The Secrets of a Successful Football Academy

The steps that go into making a football academy successful vary from one academy to another. From hiring the right coaching staff to getting the correct curriculum in place, an owner or manager needs to figure out what works best for their organization. Some of the main factors that need to be considered are listed below:

· Professional Curriculum — Once one has figured out the demographics that their academy will be catering to, it is important to have a planned and well-thought-out curriculum. The curriculum is, by far, one of the most important factors that will affect the success of one’s students and, in turn, the academy. The academy philosophy and objectives also come into play here.

· Licensed Coaching Staff — The coaches, who spend the most amount of time with the academy’s students, play a crucial role in delivering the curriculum. One may have an excellent curriculum, but without the right coaching staff, the execution of the same can get adversely affected. The most successful football academies hire qualified and licensed coaches who understand both the game as well as the players they need to work with.

· Excellent Infrastructure — It is also vital that one finds a suitable training ground or facility for the academy. The location, type of pitch, and additional amenities available all impact the success of the academy. The best academies in football have everything from all-weather turfs to running tracks, gyms, and professional medical centers.

Apart from these factors, there are also other points that tend to go unnoticed at times:

· Experienced Support Staff — Having a great coaching team is one thing; however, the support staff also plays an important role in the academy. They are also, many a time, a link between the coaches and the parents or even associations and schools. The support staff can range from the scouting team to the academy’s operational staff.

· Involving the Parents — It is essential to maintain a good relationship with the parents of the students as well. Keeping them involved in the program being conducted or providing them with feedback about their children helps instill trust in the academy. A parent who is happy with the academy and its programs will help bring in other parents and students as well.

· Doing Things Differently — In most of the best academies in football, the main aspects are training regularly and participating in leagues and matches. However, it is what one does differently that will help one succeed. How unique is your curriculum from another academy, what additional facilities do you provide, what exposure do the children get besides local leagues and tournaments, how are your scouting programs conducted? To be the most successful academy, one needs to ask these questions and act upon them consistently. It can also positively impact sponsorship opportunities for an academy.

While the list is not limited, each academy needs to find the right mix for itself. Research, hard work, and dedication will certainly pay off. As a football player, Pelé once said, “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”