Win A Pro Contract Trial
It's the ultimate prize for any aspiring footballer - a professional playing contract! SoccerBible readers recently had the chance to make their dreams become a reality and win a professional contract. Here's a look at the trials which see one amateur player sign professional terms with Paolo Di Canio's Swindon Town.
More than 5,000 players of varying ability entered Samsung's Win a Pro Contract, and with 360 left to face regional trials, SoccerBible joined 60 hopefuls at the Goals Soccer Centre in Bristol as they were put through their paces by professional coaches and scouts from trials organiser Football CV.
Head Coach Danny Nicholls, who has watched three young talents from the Football CV academy make it to the Premier League, was joined by his team of scouts and coaches. Watching each player at Bristol perform a series of skills tests before showcasing their talents in 5-a-side matches.
The first skills test, the Rebounder Challenge, is designed to test short-range passing and receiving skills. Four numbered corrugated boards are positioned in a square and the player must bounce the ball twice off each board in order. The boards are positioned at different angles to deliver the ball back unpredictably to the upper body, mid-range and feet.
Next up before the 5-a-side games, were the Dribbling Slaloms. Giving the scouts a chance to look at vertical movement, and how the players control the ball with both feet and change direction.
Danny Nicholls told SoccerBible that attitude is as important as ability when it comes to making the step up to a professional side.
We re looking out for someone who bangs you in the face with ability. Someone with good control, good movement, athleticism and an understanding of how to play. But they also need to demonstrate they can take on information. You must be able to do that at a professional club. To win this competition, you need to impress Paolo Di Canio.
We see a lot of players who are technically sound and very comfortable in all of the skills tests. But there s more than that when you are playing a game. They must understand how to support a player. Offer the right angles and don t get too close. In a 5-a-side, we re looking for recognition of space and awareness. There s a lot within the little game that you can see. How are their communication skills? Are they a good talker?
If you re aged 18 or 19 with great raw talent, you re in the category where you can be worked with.
Goalkeeping coach Ian Pledger, a former Number One at Luton Town, took charge of the keeper trial.
I would definitely have entered a competition like this. It proves to us that there are a lot of talented lads out there. Some are capable of playing at a higher level. But, as with the X Factor, you do get a few lads who think that they can play, but are sadly misguided!
As the coaches compared notes, 60 lads trudged off home wondering if they had done enough to secure a spot in the next round of the competition. There are 66 places on offer as three full 11-a-side matches will be held to give Danny Nicholls Co the chance to reassess the group and look for star quality.
The best performers will then play in the Final Trial, an 11-a-side game in front of Paolo Di Canio and his coaching staff at Swindon Town s County Ground. SoccerBible will be following the competition at its next stages as it closes in on the star of tomorrow.
The Samsung Win a Pro Contract competition presents a great opportunity to any aspiring player, who thinks he may have missed his chance. And as a bonus the winner also receives a dream boot deal from www.prodirectsoccer.com. Have you entered this time round, and how do you feel about football trials which give players the chance to make it as a pro. Have your say online.
