How it works

The set-up has been designed by Heads of Football who understand the issues facing talented Prep School players. The set-up offers an amazing opportunity for players, without the extra pressure of playing representative team football.

The best 18 players in each age group are selected for the District A squad, playing three to four matches during the spring term against professional  Academies and other District teams.

There is no cost for playing or training with the team, although players are asked to buy their own  personalised kit, which they can then keep.

Players who show a high level of ability, but are not selected for the District A squads, will be invited to attend the 2024 Gothia World Youth Cup to be held in Gothenburg alongside players who were selected for the A Squad. They are also invited to a pre-Tournament Training Camp which takes place in the Easter holidays. Parents will need to cover the cost of the trip to Sweden and the Training Camp.

The ‘A’ squads

The region runs an “A” squad at Under 11, Under 12 and Under 13 age groups, who will play Academy and other regional District representative sides.

We understand that many of these players are already involved in sport at a high level and therefore we do not put high expectations on them in terms of time commitment.

This squad is for the most outstanding players in the District.

There is a new trial each year, so players who played for the ‘A’ squad last year will need to re-trial again for the coming season.

There are no costs for attending matches or training sessions with the ‘A’ squad.

Players in the ‘A’ squad will also be invited to attend the residential training camp and Gothia Cup. They will play in a squad alongside other players selected from trials who impressed the selectors but who did not get selected for the ‘A’ squad.

The fixtures for the ‘A’ Squad will be confirmed in January. We would expect the team to play four fixtures during the Spring term. We try to spread these across different days of the week.

Gothia Cup 2024

imageThe Gothia World Youth Cup is the biggest football tournament in the world. With around 80 countries represented and an Opening Ceremony attended by 60,000 this is an experience of a lifetime!

Training Camp

The Camp provides an opportunity for players to work with top quality staff and train with other talented players in a professional and developmental environment. The Camp will focus on developing physical, mental, social, and technical abilities and attributes and will include:

  • Sports Therapists who will conduct group sessions and individual screenings with each player to identify injury prevention and to enhance athletic performance.
  • Workshops conducted by an FA qualified Football Psychologist looking at developing ‘ mental fitness’. Topics will include relaxation techniques, use of visualisation and imagery.
  • Use of swimming pool for workshops with Sports Therapist
  • Highly qualified and experienced coaches using the latest coaching tools including video analysis.
  • Specialist UEFA qualified goalkeeping coach

The Camp will give an insight into life training as a professional footballer and provide an ideal environment, not only for preparation for the Gothia Cup, but also to develop players’ sporting ability and life skills.

The Camp will take place at Tonbridge School which boasts fantastic sporting facilities, beautiful well-kept grounds and stunning views over London.

An independent set-up run by teachers

We are an independent organisation, run by teachers from various Schools who give their time to provide outstanding opportunities for talented players in our area.

A number of our coaches are Heads of Football at various independent schools in the area. Our coaches understand the importance of offering younger players a great experience and a chance to further develop their game in an enjoyable environment. We are proud of our set-up and the feedback that we receive.

We are an independent organisation run by teachers with the aim of benefiting players in our region. We are not affiliated to either ISFA or the IAPS.

 

For the most talented Independent School footballers across Kent, Surrey & Sussex