Identifying Young Talent
Stenhousemuir Football Club aims to identify and recruit young talent through the Academy's extensive scouting network. This means that if one of our Club scouts identifies a talented player, they will invite the player (via the coach and parents) to attend one of the Development Squads on a trial basis with the potential of signing for one of our Performance 11s or 12s teams.
We have a network of scouts throughout the central belt of Scotland who continually monitor talented young football players. As a club we hope that young players who aspire to become professional footballers will generally be involved with their local town, boys or district team. It is by watching and assessing players at such games that our scouts become aware of the boys outstanding potential.
The Club will do everything in its power to attempt to bring young players with high potential to the Academy for trials and assessment. Parents can be assured that boys playing at a decent level of organised and/or competitive football will be assessed by one of our regional scouts.
Trialist Procedure
The Stenhousemuir Football Club Children's Academy holds specific trial dates for players recommended by Club scouts. Usually trials are given to promising youngsters who have been identified by one of the Club scouts who watch countless local boys club matches across the central belt of Scotland.
However, if a player has not been approached by a Club scout but feels they are genuinely worthy of a trial then they can contact the club and request a Trialist Form and send it onto the Academy providing as much information as possible about themselves and the club(s) they play for (past and present).
We will then endeavour to follow out any one of the following three options:
- Invite the player to attend an age-appropriate Academy Development Squad;
- Invite the player to train (and trial) with either the Performance 11s or Performance 12s;
- Have the player assessed by a Club scout.
Therefore, depending upon a player's age, if a player shows potential they will be asked to attend one of our age-appropriate Development Squads for assessment and further coaching by our Academy coaches. However, if a player demonstrates exceptional standard then they may be invited straight into our Academy for a 3-6 week trial period with our Performance 11s or Performance 12s.
We will also make our interest in the player known by contacting the respective club at which he is registered.