There’s no running from the World Cup mania, just take a look around. Folks are pulling up match highlights during their daily commutes, and when they’re not having games at the futsal courts themselves, fans are spending their weekends at the various World Cup-themed events here on the Little Red Dot.
So, you shouldn’t be too surprised if the little one has also caught the footballing fever. Whether they’re looking to potentially go pro, keep fit, or simply in search of friends to have a kickabout with, enrolling them into one of the many football academies in Singapore is the way to go. Here’s a couple of them to consider, in hopes of nurturing your household’s very own Messi.
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Speaking of Messi, although budding footballers in Singapore can’t quite spend their formative years at the legendary La Masia academy in Spain like him, here’s the next best thing: Barça Academy Singapore.
Yes, it’s an official international academy run by the one and only FC Barcelona. Rest assured, the training here draws inspiration from the very programmes that moulded young talents like Pedri and Lamine Yamal into the superstars they are today, with a strong focus on technical development and possession-based football.
Image credit: Barça Academy Singapore
Barça Academy Singapore offers free try-outs for both boys and girls aged between 4 and 17 to determine which programme suits them best based on their age and ability. You’ll have to contact them for exact fees, but they also have occasional training camps that cost $435/week.
Other than training drills and physical conditioning, academy players will also be given the chance to take part in both internal and overseas tournaments. For those who truly shine, they might even get the chance to participate in trials held in Spain, in cities like Barcelona and Girona.
Sign up for Barça Academy Singapore.
Fees: Enquire with academy
Training locations: Aljunied, East Coast, Novena, Upper Bukit Timah
You can’t talk about Barça without mentioning their Spanish rivals, Real Madrid. Los Blancos also has an academy here, the Real Madrid Foundation Football School. However, it’s run by the Real Madrid Foundation, the official global social and educational arm of the club, and not La Fábrica, the actual Real Madrid youth academy.
But, that’s not to say that your kid won’t find quality football education here. The stuff they teach here is modelled after the Real Madrid Foundation training methodology formulated in their training base in Spain, so you know it’s the real deal. Spanish coaches also regularly make the trip to Singapore to ensure everything is up to par with what’s going on back home.
Image credit: Real Madrid Foundation Football School Singapore
They’re also big on imparting values such as leadership, teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship, not just football performance. As such, the school is not only tailored for elite prospects, but also for energetic little ones who want a fun avenue to expend their energy.
For extra motivation, the academy organises annual trips to Madrid as part of the Real Madrid Foundation Clinics World Challenge. It’s where students can train under the tutelage of experienced coaches, play games at the Valdebebas, the first team’s official training ground, and visit the impressive Santiago Bernabeu.
Sign up for the Real Madrid Foundation Football School Singapore.
Fees: Enquire with academy
Training locations: Tanjong Katong, Joo Chiat, Aljunied, Thomson, Kovan, Yio Chu Kang, West Coast
With a CV that sports the likes of Marc-André ter Stegen and Marco Reus, Borussia Mönchengladbach definitely knows a thing or two about developing raw talent. Which is why Borussia Academy Singapore is a great institute for young’ins to begin their footballing journey at.
Over in Europe, the club has always been a mainstay in the top flight of German football, partly because of their exceptional youth development philosophy. The academy is officially created in partnership with the Bundesliga side, so you can be sure that they’ll be training their fledgling footballers with the same passion, intensity, and quality.
As such, coaches from Germany will pop by from time to time to monitor players’ progress and oversee their development. The training here is also structured to maximise touches on the ball, so rest assured that they won’t be sidelined during sessions. They’ll be fully engaged with small-sided games, high repetition, multi-ball drills, and local tournaments.
Sign up for Borussia Academy Singapore.
Fees: From $400/week
Training locations: Thomson, Clementi
For a mix of Singaporean and European footballing philosophies and teachings, Celtic Soccer Academy Singapore is the way to go. The school was founded in a joint partnership involving grassroots football club Get Gungho and Celtic Football Clubs – yes, that Celtic, the most successful club in the Scottish Premiership.
Image credit: Celtic Soccer Academy
They’ve got 3 structured training programmes available, each one catering to a specific age range, but they all aim to build skills, confidence, and game intelligence. One thing to note is that they provide training for kids aged 2 to 12, so while even toddlers are welcome onto the pitch, teens on the older side might have to look elsewhere.
Like other academies affiliated with massive European clubs, the students here will be trained under the official coaching curriculum provided by Celtic. Coaches from Glasgow are flown in periodically for camps, and even opportunities to visit Scotland to see how the club helps young footballers reach their full potential.
In addition, since Celtic Soccer Academy Singapore is an Football Association of Singapore (FAS)-accredited body, it provides a clear pathway into Singapore’s professional scene, if your kid is good enough, that is. This comes in the form of chances to compete in recognised youth leagues and being taught by coaches who’ve nurtured local pros to become the players they are today.
Sign up for Celtic Soccer Academy.
Fees: Enquire with academy
Training locations: West Coast, Bishan, Kovan, Yishun, Haw Par Villa
If mum and dad are huge supporters of Les Bleus, then it should be a no-brainer when it comes to settling on an academy to enrol junior in. Backed by the official governing body of Football in France, the French Football Federation (FFF) Academy Singapore that’s built around the country’s national player development system.
It’s a system that plays a huge role in producing world-class talent; Kylian Mbappe and Thierry Henry are just a few alumni you might recognise. What’s more, the programmes here are overseen by Jean-Claude Lafargue, director of INF Clairefontaine in Paris, the very academy that trains the French national team players you see on the biggest of stages.
The FFF Academy Singapore is also one the few football schools on the Little Red Dot that provides specialised programmes for girls, namely their U13-U17 Girls Programme. The fees for their programmes are pretty reasonable as well.
Those serious about their football can sign up for their Elite Programme, which entitles students to 3 training sessions per week and guaranteed playtime for 4 full matches on Sundays, all for the price of $25/session.
Sign up for French Football Academy Singapore.
Fees: From $25/session
Training locations: Tampines, Serangoon, Yishun, Geylang
For those who’re truly steeled to pursue a career as a professional football player, the Lion City Sailors Football Academy is a good place to start. We’d expect no less from the current champions of the Singapore Premier League, as it’s the closest thing we’ve got to those fully-fledged academies that you’d find in countries with so much footballing heritage like England, Spain, France, and Germany.
In fact, their training facility in Mattar cost $10 million to build, so it’s definitely no slouch when it comes to providing quality football training. To go along with this, they’ve got multiple programmes to cater to kids of all ages and skill levels.
Kids from as young as 2 can sign up for their Little Sailors programme that serves as a fun entry point into the sport, and builds movement, confidence, and early football skills through play-based learning.
On the other end of the spectrum, their Elite Academy is geared towards paving the way for aspiring professional football players to realise their potential, through consistent high-level competitive exposure in a structured environment. For the best of the best, the academy has a scholarship programme too, which covers all training, match, and tournament fees, and has educational subsidies and allowances on top of co-funding for overseas experiences.
Sign up for Lion City Sailors Football Academy.
Fees: From $32/session
Training locations: Mattar, Jalan Kayu, Tampines, Hillview
Having been around since 2002, JSSL Singapore has years of experience bringing up young football talents through their ranks. They’re also the organiser of Asia’s largest youth football competition, the JSSL Singapore Professional Academy 7s, as well as the JSSL National Youth Leagues, so you can be sure your child will be getting plenty of game experience.
Before they set foot on the pitch for an actual game, JSSL Singapore academy has 4 different programmes to equip their students with all the skills they need to perform at their best. These include their Soccer School programme which aims to introduce the basics of the beautiful game to beginners, a Girls Programme, and even a specialised Goalkeepers programme.
Back to their tournaments, it’s worth highlighting the JSSL Singapore Professional Academy 7s, as not only is its scale massive, drawing in over 400 teams across 17 countries, the quality of its competitors is also mighty impressive. Youth teams from footballing giants such as Manchester United, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Tottenham have all contested for its cup, and academy prospects just might get the chance to go toe-to-toe with them.
Sign up for JSSL Singapore.
Fees: From $510/12 sessions
Training locations: Balestier, Tampines, One-North
Although we might be in for a bit of a wait before Singapore qualifies for the World Cup, football’s not only reserved for the most elite of players. That’s the beauty of the game, anyone can pick it up and have a blast while doing so. Moreover, if your kid’s a bundle of energy that just won’t sit still, having a ball at their feet is definitely a healthy way to keep them busy.
For more sports-related reads:
Cover image adapted from: Real Madrid Foundation Football School Singapore, Celtic Soccer Academy, French Football Academy SG – GIRLS via Facebook
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