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CHARLTON ACADEMY NEW PLAYER INDUCTION POLICY
INDUCTION POLICY FOR NEW PLAYERS AND TRIALISTS
The Academy has developed this policy to provide clarity with regards to the trial process
for new players attending the academy. The policy sets out the process into 3 stages;
1. Pre trial – invite to trial period
2. During trial – process of feedback on progress
3. Post trial – either signing into the Academy or release
PRE-TRIAL
The Head of Recruitment (HOR) will receive a request from a field scout or club
representative regarding the possible trial of a player. Once a trial has been agreed the
player’s parents are sent the Football League form YD8, a medical form and the Academy’s
‘Information Guide’ that sets out the process of the trial and key Academy messages and
principle information including;
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The length of the trial (1-6 weeks)
Anticipated start date
The relevant Team Coach and Lead Coach for that age group
Contact numbers for key staff
Training days and times
Protocol for matches
Process of feedback on progress
Academy playing philosophy
The YD8 and medical forms are then captured centrally by the Academy Administrator in
the relevant age group player file.
The HOR will email the relevant Lead Coach and Team Coach with details confirming the
player’s age and position and anticipated start date.
DURING TRIAL
The player is greeted by the Academy’s Trialist Coordinator on the 1st night’s training and
introduced to the relevant age group coaches and group. The Team Coach will adopt the
buddy system and pair the trialist with an established Academy player to help integration
into the group. Each Monday the HOR meets with the Lead Coaches (7-12 and 13-16) to
discuss the trialist’s progress and potential. Through these meetings recommendations are
made regarding the trialist’s ability to play in competitive games and general progress in the
programme to date. This will be feedback to the player and the parent by the team and
Lead Coach. During the trial period the Lead Coach and HOR will decide whether the player
should be signed or released. This can occur after one or the full six weeks. At decision
time the following process is followed:
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CHARLTON ACADEMY NEW PLAYER INDUCTION POLICY
Players to be signed
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Potentially signed players and parents will be asked to a meeting with the HOR and/
or the Lead Coach and the following ‘New Signing Pack’ is given to the players’
parents. This includes;
1. A FL YD4 form will be signed and sent to the Football League
2. The Football League Code of Conduct will be signed and sent to the Football
League
3. The Academy registered player medical Form will be signed and returned to
the Sports Science and Medicine Dept
4. The Academy player and parent Codes of Conducts will be signed and
returned to the Academy Administrator
5. An information guide is given on the Academy’s Full Time Model at Harris
Academy and how the selection process works at U13
6. An Images Consent Form is signed and returned to the Academy
Administrator
7. The Academy’s Safeguarding Policy
If the player is signed in the early season, he will be informed of a ‘New Player Signing
Induction Evening’, that are held half termly between September and Christmas. Those
boys signed between January and May will attend the inaugural Induction Evenings the
following August.
Players to be released
Players that are to be released from U9-U16 will attend a meeting with the HOR and/ or the
relevant phase Lead Coach along with the parents. Further ‘exit’ routes are discussed
(Community Advanced Centres to continue monitoring, the option of other professional
clubs or local amateur clubs).
The HOR continues to monitor the progress of the released player through the various
scouting contacts in the field.
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