Congratulations to my brother...

[honey boy zimba]

mr big gully it does not matter one jot that a club has money or not, this is simply treating kids and parents with respect and giving them feedback and comunication lots of clubs now involve akids and parents in training ect Man u for example are a great belivverin this and have used the dutch way .Isuspect that Hinchlewood and co are to set in thier ways and until thier is a big shake up things will never change PS my son has never been rejected but as a Father and albion suporter and coach things have to change .

 

[BigGully]

mr big gully it does not matter one jot that a club has money or not, this is simply treating kids and parents with respect and giving them feedback and comunication lots of clubs now involve akids and parents in training ect Man u for example are a great belivverin this and have used the dutch way .Isuspect that Hinchlewood and co are to set in thier ways and until thier is a big shake up things will never change PS my son has never been rejected but as a Father and albion suporter and coach things have to change .

You will need to be more specific.

In what way are Brighton treating their young players differently than say Palace ?

As with all clubs you are scouted, then invited in for a maximum of 6 weeks trial and then assessed and retained or released.

The process of telling the parents is pretty straightforward, they deliver a disappointing verdict with an element of honesty and some softening of that truth too.

I am not too sure which part you find so insensitive or unprofessional.

I am sure that the bigger clubs have resources allocated to their Academy that might offer a different maybe more thorough process to their youngsters, but the fact remains there is only so many ways you can say to a parent 'we just do not think your Son is currently good enough'.

I would suspect that Bragg and Hinchelwood are any less sensitive than their counterparts at other clubs.

 

[Brovion]

Not so I know of a situation where a player on the books of BHAFC isn't even allowed to play in a training game at Saturdays training session.

In that case it's changed. All through my son's time at Withdean players who'd gone from Withdean to the Albion were allowed to come training with their mates and play in tournaments. Not only was it allowed it was encouraged.

 

[alan partridge]

nice one

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Who has just been signed by the albion at the tender age of 8, a very long way to go but i sincerely hope he's able to walk out a Falmer some day. What makes it even better is the fact that he's an avid Brighton fan aswell unlike half the kids in the team. I'm not sure whether it will interest anyone, but seems to me like NSC has been a breeding ground for negativity of late.

creep.so what if the others aren't albion fans

 

[honey boy zimba]

IM not talking about trialists its about boys who have been sighned on and perhaps have been there for two /thee years then they are just released .Then they are told why but if they have a weekness in there game are not told nor is the parent so they dont have a chance to adress it i hear this time and time again.The parent whos son has moved to Chelsea is consantly being told what to improve ect and so is yhe parent.

 

[BigGully]

In that case it's changed. All through my son's time at Withdean players who'd gone from Withdean to the Albion were allowed to come training with their mates and play in tournaments. Not only was it allowed it was encouraged.

They do tend to give their signees letters outlining that they would rather their players do NOT play in tournaments etc, but this is for insurance purposes.

It seems that they unofficially allow 'their' players to play in school football, tournaments and representative football.

I think it once again comes down to age, if you 12 months from a scholarship then do not risk outside football, but where youngsters of say 8 - 14 yrs old wish to play with their school etc football then it is accepted as reasonable for them to do so, as long as it doesn't directly effect they current programme with Brighton.

But once again the myth reverberates around the County how the club restricts this type of football, when it actually doesn't.

 

[honey boy zimba]

big gully can you not coment on my last post?

 

[honey boy zimba]

im lead to belive that school football takes priority over all other football so clubs are not allowed to stop boys playing for the school

 

[BigGully]

IM not talking about trialists its about boys who have been sighned on and perhaps have been there for two /thee years then they are just released .Then they are told why but if they have a weekness in there game are not told nor is the parent so they dont have a chance to adress it i hear this time and time again.The parent whos son has moved to Chelsea is consantly being told what to improve ect and so is yhe parent.

You are right that the club doesn't have many formal meetings with parents outlining individual weaknesses, this happens at their end of season assessments, including what they need to improve on.

But the coaches would work on those points at each training session and during each game, it is what coaching is all about.

The reality of most situations is that when young players are released the club is often asked and they rightly offer a reason why any kid is released.

The parents are offered parts of that player's game that need strengthening and those weakness have contributed to the overall decision that at that point the club felt the player was not of the level required.

It is soooo frustrating for that parent/child that they then wished they had been told at an earlier point prior to the release.

They think and hope that maybe they might have changed it in someways.

But the coaches had been working on that players weaknesses throughout his time with them, but unfortuantely that player, in the clubs opinion hadn't developed to the standard required.

So yes have another meeting, but it is likely that the decisions will remain the same.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

On a related note, driving past Lancing Manor Sports Centre this week, I notice that there is a huge banner advertising Chelsea Soccer Schools. I appreciate they would have a much larger budget, but I've never seen anything like this for the Albion, although I know they do a lot in the community.

 

[honey boy zimba]

Big gully do think that certain boys are and have been picked because who there father is ?

 

[honey boy zimba]

As you seem to have good knowledge of the set up do you think the boys are coached the right way or could more emphasis be put on individual flair and skill many say this is not encouraged.Chris waddle says this is rife through out kids football nationwide

 

[Brovion]

Big gully do think that certain boys are and have been picked because who there father is ?

No. Having a 'famous' dad might help get you noticed and get you a trial but it won't keep you there. Conor Wilkins is at the Albion on merit and certain other ex-pros offspring are not there for the same reason.

PS - Gary Lineker's son is at Chelsea with my mate's lad. Also with regard to schools matches I believe the Premiership academies have different rules.

 

[BigGully]

As you seem to have good knowledge of the set up do you think the boys are coached the right way or could more emphasis be put on individual flair and skill many say this is not encouraged.Chris waddle says this is rife through out kids football nationwide

My own opinion is that flair and risking skills should be encouraged at all levels, if that player has a real talent for it.

But it isnt quite as simple as that.

A good coach should be able to indentify any player that have those exciting qualities and definately encourage it.

However there is a thin line between a player that has that talent and a player/parent that thinks he has that talent and one that aimlessly just plays trying ( usually unsuccessfully ) beating players and showboating etc.

It is likely that the latter type player wouldnt be invited into any Academy anyway, so thats a question for the Sunday League managers.

Any player with that extra flair would be welcomed into any Academy and I would hope actively encouraged to continue playing with the freedom that type of player needs.

 

[honey boy zimba]

sorry but i disagree with boy 1 oh will send a scout to look at him .boy 2 yep just bring him along .it hapens all the time MIllionaire MR weatherstone boy clearly not good enough but he trains up there surly a waste of time and money that could be spent on a kid who can play

 

[BigGully]

sorry but i disagree with boy 1 oh will send a scout to look at him .boy 2 yep just bring him along .it hapens all the time MIllionaire MR weatherstone boy clearly not good enough but he trains up there surly a waste of time and money that could be spent on a kid who can play

Little unfair to name anyone.

If there are some that you feel havent earned the right to be there then I would agree that can harm a reputation of any Academy, however its all a bit of a red herring.

Lineker at Chelsea, this boy at Brighton you and others might argue is down to favouritism, however there would be no way that they are taking the place of someone genuinely thought by the club to be talented, no way.

So we can highlight some of the weaker issues but this shouldnt discredit the whole system.

 

[MARKO]

At the age of 16 the players are either offered 2 years or released.
The management pick a balanced side ,so u-18's and reserve football have a cross section of players in different positions.The club would never offer scholarships to say 6 strikers /goalkeepers or defenders.
The lads who get offered a scholarship at 18..which lasts two years are offered training every morning and very limited education.
After 18 ,if released ,no education and sniffing round non league clubs for a "living". eg James Fraser released ..year at Bristol Rovers,released now playing for Whitehawk on a Saturday and Eastbourne B. reserves mid week...still waiting for that "chance" !

 

[BigGully]

At the age of 16 the players are either offered 2 years or released.
The management pick a balanced side ,so u-18's and reserve football have a cross section of players in different positions.The club would never offer scholarships to say 6 strikers /goalkeepers or defenders.
The lads who get offered a scholarship at 18..which lasts two years are offered training every morning and very limited education.
After 18 ,if released ,no education and sniffing round non league clubs for a "living". eg James Fraser released ..year at Bristol Rovers,released now playing for Whitehawk on a Saturday and Eastbourne B. reserves mid week...still waiting for that "chance" !

Thats at the top end of the age scale when they are young men, the concern rightly voiced here are with youngster as young as 8 having the disappointment of rejection from the Centre of Excellence.

Their own registrations are reviewed every year from the age of 8 so there remains a time when many are nervous of being retained or released at such a young age.

 

[supaseagull]

Their own registrations are reviewed every year from the age of 8 so there remains a time when many are nervous of being retained or released at such a young age.

My point exactly...We're not talking about 14-15 year old teenagers...These are CHILDREN many of whom are just learning to read & write let alone go through this sort of stress.

They should be enjoying football not playing in a controlled environment where they're too afraid to make mistakes.