Developments centres are something that was set up in order to help the development of young footballer’s. Nowadays a lot of professional football clubs in the higher tiers are starting to set development centres up to work as a sort of feeder (of players) to the club. They are run by highly qualified FA football coaches and cover all aspects of the game with the main emphasis being technique, team work and having fun. These development centres are fully equipped to deal with players of all positions such as goalkeepers, all types of defenders, midfielders and of course strikers. If a player is training at a development centre they are still aloud to train and play for their local team while receiving academy standard coaching from the centre as they are not signed yet. The amount of days players will spend training at a development centre can vary depending on each centre but it is normally 1-2 days a week.
There are also private development centres that are set up by ex professional footballers/managers and highly qualified FA coaches which are run in a similar way to development centres set up by professional clubs. The aims of these types of centres also are to find the best young talent around and help nurture it. The amount of days players can spend training at this type of development centre is similar amount to one run by a club, 1 -2 days a week.
How Can I Join A Football Development Centre
Unfortunately you cannot just apply to join a development centre, you have to be recommended, whether it is by a scout or coach representing on behalf of that development centre/club. They need to come and see you in action so they are able to make their own judgement on you, your performance and ability. If they are interested, they will make their interest known with the players manager of their team or to the parents of the player. How they would do it is by introducing themselves explaining who they are/represent and then stating their interest in inviting the player down to a development centre to see how they get on in that kind of environment while assessing their abilities further.
If the coaches at a development centre feel a player is not quite up to the standard after seeing them train they will explain that to them and things the player may need to work on, they will give them some advice before they go. If a player makes improvements away from the development centre there is always a chance that player could be invited back to the centre again as players naturally make progression when they play more/get older, some quicker than others. Also if a player or their coach/parents still have contact with coaches from the development centre they can ask if someone can come and watch the player again.
Now, if the coaches feel you are good enough, they will send you to the club to have a trial, whether it is for the youth team or academy. The length of trials can vary depending on each club. Some trials can be one week, some two weeks, they can go up to six weeks. In that time it is down to the player to really have a go and make themselves noticeable to the coaching staff at the club through their performances in training and matches.
What Happens After The Trial
If a trial is successful, the club will offer that player a contract which is usually between 1-2 years. Depending on their age, it will either be for the youth team or the academy. Once a player signs forms with a professional football club at youth/academy level, that contract is basically stating that they are no longer allowed to play for their local youth club or any other club while under contract with them. However some clubs allow players to play for their county, borough and school team.
However, if a trial was unsuccessful, depending on the feedback the coaches give to you and the development centre, you can either be let go from the trial and the development centre or they may request that you stay at the development centre to develop further.
