Football is the most popular team sport in the world, and many millions of people are addicted to football at a wide variety of levels. Someone prefers to watch matches of their favorite team in the conditions of home comfort, someone goes with friends to a bar, some even go to stadiums and go to other countries to cheer on their favorite club or home team. Many people play soccer at an amateur level - in the yard with friends, at school stadiums and so on. However, for most, this is just a hobby that starts from childhood and passes through life, but no more. But if people knew how accessible football is, then perhaps they could fulfill their dream, or at least try. After all, what kind of boy, playing in the yard with friends, does not dream of one day going out into a real stadium before the eyes of tens of thousands of spectators? But most consider this only as an unattainable dream, although children's football clubs can be found at almost every step.
Football clubs for children
If you live in a big city, then you will even have a wide choice. In any case, if your child wants to play sports, why not try football? Children's football clubs will not only allow the child to develop physically. They will give him a chance to socialize, as well as provide an opportunity to realize his dream.
Youth soccer system
It’s worth starting with how the youth football system works. The fact is that no one ever becomes directly a professional athlete. Children work hard from a very young age to develop their abilities and show their talents, conquering children's football schools, after which they move higher and higher until at the age of eighteen they get the opportunity to sign a professional contract with the club to which it belongs football academy. Now you need to separately consider two types of establishments where your child can begin to engage in this sport. The fact is that the best option is an academy at some local club. But if you choose private children's football clubs, then there is nothing to worry about. But it is better to first deal with this topic, and then make a choice. And this article will help you with this.
Private establishments
A private children's football school can be a great option if you want an individual approach to your child, to be involved in a certain direction, to discover talents, actively develop it. Most often, classes in such schools are paid, but this is far from the most important drawback. The problem is that in such schools those children who do not count on a big football future are most often involved, this is a kind of entertainment section. Of course, there is a possibility that you will make your way further, but club scouts usually do not follow such schools and sections - they focus on professional systems that you should aim at if you hope that your child will be able to achieve something more. A children's football school is good, but it is much better to give a boy (or a girl, because women's football in recent years has become more and more popular) right into the system so that he has any prospects.
Football academy
It is one thing to do a football section or a private football school, and a completely different thing is a football academy at a club. How it works? The system in this sport is quite simple - the academies accept small players from a very early age, there they are sorted by age categories and begin training, regular classes in order to increase the level. In small and not the most popular clubs, everyone is welcome, in larger and more successful ones, views are created that attract children from all over the world, from which those who are considered worthy are then selected. But this happens already at an older age - the smallest children usually always get a chance.
What does this lead to? The fact that the football section will never give you - to go through all the age stages of the club’s youth academy and to sign a professional contract with the club at the age of eighteen at the academy of which you were involved. Naturally, not all football players get a contract - you need to show a high enough level to get it. However, a different, weaker and smaller club may offer you a contract, since scouts from all over the world closely monitor the academies of football clubs .
Age
It's time to talk about what conditions must be met in order to enter the football academy. And the first thing that interests parents planning to give their child to football is age. Each academy, each children's football club can have its own indicators. But in most cases they are quite approximate and converge at about the same age - about 6 years. Children's football clubs in Moscow also for the most part accept small football players starting at the age of six, in some cases the age can be up to five years. But if you want to send your child to football at an earlier age, then few academies will agree to this. To do this, you will need just private football schools, in which you will have to pay extra to attend your child. But this, in turn, will increase his chances of success at the football academy in the future.
Not only the capital
Do not think that good places for the development of your child are available only in Moscow. You can find good sports facilities throughout the country. For example, many have heard about the Cosmos children's football club, which is the largest not only in Stavropol, but also in the whole region - it has existed for more than 25 years and has trained many strong players. So there is no doubt that you will find the right club for your child in the city you need.
Cost
Another issue that parents very often care about is the cost of classes in a section, school or club. It is impossible to give a concrete answer, because everything can vary depending on where exactly you want to give the child. It’s worth mentioning right away that classes in the system of a particular club, that is, in its academy, are most often free. Moreover, when a certain age is reached, a young footballer begins to receive money for his appearances in youth teams. Naturally, this is a very small amount compared to what professional football players have, but for young people this is a significant compensation. But if you send your child to a special section or a private school, then be prepared that you will have to pay directly for the classes themselves, and sometimes the equipment, and even the child’s trip with the team to other cities for games with other clubs.
Class conditions
Again, here everything may vary depending on where exactly you are giving the child. If he enters the club academy, then he will use what the club system provides. And here, as you know, the more famous and strong the club, the better it is provided. So, children's football clubs in Russia are very different from each other. For example, if you send your child to the Dynamo Moscow Academy, then he will be engaged in high-class fields with artificial grass and heating for winter conditions. There will even be a hostel for those children who come from other cities, a professional medical headquarters, a gym and much more. Naturally, you should not expect the same conditions from the Moscow club Ts.A.R.I., which does not provide several fields, an indoor arena, or a hostel, and classes are held on a field with artificial turf without heating.
Achievements
Separately, you can pay attention to what achievements this or that academy has. Most often, on the official website, as well as on various advertising portals, you can immediately see which players were trained in a particular complex. Again, if you contact the Dynamo Moscow Academy mentioned above, you can find out that such stars of Russian football as Sergey Ovchinnikov, Vladimir Beschastnykh and many others passed through it. It can also serve as a guide, but you should remember that the selection criteria for such schools will be much tougher than, for example, the requirements that the Victoria Moscow football club makes. The kids club accepts all the children who apply, because it does not belong to the large system of the famous team.