Image: Connor Coyne via Unsplash
Football academies hold an integral position in the football chain, and the need to strengthen them cannot be overemphasised.
Academies are the reasons why we have the best players you can mention today which is the more reason why it is important to keep the wheel spinning so the world would not run dry of supply of talents.
However, running an academy can be demanding. In Nigeria for instance, owner(s) will be required to pay for expenses such as Football Association registration, kits purchase, training ground rental/purchase, accommodation/feeding, insurance, traveling, staff salaries, and league or tournament registration fees.
We take a look at how football academies then survive, grow, and become profitable.
- Tuition Fee:
In order to develop and hone their basic skills, aspiring footballers join academies where they can learn. Aside from learning the basics, they are also taught techniques and tactics to prepare them for a professional career in this sport, and a football Academy is a right place.
Some academies have been set up in a school setting where parents or sponsors have to pay for their wards at specific terms.
Nowadays, football academies now have a school curriculum incorporated into their times to enable players to attend basic education and also learn football simultaneously.
- Training Compensation / Solidarity:
This is recognised as the source of income for football academies where players had their training, education, and development. The world football body FIFA has backed this model to help academies grow.
It is important to note that the payment may be payable at two times which includes when a player is registering for the first time as a professional player or upon the international transfer of a player before the end of the season of his 23rd birthday.
3. Sponsorships/ Partnerships:
This could come in form of a donation or sponsorship from individual philanthropists or organisations involved in corporate social responsibilities.
In fact, some brands also partner with football academies for various reasons which could be either to promote their business or engage in community development.
4. Affiliation with professional clubs:
Academies team up with professional clubs both locally and internationally in a bid to build their network and as well become a funnel of supply. The professional clubs obviously have the structure and funding which can help smaller academies meet their demands if well supported. In practical terms, they supply the academies with training equipment, player kits, training and development opportunities etc depending on the level of their partnership.
