My child is just starting out at football. What’s the best way to get involved at Shooting Starz?
Saturday morning sessions are open to all and are a great place to start. The first session is free. At the end of the session, talk to the coach to get a sense of the footballing options. See
dates and booking.
How can I help my child get the most out of Shooting Starz football?
Don’t put any pressure on them. Encourage them to enjoy themselves! Most children find football to be tremendous fun.
For their first sessions, feel free to stay around and watch. Compliment on them on things they do well. Avoid the temptation to point out what they could have done better.
Away from Shooting Starz, take any opportunity to kick a ball about together. This gives them lots of ball touches which is key... and helps them appreciate football as a fun activity.
My child wants to join a team. What’s the best way to make that happen?
We have two sorts of teams:
FC Starz play on Sundays and train on Wednesdays. They play against other teams in the local area. We have over 20 FC Starz teams, with ages between Under 7 and Under 14. We hold trials for the teams over the summer as the season starts on September. Occasionally have vacancies over the rest of the year. Email
teams@shootingstarz.co.uk for more info.
Shooting Starz 5s is our internal 5-a-side league on a Friday night. We have approximately 50 teams playing against each other across 7 leagues. The best way to enter is to get together a team of 6-8 children, though occasionally we have vacancies for individual players. If you enter a team, we can supply a coach or a parent can be the coach. New leagues start with each school term. Email
5ives@shootingstarz.co.uk for more details.
To get involved with either FC Starz or Friday Night 5s, a good starting point is to come for a Saturday morning training session and chat to your coach at the end.
Why can’t I see the results for my kid’s FC Starz team?
Can you get my child a trial at a professional club?
A number of players from Shooting Starz have had successful trials and joined academies at clubs including Fulham, QPR and Arsenal. We’ve got good relationships with a number of academies and will make the right introductions if your child should be at that level.
We have our own academy team called
Starz Elite Development Academy for players aged 14-22 who play at a high level. Starz Elite Development Academy can act as bridge between FC Starz and professional clubs.
That said, the ethos of Shooting Starz is primarily focused on enjoyment and personal growth, rather than the dream of a football as a career. We strive to ensure there are opportunities for the exceptionally talented but we believe that for kids football should be primarily about fun.
My child has been approached by a professional club. How should I consider this opportunity?
It is important to understand where they are being invited to. Most professional clubs run academies and also development centres (sometimes called elite or satellite centres). These are very different.
Typically the club academy will run one team at each age group. Your child will not have to pay and will be signed for the duration of the season, or longer. Most clubs only have one academy side, which trains at the club’s training HQ.
Development centres (or elite or satellite centres) are normally run by the community section of the club, rather than the academy. Your child will have to pay to play. They are much bigger, with up to 200 children per year group.
The lure of the club brand sometimes lures parents into the development programmes, not fully understanding what is being presented to them. Whilst they might provide a pathway into the academy, they are separate from the academy. In our opinion, Shooting Starz provide as many opportunities as most club community programmes.
What is Starz Elite Development Academy?
Starz Elite Development Academy is our top-level team, combined with football management agency. SEDA works to provide structure for young players attempting to break into the professional game.
We pride ourselves on taking an ethical approach to football management, creating opportunities for young people of exceptional footballing talent. We typically work with those who have been released from professional clubs and need guidance and structure around their next move.
We work by arranging trials and showcase games with contacts in the professional game. We distinguish ourselves by our honest and ethical approach. We aim to give every player the best advice possible. We support players from being unsigned through to once they are signed, continually guiding the player on a forward and upward path.
Starz Elite Development Agency fits with FC Starz, our youth football club, to ensure that there is a pathway for talented players to perform at the highest level.
