How to choose a soccer academy in Spain: 10 questions to ask first

There are many football academies in Spain, and almost all of them say the same thing on their websites. The best way to compare them is to know first what the player is looking for, because each goal calls for a different programme.

A few weeks

To improve specific areas, get to know the Spanish methodology or have coaches assess the player's level. Here, the quality of the training is what counts.

A season

To adapt to a different pace of play, a different language and a different level of demand. Beyond the training, accommodation, supervision and matches all count.

Study and play

For players who want to keep developing without giving up their studies. Here, the school and the timetable matter as much as the football.

This is the first thing to look at. An academy is, above all, the people who coach the player every day.

• Licence: ask what licence each coach holds. UEFA licences are, from entry level upwards, the C, the B, the A and the Pro.
• Continuity: check that the people on the website are the ones who actually coach, and that the player will always have the same coaches.
• Specialists: if the player is a goalkeeper, ask whether there is a goalkeeper coach and how many specific sessions they will have.

Ask them to walk you through a normal week of training. A good answer is specific: how many sessions there are, how long they last, what each one works on and how it is adapted to the player.

• Group size: with small groups the coach can correct each player. In large groups, the player gets fewer touches of the ball.
• Follow-up: ask whether the player will receive a report on what they have improved and what they still need to work on.
• The methodology: in Spain, training is almost always done with the ball and with decisions to make, as we explain in our guide to Spanish football methodology.

For parents, this is the most important part. A young player far from home needs more than a good coach.

• Where does the player sleep, and how many others share the room?
• Who supervises them at night and at weekends?
• Who prepares the meals, and can they be adapted to allergies or a specific diet?
• How do they get to training, school and matches every day?
• What happens if they fall ill or get injured, and what medical insurance do they need?
• How and how often will parents hear from the academy?

If you can, visit the facilities or ask for a video call to see them. A serious academy will be happy to show you.

Very few players end up making a living from football, and those who do also need an education. On long stays, school is not an extra.

• Where they study: which school, in what language and on what timetable.
• What qualification they get: and how those studies are recognised back home.
• How it fits with football: training should respect class and study time.

Training without competing falls short on a long stay. Ask whether the player will play matches, against whom and how often.

Bear in mind that registering a foreign minor with a federation comes with conditions, because FIFA protects minors in international transfers. A serious academy will explain what is and isn't possible in the player's case. We cover it in our guide how to play soccer in Europe from Latin America.

• You're guaranteed a contract or a trial at a professional club if you sign up.
• They won't tell you who coaches or let you talk to the coaches.
• The answers are vague when you ask about the residence, supervision or schooling.
• You're rushed with places about to run out or one-day discounts.
• Nothing is put in writing: not the programme, the schedules or what's included.

To tick off as you talk to each academy:

• Who will coach the player, and with what licence?
• How many players are in each group?
• What does a normal training week look like?
• Will we receive a progress report?
• Where will they live, and who supervises them around the clock?
• How do they get to training and matches each day?
• Where do they study, and what qualification do they get?
• Will they play matches, and against whom?
• What medical insurance do they need?
• What exactly does the programme include?

These are Global Football Total's answers to the most important questions:

• Coaches: all UEFA-licensed, with a 100% Spanish methodology. Meet them on our staff page.
• Groups: 4 to 8 players in technical training and 3 to 5 at the goalkeeper academy.
• Residence: 24-hour supervision and daily transport to training and matches.
• Facilities: the Iale Sport Center in L'Eliana and the Patacona CF Academy in Alboraya (Valencia). See them on our facilities page.
• Programmes: from 1 week to a full season, depending on the player's age and goal.