Understanding the Premier League & FA Academy System: A Guide for Parents and Players

Written By April Wyatt

At Noble Scouting, our mission is to bridge the gap between grassroots football and professional opportunities. To help parents and young players better understand the journey, it’s important to know how the Premier League and FA Academy system works, and what the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) means for talent development in England.

What is the Academy System?

The Academy system is the structured pathway that professional football clubs in the UK use to identify, develop, and nurture young talent. There are currently around 10,000 boys in Premier League and Football League academies across the country, competing for the opportunity to progress through the ranks towards professional football.

Academies are not just about football, they also provide education, welfare, and life skills to help players develop on and off the pitch.

The Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP)

Introduced in 2012, the EPPP is the Premier League’s long-term strategy to improve youth development across English football. Its core aim is simple:

To produce more and better home-grown players who can perform at the highest level.

Key Features of the EPPP:

  • Academy Categorisation: Clubs are ranked from Category 1 (highest) to Category 4, based on facilities, investment, staffing, and productivity.

  • Age Phases: The system is broken into three development phases:

    • Foundation Phase (U9–U11)

    • Youth Development Phase (U12–U16)

    • Professional Development Phase (U17–U23)

  • Coaching Hours: EPPP sets minimum coaching hours. For example, Category 1 academies offer significantly more contact time than Category 3.

  • Education & Welfare: Players are supported academically and personally to balance football with school.

Category 1–4 Academies Explained

Here’s how the four categories differ:

Category 1

  • The highest level, this includes top Premier League clubs.

  • Full-time staff, world-class facilities, sports science, education support.

  • Around 8–16 hours of coaching per week, depending on age group.

  • Play in the Premier League Elite Academy League.

  • Examples: Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal.

Category 2

  • High-quality programmes but slightly fewer resources than Cat 1.

  • Around 6–10 hours of coaching per week.

  • Compete in the Professional Development League.

  • Example clubs: Huddersfield Town, Birmingham City.

Category 3

  • More common at Football League clubs.

  • Around 3–6 hours of coaching per week.

  • Facilities are good, but not at the same level as Cat 1–2.

  • Example clubs: Colchester United, Gillingham

Category 4

  • The smallest programmes.

  • Only recruit from the Under-17 to Under-23 age groups.

  • Mainly focused on older players who were released elsewhere.

  • Often used to “catch” late developers.

Travel Distances & Commitment

The EPPP also sets travel limits to protect young players and families:

  • U9 to U11 players can only be recruited if they live within 1 hour’s travel time of the training ground.

  • U12 to U16 players can be recruited from up to 90 minutes’ travel time.

  • Over 16s (scholars) don’t have a set limit, but relocation and education are carefully managed.

What Does This Mean for Grassroots Players?

The Academy system is highly competitive. For every child who makes it into a Premier League squad, thousands will fall short. That doesn’t mean the journey is wasted; academy training provides players with transferable skills, discipline, and opportunities at many levels of the game.

However, getting spotted is the biggest challenge. Scouts look at thousands of grassroots games each year, but many talented players still go unseen. That’s where Noble Scouting is stepping in, to provide parents and players with direct access to professional scouts, ensuring ability doesn’t go unnoticed.

Tips for Parents Supporting Young Players

      1.    Focus on enjoyment first. Football should be fun, even at elite levels.

      2.    Encourage resilience. Rejection is part of the process.

      3.    Balance football with education. Very few make it to the top, so school matters.

      4.    Be patient. Development is different for every child; late developers often shine later.

      5.    Use trusted pathways. Ensure your child is seen by reputable scouts and in safeguarded environments.

The Premier League and FA Academy system, underpinned by the EPPP, is designed to create the best possible environment for young players to thrive. But opportunity is the key, and that’s what Noble Scouting exists to provide.

We believe that every player deserves the chance to be seen and supported. With the right guidance, the pathway from grassroots to greatness becomes clearer and more achievable.

April Wyatt