Being invited to train with one of Scotland’s professional clubs can be an exciting time for young players and their families alike.

However, parents should ensure they fully understand the commitment they are making and the rules and regulations that govern Club Academy Scotland.

The Scottish FA have published a large amount of information, which can be accessed HERE

Information

Never disclose personal details to a scout or anyone claiming to be one. Scouts should never directly approach a parent or player to request a date of birth, address, phone number or email address. Scouts MUST contact the Scottish Youth FA club the young player is registered with.

A Team Scout is defined as ‘a person employed or acting on behalf of a club, holding a licence issued by the Scottish FA, who undertakes scouting activities for and on behalf of such club’. A scout should carry his scouting identification when attending any activity involving young players.

Article 80.1 of the Scottish FA Handbook states ‘Team Scout, player or other person, shall not directly or indirectly induce or attempt to induce a registered player of another club to leave for any purpose whatsoever the club for which he is so registered.’

Travel

Parents should carefully consider the travel implications, both in terms of time and cost. Travelling to training two or three times per week can significantly affect all family members, as well as homework and other activities and commitments. Parents should establish the travel requirements for matches, as CAS operates across Scotland and matches can be arranged with Academies in England and abroad.

Schools Football

If the player enjoys playing football with peers at school, parents should confirm with the CAS Club that there are no objections or policies that would prevent the player’s continued involvement in school football. The Scottish FA has no rule preventing a player from representing their school and playing in CAS matches.

Fees

Clubs participating in the CAS Elite, Performance (Progressive) or Performance Programme are not permitted to accept payments made on a regular basis.  This prohibition does not, however, apply to clubs participating in the Advanced Youth Programme. 

Training Compensation

If a player is registered with a CAS team and wishes to move to another CAS team, the team holding the player’s registration is entitled, under Scottish FA rules, to Training Compensation. The requirement to pay this fee should never prevent the player from moving clubs.

Player Release

If a player wishes to leave a CAS club, they should, in the first instance, write to the Club to request cancellation of their registration. If, for any reason, this request is not actioned or there is an unnecessary delay, the player and parent can contact the Scottish FA’s Young Players’ Wellbeing Panel. Support and guidance can be obtained by contacting [email protected]

Player-Centred Decision Making

Players entering CAS will sign a Registration form, not a contract, and the term contract should be avoided – players are not contracted to play for a designated period, nor will they be paid for their services. A player’s registration can be terminated at any time by the club.

It is widely accepted that fewer than 1% of youth players will ever sign a professional contract with a club. Parents must give serious consideration to the commitment they undertake on their child’s behalf before joining a Club Academy Scotland team. They should consider the impact on the child’s education, the loss of playing the game they love with friends and peers in a local setting, and the demands placed on the wider family.