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"Football Trial - advice please!"

I might be 15, but I decided to apply for my first ever trial which is on Wednesday for a local team in Walthamstow (it's near the dog stadium if anyone's cares). What kind of things should I be looking to do, bearing in mind I'm probably best positioned on the wing or perhaps as an attacking midfielder or forward. Any advice, please?

I might be 15, but I decided to apply for my first ever trial which is on Wednesday for a local team in Walthamstow (it's near the dog stadium if anyone's cares). What kind of things should I be looking to do, bearing in mind I'm probably best positioned on the wing or perhaps as an attacking midfielder or forward. Any advice, please?

Don't get nervous, and don't let the thought that you will be being judged affect you game, play your normal game, show some pace, and some nice crosses (as usual i think ;) ) and no silly tackles.

Grow your hair long and wear a headband, lots of stepovers, go to ground easily and wave a imaginary card around every time you get fouled.

They love that sort of thing

Heh @ Kaw :-)

Yeah, just play normally. It's important not to think about the fact that you're being judged otherwise you'll get nervous on the ball and lose confidence in your own ability. Don't be afraid of carrying the ball yourself but don't ever try and beat too many men (hur hur) or take a reckless shot from distance.

Oh and stay friendly with the other players there. If you foul them apologise immediately and offer them a hand up. If you get fouled don't get narked. It's part of the game.

Have fun.

I had a football trial for Exeter City school of Excellence. Hoowever, the trial was about a year after I was actually told I had it. Unfortunately, I hadn't playerd football in that year and was not on form. I tried to play as simple as possible, not in my own style, which ended up in me not making it into the squad. My advice to is to play your own game. You said that you were a winger, let them know that and then show all the qualities of that position; pace, crossing, etc. Also, another good thing to show you have, especially in midfield, is vision. Try to create oppurtunities for other players.
Fitness is also a big factor in football, as I'm sure you are aware, maake sure the person in charge of the trial always sees you running around.
With all this in mind, you'll be fine.

Heh, I did something similar recently, J. Had a trial for my sixth form college near the beginning of the summer, hadn't/haven't played football for 3 years (thinking about it, not since I quit Cambridge actually. Jesus, that was a long time ago. Time really does fly). Anyway, basically I'd lost all confidence in my own ability and was acutely aware of the fact I was being judged. Instead of being the ball carrying, through ball attacking midfielder I used to be, I ended up in a much more defensive role. I'd get the ball, really concentrate to control it (my touch was, as you can imagine, a little rusty) and then look immediately for a pass instead of driving into the space ahead of me. I started a move that made a goal but was pretty unimpressive really. Still, I was up and down the pitch like a man posessed, my stamina and pace haven't waned in the slightest, and didn't actually play badly. Just not as well as I know I can.

Unimportant really. It doesn't bother me that I won't be in the first team next season, I just want to be playing regular football again. I've missed it a lot.

Do good stuff with each foot. They love that.

Just show an interest and let them know that you want to play and will make it to training etc.

Local teams will usually be glad to take on extra players.

Stryke wrote:
> Do good stuff with each foot. They love that.

Glad you say that because I do a lot of my dribbling and short passing left footed, but for power (i.e. crossing and shooting) use my right peg. I've worked a lot on my fitness over the past month and a half and I only woke up really dedicated about five days ago hellbent on joining a local side, contacting six local teams. But over all, I think I'm ready for this opportunity, certainly more than I ever have been before.

Forest Fan wrote:
> I might be 15, but I decided to apply for my first ever trial which is
> on Wednesday for a local team in Walthamstow


Did you ring them up or something and they told you to come along for a trial?
How may others will be there?