This is a collaborative post
Most of us have heard stories about how pro footballers got into the game. These stories more often than not involve gruelling training schedules and, importantly, starting to play at a high level from the time they could first run.
While inspirational, these kinds of stories can make us hesitate a second or two before sending our kids to a football training academy, especially if they’re a little older or not playing at a super high level.
While understandable, these doubts mustn’t make you hold your kids back – here’s why it’s never too late to get them enrolled into a training academy.
Different age & skill groups
If you’re worried that your child won’t be at a high enough level to participate properly at a football training academy, you really shouldn’t worry.
Most high-level academies like Pro Football Academy accommodate a range of different age and skill groups, meaning there should be an appropriate training context for your child, no matter their level.
If the first academy you look at doesn’t seem like a suitable match, then keep on looking. There are literally levels for everyone, you just have to search for long enough in the right places. Ask other parents at your kid’s school, look at online forums, and Google Search for academies in your local area and the areas surrounding you.
Not everyone has to go pro
While a lot of children at football training academies do have the talent and drive to pursue a professional career, this absolutely isn’t the only reason to train in these environments.
Besides getting to enjoy playing football at a high level, children in these kinds of academies also get to enjoy a range of other aspects of team sport.
These range from the important health benefits of regular exercise, to the lifelong benefits they’ll experience from collaborating in a team in a stressful environment. These will be gifts that pay dividends for decades to come, not to mention the increased chances that your kids continue to enjoy sport well into adulthood.
Your child’s perspective matters
While you may be unsure as to whether they should be playing in a football training academy, what really matters is what your child thinks. If you haven’t already, have a chat with them, and ask them how they feel about enrolling.
They may be completely unconcerned about the level they’ll be playing at, or their future as a professional footballer. What they’ll likely appreciate the most is having a scheduled time every single week during which they can play a beautiful game with people who will soon become their friends.
While it’s possible that it’s too late for your child to become a pro footballer, it’s definitely not too late to enrol them at a football training academy. There are so many benefits to playing football that they stand to enjoy, and it’s crucial that you don’t inadvertently hold them back because you’ve failed to consider these benefits.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post