12 QUALITY AREAS
The working processes
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TALENT IDENTIFICATION Recruitment plan, scouting software and administrative operations; quality and focus of network of schools
connected with the Talent Identification Quality Area include:
Do you have partner club(s)?
How many partner clubs do you have?
T he goal of Talent Identification within the academy system is to ensure the success, quality and sustainability of the process through which an academy identifies and recruits its players from its surrounding environment. Identifying ‘raw talent’ and subsequently accessing that talent is one of the most significant indicators of academy success.
Do you enforce the same methodology and playing style in partner club(s) as in yours?
Youth football isn’t yet fully covered by modern match analysis tools and so a lot of working processes in this area are encapsulated by traditional or old-fashioned scouting and access to information on current players and their profiles. Academies start by controlling information on players within their local city, district, town or local region, which can then be scaled to national or international coverage. All of this requires feet on the ground, but some clubs also choose to implement more complex identification systems based on networks of local partner clubs or regional training
“Players from abroad need at least one year to adapt”
Do you have partner club(s) outside of your country?
Do you have partner club(s) outside of your region?
Edmond Claus, AFC Ajax
How many children in total are registered with your partner clubs?
Do you have coach educators who visit partner clubs?
centres. These can provide additional layers of contact with the youth game beyond just having eyes on games. Successful work in Talent Identification needs continuity, awareness of current and future trends in player skills and their development, as well as a genuine connection to the grassroots game. The quality of an academy’s Talent Identification is inextricably linked to their productivity. Other factors can also be assessed, such as the numbers of players being monitored and the depth of their assessment. Clubs can also analyse their sources used for gathering their scouting information, and conduct stress testing on issues such as information retention when specialists leave the club.
Do you operate training camps or talent days for children not signed with your club?
Do you have selection process or is any child of any ability free to attend?
Are training camps or talent days free or for a fee?
How many scouts evaluate the same child?
Do you scout for talented players?
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YOUTH FOOTBALL 2021-23
YOUTH FOOTBALL 2021-23
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