Key Takeaways

  • Most professional clubs do not offer open trials. They usually look for new players by watching them play in matches.
  • When you apply, help clubs review your information easily. Send your CV, match details, and video clips that show how you play.
  • Rejection is common because academies have limited spots and receive many applications.
  • Do not pay anyone who promises a guaranteed trial. Clubs warn about fake scouts and scams that ask for trial fees.
  • If you are under 18 or want to join a club in another country, there are strict rules for trials and registration.

Table of Contents

    How To Apply For Football Academy?

    Most applications follow similar steps, whether you are applying to a club academy, a school program, or a private academy.

    • First, check if you meet the eligibility requirements, such as age, location, passport or residency status, and playing level.
    • Next, gather your supporting materials, like your CV, match schedule, and a highlight video.
    • Then, submit your application through the official channel, which could be a form, email, or admissions portal.
    • After you apply, you may be assessed through a trial session, a trial week, or by playing in monitored matches.
    • Finally, you will receive a decision, which could be an offer, a place on the waitlist, or a message to try again later.

    At Alicante Football Academy, your application is only the first step. We want to understand your current level and see if our program matches your goals. We consider more than just a single highlight video.

    Timelines and waiting periods

    • Some academies respond quickly if you are a strong match for their program.
    • Other academies may not reply to unsuccessful applicants because they receive so many applications.
    • Trials and intake periods usually take place at specific times of the year, so you might be reviewed now but invited to join at a later date.

    Why rejection is common and not the end

    Many players feel disappointed when they are not selected. However, the selection process is not perfect, and there are only a few spots available.

    A 12-year longitudinal study published on PubMed found that only around 10% of academy recruits went on to earn a professional contract at the same club, and that early standout performance was not a reliable predictor of long-term success.

    Clubs also plan years in advance. In UEFA competitions, first-team squads must include a certain number of “locally trained players.” This is one reason clubs invest in youth development and are careful about who they select.

    What Documents Are Required For A Football Academy Application?

    Academies want to see proof, not just hear claims. Here’s what you should prepare.

    Player CV (football resume)

    Keep your CV to one page and include the following details:

    • Full name + date of birth
    • Nationality + current city/country
    • List the positions you play and point out your main role on the field.
    • Current club + league level
    • Previous clubs
    • You can also add your height, weight, and preferred foot. These details are optional but can help.
    • Include your coach’s contact details, but only if they have agreed to it.
    • If you have them, share links to your highlight videos and full match recordings.

    Match history and fixtures

    Top academies prefer to see you play in actual matches.

    For example, Tottenham asks applicants to provide a fixture list with venues and kick-off times so scouts can watch them play.

    Even if you are not applying to Spurs, include this information. It helps scouts evaluate you more easily.

    Highlight video: what a good example looks like

    • Make sure your video is between 2 and 4 minutes long.
    • Focus on using match clips instead of only skill highlights.
    • Show yourself handling the ball under pressure, looking around the field, making decisions, defending, and moving when you don’t have the ball.
    • Include your shirt number and a clear marker in the video. Avoid over-editing.

    ID, age verification, and basic medical information

    Be prepared to show your ID and proof of age. For example, Premier League academies need a form, a photo, and documents that confirm your address and date of birth.

    Medical information is mainly for safety and care, especially in youth programs. At the highest level, the Laws of the Game include special rules for concussion substitutions. This shows how seriously football takes player welfare today.

    How To Apply For Football Academy Online Using Application Forms

    The easiest and most reliable way to apply is by using the academy’s official form or admissions page.

    Where to find application forms

    • Check the club’s academy recruitment page.
    • Look for a prospective player form, which is common for youth applicants. Some private academies also have admissions portals for their residential programs.

    Common mistakes in online applications

    • Applying to the wrong age group. Not including match footage.
    • Leaving out your current club or league information
    • Providing unclear contact details, especially for minors
    • Saying “I want to go pro” without showing your current playing level
    • Uploading files without names, dates, or links

    How staff review applications: Most academies look for the following:

    • Eligibility, such as age, location, and availability
    • Evidence, such as videos and match fixtures, your playing level, and references.
    • Professionalism, meaning your application is clear, honest, and easy to review

    At Alicante Football Academy, our form asks for the details coaches need. We look at your player profile, playing history, and goals. If needed, we may also ask for video or match information before moving forward with an assessment.

    READY TO APPLY FOR A FOOTBALL ACADEMY IN SPAIN?

    If you want structured training, competitive matches, and honest feedback in a professional environment, start with our application form. We review every submission and tell you the next step.
    Apply to join

    How Can I Join A Football Academy Without Formal Applications?

    Most players join academies without filling out a public form since clubs usually depend on scouting.

    Manchester United does not hold open trials. Players are usually picked after scouts have watched and assessed them.

    Tottenham also says they watch players at local clubs or schools before inviting anyone to join.

    Tottenham advises parents that any contact should go through your current club or coach before anyone contacts a player’s family.

    If you want to join a club academy, your real ‘application’ is how you play each week and the level you compete at.

    How Do You Join A Football Academy Through Local Clubs And Leagues?

    Local football can open doors if you make the most of it.

    • Join a league and play in real matches, not just training sessions.
    • Make sure you get regular playing time.
    • Step up leagues when you’re ready.
    • Take part in tournaments that attract stronger teams.
    • Start collecting video clips of your games and keep track of your matches.

    Wolves’ academy recruiters put it simply: play at the highest level you can, keep pushing yourself, and stay positive.

    Best And Fastest Ways To Join A Football Club Academy In Europe

    “Fast” only works if it’s legitimate.

    Here are the main routes players use:

    Route Best for Speed Biggest risk
    Scout invite (club academy) Players already in strong leagues Medium Hard to control
    Club recruitment form/email Players near academy level Medium No reply
    Residential/private academy Players needing development + exposure Fast Choosing the wrong provider
    School/college programmes Players combining education + football Medium Slower pathway to pro clubs
    Showcases/trial events Older players needing exposure Fast Low-quality or scam events

    If you are not part of the European system and want more structure, joining a good residential academy can help you improve quickly and get noticed. Be sure to choose a provider that offers real coaching, real matches, and strong safeguarding.

    PRESENT YOURSELF LIKE A SERIOUS PLAYER

    Most players get ignored because their message, CV, and video don’t make it easy for coaches to evaluate them. Use our guide and fix that before you apply anywhere.
    Read the guide

    Should You Use A Football Agent To Apply For A Football Academy?

    An agent can help when you are interested and need advice about contracts or logistics, but you still need to rely on your own skills.

    It is safest to work only with agents who are properly licensed. You can find a list of licensed football agents in FIFA’s official directory.

    If anyone asks you to pay money to “guarantee” a trial, take it as a warning sign and walk away.

    How Do I Apply For A Football Academy For Free?

    Most professional club academies do not charge players for assessments. Clubs also warn that if you receive an invitation asking for a trial fee, it is probably a scam.

    FIFA rules also prohibit payments connected to a trial.

    If you are thinking about attending trials, it helps to know the official limits. The FA’s published FIFA guidance says players aged 21 and under can only have trials with each club for a certain amount of time each season. Minors have extra protections, like needing parental permission and limits on how many trials they can attend.

    Private and residential academies work differently. They charge for coaching, facilities and often, accommodation. Any “free” options are usually scholarships or partial funding based on how well you perform.

    football trial session coach observing

    How Much Do You Pay For A Football Academy Application And Training?

    Instead of searching for one price, compare what you’re getting.

    Typical cost areas:

    • Application/admin fees
    • Travel and accommodation for trials
    • Programme fees (training, matches, gym, kit)
    • Residential living costs (if relocating)
    • Insurance/medical support

    Before you pay anything, ask:

    • What’s included?
    • Which matches/competitions will I play in?
    • What’s the refund policy?
    • What safeguarding and medical support do you have in place?

    What Age Is Best To Apply For A Football Academy?

    It’s best to take action when your situation improves, rather than when you’re feeling anxious.

    Most club academies begin recruiting players when they are young and become more selective as players get older. For example, Tottenham scouts mainly focus on players between Under-7 and Under-16 age groups.

    For minors, rules can limit when and how trials happen. The FA’s published FIFA guidance includes conditions for minor trials (including parent permission and minimum standards of care).

    If you start later, between ages 16 and 21, you still have a chance. You just need a better plan, stronger match experience, solid proof of your skills, and the right path forward.

    CHECK PROGRAMME OPTIONS AND PRICING

    Different players need different set-ups. Compare our short-term and long-term programmes, what’s included, and how our academy supports players and parents.
    View pricing

    How To Join A Football Academy With Long-Term Planning And Persistence

    Players who make progress often do these things:

    • They apply more than once.
    • They focus on improving one specific weakness each time.
    • They continue playing competitive matches while they wait.

    Keep in mind that clubs often get many applications and may not be able to reply to everyone.

    So keep building your achievements, keep improving your performance in matches, and keep applying to programs that suit you.