenses and accident cover while playing or training at the club.
It is also necessary to have cover for loss of earnings for the full duration of the contract in the event of more serious injury.
It is recommended that professional advice be obtained in this area.
What is an ‘agent’?
A ‘scout’ looks after the interests of his club.
An ‘agent’ looks after the interests of the player. He negotiates
contracts on behalf of the player and looks for sponsorship deals etc. In
general his job is to maximise the players earning potential.
Agents can charge anything from two to fifteen percent of a players yearly
earnings depending on what services he provides.
The Professional Footballers Association in the UK the PFA operates a system whereby they offer their services to young players starting off in the game and generally they would be the best option for boys initially.
PARENTAL ISSUES:
Q. What can happen to a player and his parents after the boy has participated in a trial or representative game?
A. "When asked to go on trials some
team mates of the chosen player can become resentful. The young boy should
be told to expect this and to best handle it by playing down the experience
whilst realising that his team mates have contributed towards his success.
Team mates genuinely like to ask questions about various trips, visits etc.
The player on trial should relate to them about the place visited but not
romance about how he performed in training or matches.
Parents of a young boy who signs for a U.K Club will be asked by every second person how ‘the son’ is doing in England. This can be annoying at times. They no longer seem as interested in the parents.
The most frequently asked question is ‘do you think he will make it’ as if it was a survival course. The answer to give is "that it would not be through lack of hard work and commitment if he should fail".
Players who are selected for trials or who commit to U.K. clubs or are picked for Representative and International teams are under the spotlight when they turn out for St.Kevins Boys’. This means that all spectators including other parents, club members, etc. will watch them in games closely. Parents should not react to comments such as "he’s nothing special" or "he’s only average". The advice a player should be given by his parents and mentors is not to try to do something spectacular every time he gets on the ball in an attempt to justify his selection. He should play his normal game.
Injuries are part and parcel of football. A professional footballer has an ache in some part of his body everyday. Young players away in the U.K ringing home should get a sympathetic ear. Become a good listener and give a lot of support. Don’t show anxiety or worry. These players are well looked after medically.
There is somewhat a drink culture within the U.K. that can affect a young boy. Whilst the only night out may be a Saturday the player should be made aware to expect some peer pressure to drink. A strong willed person will be okay. Avoid excesses on any night out because youth coaches in the U.K seem to hear the grass grow and the player’s behaviour will be monitored all the time.
SUPPORT SERVICES:
Q. What support is there for the players and parents when a player returns home having been told they are not good enough?
A. St. Kevins Boys’ can arrange for returning players to have trials with League of Ireland Clubs or to become involved in the senior playing section of SKB also we would encourage these players, as we do with all our players, to become actively involved in coaching and to avail of FAI approved coaching awards. The question of what further education / training courses are available at this stage needs consideration. The club can also arrange for the parents to contact other parents who have been down this road.
A sociologist at the London School of Economics who spent some
time studying the subject of English Clubs signing players at too young an
age, came up with the following facts in relation to Irish players.
In the 1992/93 season, 34 Irish players were taken on as trainees at Premiership
clubs but only three eventually received contracts. The previous season, 21
went to England and none were considered good enough for a contract."
In recent years a lot more players travel over for trials to the U.K but the percentage of players who get worthwhile contracts is still very low. However until a better system is put in place to hold the players in Ireland by the F.A.I the glamour of the U.K clubs is too great and players seem to want to take the chance.
Players coming home at 18/19 should not think that they are a failure but that they have given it their best effort.
We hope the above information will be helpful to players and parents alike, and both should feel free to talk to SKB Football Director Ken Donohoe or Club Coach Paul Boyle if they have any issues relating to their sons football career.