Football academy trials: how to prepare your child and what coaches assess
Parents whose child dreams of joining an academy like Dynamo, CSKA or Spartak sooner or later run into one word — the "trial". That is the day when a coach at a professional club watches a child and decides whether to take them on. Let's be honest about how a trial usually works, what is assessed, and how to prepare a child to show their best. Without promises of a place — nobody can honestly make those.
How a trial usually works
At most academies (Dynamo, CSKA, Spartak, Lokomotiv and others) a trial is a training session, or several sessions, to which candidates are invited. The child joins a group of peers, and the coaches observe them in drills and in a game.
A typical day is built like this: a short warm-up, ball work (dribbling, receiving, passing), then game tasks and a small-sided match. It is the game that tells a coach the most — how a child behaves not in an isolated drill but among other children and under pressure. Each academy publishes its exact formats and intake dates on its own website; it is worth checking these in advance.
What coaches assess
A trial is not about one nice piece of skill — coaches look at several things at once:
- Technique. How confidently a child works the ball with both feet: dribbling, receiving, passing, striking. A sloppy first touch is noticed immediately.
- Speed of decision-making and game intelligence. Whether the child scans the pitch, chooses between a pass and a dribble, and can think at speed. This is often more important than raw technique.
- Physical qualities and coordination. Speed, agility, use of the body. Much here depends on age and how early a child matures physically.
- Character and how quickly they learn. How a child reacts to a mistake, whether they hear the coach's instructions, whether they keep their head up when the team is losing. Above all — how fast they pick up something new: coaches value this highly.
None of these is judged on a single moment. A coach builds the picture from dozens of small details across the session.
From what age do academies hold trials
Professional academies most often start recruiting from age 6–7, but the exact age depends on the club and the intake year — the precise terms are always on the academy's own website. That does not mean there is nothing to do before then: quite the opposite, the base is laid earlier. We take children aged 4–16 for training and preparation, and it is in these years that the technique later assessed at selection is formed.
How to prepare your child for a trial
The main mistake is trying to cram in the week before a trial. That barely works and often only adds nerves. It is far better to get your child into shape well in advance:
- Regular sessions. Technique is built over months, not in a couple of sessions. Steady work gives more than a sprint before the date.
- Match practice. A trial is largely a game, so a child needs experience of real matches, not only drills against a wall.
- Mental preparation. A child should arrive calm, not feeling that their whole life depends on one day. A parent's job is to take the pressure off, not add it.
- Going through typical drills. It helps to practise the exercises usually set at selection in advance, so they are no surprise on the day.
We explain systematic preparation in more detail on our academy preparation page.
An honest look at the odds
Selection at professional academies is tough, and that needs saying plainly. Dozens, sometimes hundreds, of children turn up for a single intake, and places are few. The outcome depends not only on a child's level but on things beyond their control: their age relative to peers in the group, physique, the pace of physical maturity, the competition in a given year, and the subjective eye of the coach.
That is why we promise no one a place — and we suggest being wary of anyone who does. The honest goal of preparation is different: to make sure a child arrives in good shape and shows everything they can do. The decision then rests with the club. And if it does not work out this time, that is not a verdict: many return to selection later, taller and stronger.
How our academy helps
We are not a professional club and do not replace one — but we help a child approach a trial well prepared. Sessions follow the Brazilian GINGA method, where technique is built through game situations. Among the coaches working with the children is Tony Correa — a Brazilian coach and former professional footballer.
For focused preparation there are one-to-one sessions: the coach works precisely on weak spots and gives an honest assessment of what the child is ready for and what still needs work. If you are still choosing which academy to try out for, see our overview of how to get into the Spartak, Dynamo and CSKA academies.
Come and try
The easiest way to start is a free trial session: the coach will watch your child and say where to begin. Leave a request on the trial session page — we will call back within 15 minutes during working hours and match a group.
Sessions run at both branches: Khimki, 10B Kudryavtseva Street and Moscow, Capitolium shopping centre, 1B Pravoberezhnaya Street. Training takes place in small groups; prices and passes are on the "Prices" page.
FAQ
From what age do academies hold trials?
Professional academies most often start recruiting from age 6–7, but the exact age depends on the club and the intake year. The precise terms are always published on the academy's own website. We take children aged 4–16 for training and preparation, so a child can start building their base well before clubs open trials.
What do coaches look at during a trial?
Coaches assess ball technique, speed of decision-making and game intelligence, physical qualities and coordination, and character: how a child reacts to mistakes, whether they listen to instructions, whether they keep going. They also pay close attention to how quickly a child picks up new things.
How should I prepare my child for a trial?
Don't cram for a single day — get your child into shape: regular sessions that build technique, real match practice, and calm mental preparation without pressure. Going through the kind of drills usually given at trials also helps.
Do you guarantee a place at the academy?
No, and nobody can honestly guarantee it. Selection at professional academies is tough and depends on age, physique, the competition and the decision of a particular coach. We help a child arrive in shape and show their best — and give an honest assessment of what they are ready for.