You’ve seen how involved your child is when they play football. You’ve seen the excitement in their voice when they talk about their favourite team. And slowly, you’ve started seeing a dream take shape in their eyes… the dream of playing football for India one day.

 

Naturally, the next step is finding a football academy for your child.

 

So in this blog, we’ll walk you through five simple (but important) things to look for before choosing a football academy for your child. These insights come from conversations with parents, coaches, and what we’ve seen truly support a child’s long-term growth.

 

Let’s begin:

1. Look at the Coaches, Not Just the Facilities

Even the best football academy, with perfect turf and shiny equipment, can fall short if the coaching isn’t right. Because at the end of the day, it’s not the ground that shapes your child’s journey. It’s the coach. So if an academy doesn’t share who their coaches are, what their credentials look like, or how they engage with children… that’s a sign to look deeper.

 

Here’s what to look for instead:

 

• Licensed coaches (AIFF, AFC, UEFA) who’ve been trained to guide young players through age-appropriate drills.
• Coaches with experience working with kids (not just adult athletes) because coaching young footballers takes more than just tactical know-how.

 

Now, this is where BFC Soccer Schools sets itself apart. We have experienced coaches such as Rino Anto, Shankar Sampingiraj and Keegan Pereira (former national team and Bengaluru FC players) who come onto the field with their professional playing background and train young players in a way that is fun and engaging. Beyond their playing careers, our coaches also attend the BFC Coaches’ Clinic: a program that keeps them updated on the latest football techniques and age-specific training methods so every session is effective for young players.

 

2. Coach-to-Player Ratio in Football Academies

At first glance, everything might look normal. Young players are running drills while parents watch from the sidelines. But here’s something worth looking closer at:

 

How many kids is one coach handling?

 

If a single coach is trying to manage 20 or 30 kids, chances are your child isn’t getting the attention they need. And in the early stages of football training, attention to individuals matters most. Because it is this stage where young players are learning the fundamental skills of football like passing and ball control… so they need a coach who notices their small defects and corrects them before they become wrong habits.

 

Many parents have shared that since their child started playing in smaller batches at BFC Soccer Schools, things have changed. They began enjoying training more, improved faster, and felt like their coach noticed their effort and encouraged them personally.

 

Smaller group sizes are especially important when it comes to football training for kids, where coach feedback matters most. That’s why the best football academy keeps its batch sizes small – ideally a 1:8 to 1:12 coach-to-player ratio for younger age groups.

 

3. A Good Academy Follows a Structured Player Development Pathway

From the outside, a football academy might look active… cones lined up, kids running laps, coaches blowing whistles. But activity doesn’t always mean progress. If there’s no clear structure behind the sessions, your child might be training hard without actually making any progress. So it helps to ask a few key questions:

 

• Is there a curriculum tailored to age and skill level?
• Do coaches regularly evaluate each child and give feedback?
• Is there a clear player development path to more advanced training?

 

Now at BFC Soccer Schools, we follow a structured development pathway that helps every child build their game step by step. From foundational sessions to advanced drills, each stage is designed to match the child’s interest and ability. A good football school should treat player development like a journey which moves forward at its own pace, building skills gradually and keeping the game enjoyable along the way.

 

4. Choose an Academy That Values Growth as Much as Winning

In a competitive football scene like India’s, winning is important… but it shouldn’t come at the cost of player development. The best football academies push kids to perform while also building the mindset and habits that lead to long-term success.

Look for academies that:

 

• Recognise efforts along with the end results
• Treat mistakes as a part of the learning process
• Encourage teamwork while developing individual talent

 

At BFC Soccer Schools, these values are reflected in our tagline: Grow with the Game. For us, growth means helping young players build their football skills on the pitch, while also developing the confidence and discipline they can carry into life off the pitch.

 

5. Get Parent Opinions on the Academy

Some of the most helpful insights don’t come from brochures or websites… they come from conversations with other parents who’ve already been through the decision. If you’re unsure about which football academy is right for your child, start by asking questions like:

 

• Do your kids enjoy going to training?
• Have you seen real progress (both on and off the field)?
• Has football become a regular part of their routine at home or school?

 

At BFC Soccer Schools, many parents tell us they noticed a shift within just a few months: more energy and better focus.

 

And here’s the best part:

 

You don’t have to figure it all out from the outside. Sign up for a free football trial session, meet our coaches, or talk to a BFC Soccer Schools parent to see if this is the right academy for your child.

 

Conclusion: The Right Start Makes All the Difference

As a parent, it’s natural to wonder if you’re making the right choice for your child’s football journey. But once you know what truly matters, like qualified coaches, smaller batches, and a clear focus on long-term growth… it gets easier to spot the right fit.

 

In the end, it’s not just about football. It’s about choosing a place where your child feels encouraged and improves at their own pace.

 

BFC Soccer Schools: Where Football Futures Begin

Licensed coaches, small batch sizes, and a clear player development pathway – at BFC Soccer Schools, it all comes together to support your child’s growth.

Ready to see it for yourself?

Get in touch with us, let your child join a free trial session, and see why BFC Soccer Schools is considered one of the best football academies in India.