How to Get a Trial at a Professional Football Club

Securing a trial is not a matter of luck — it’s a matter of strategy. Every year, thousands of players send emails to clubs, attend open trials, or seek contacts through acquaintances. Most receive no response. Not because they lack talent, but because they don’t know how to approach, what to prepare, or how to present themselves professionally.

A trial is your opportunity to demonstrate in person what your CV and your highlight video promise. But before stepping onto the pitch, you must get someone to invite you. This requires preparation, contacts, and a professional approach that sets you apart from the hundreds of players competing for the same chance.

What this article covers

What a trial is and the types that exist
The 5 ways to get a trial
How to contact a club directly (with email template)
How to prepare physically, technically, and mentally
What happens during a trial: typical structure
What evaluators really look for
Mistakes that ruin a trial
After the trial: follow-up and next steps

What a trial is and the types that exist

A trial is a session (or series of sessions) where a club evaluates a player before deciding whether to offer a contract, a training period, or inclusion in their squad. There are several formats:

Open trial
A public call where any player can register. The club evaluates dozens (sometimes hundreds) of players in one day. Common in lower leagues of England, Spain, and other European countries.

Invitation trial
The club specifically invites you after viewing your video, receiving a recommendation, or meeting you through a scout or agent. Much more effective than open trials — you compete against fewer players.

Training period
The club allows you to train with the squad for 1-4 weeks to evaluate you in the real team context. This is the most comprehensive evaluation and has the highest chance of resulting in a contract.

The 5 ways to get a trial

1. Direct contact with the club

This is the most accessible route and depends mostly on you. Research which clubs are looking for players with your profile (position, age, level), obtain the email of the sporting director or recruitment manager (usually available on the club’s website or platforms like Transfermarkt), and send them a professional message with your CV and video.

Email template to request a trial

Subject: Right Back Available for Training — [Your Name]

Dear [Sporting Director’s Name],

My name is [Full Name], I am a 23-year-old Argentine right back,
currently a free agent. I have experience in Primera Nacional
(52 matches, 3 goals, 9 assists) and the U-20 national team.

I will be in [city/country] from [date] and would like the
opportunity to train with the team to demonstrate my abilities.
I can cover my accommodation and travel expenses.

Attached are my sporting CV and the link to my highlights video:
[video link] | [your Futbol CV profile link]

I am available for any additional information.
Thank you very much for your time.

[Full Name]
WhatsApp: +54 11 XXXX-XXXX
Email: [email protected]

Key: The email must be short, specific, and professional. Avoid phrases like "I have always dreamed of playing for your club." State who you are, what you offer, when you are available, and provide easy access to your materials. If you can cover your travel and accommodation costs, mention it — this reduces financial pressure on the club and increases your chances.

2. Through a licensed agent

A FIFA-licensed agent has direct contacts with sporting directors and scouts. If your agent recommends you for a trial, the club will pay more attention than if you send a cold email. This is the most effective route for invitation trials.

3. Open trials and showcase events

Many clubs — especially in lower divisions of England, Spain, Portugal, and Scandinavia — organize open trials before each season. There are also showcase events organized by independent academies and scouting platforms, where multiple scouts observe players in exhibition matches.

4. Academies specialized in trials

International academies (in Spain, England, Portugal, among others) accept players worldwide, train them for weeks or months, and connect them with local clubs for trials. This is a significant financial investment but can be effective if you choose an academy with real contacts and verifiable track record.

5. Recommendation from a scout or coach

If a scout has seen you play and liked what they saw, they can recommend you directly to a club. The same applies to coaches with contacts in the professional circuit. That’s why it’s so important to play at the highest possible level and have a visible profile — the more you expose your game, the higher the chances someone with contacts will recommend you.

How to prepare

Physical preparation (8-12 weeks before)

Evaluators will assess your physical condition from minute one. A player who tires after 20 minutes shows the scout they are not ready for the professional level.

Endurance: Running 10-12 km per training session is expected. Work with intervals, continuous runs, and high-intensity circuits.
Speed: Sprints of 10, 20, and 30 meters. Explosiveness in the first meters is what impacts most.
Functional strength: Squats, lunges, core exercises. You don’t need to be a bodybuilder, but you must have the strength to contest duels and withstand physical contact.
Agility: Direction changes, ladder coordination drills, footwork.

Technical preparation

Work on the fundamentals of your position daily. First touch, short and long passing, control under pressure, finishing (if you’re a forward), marking and anticipation (if you’re a defender). There is no room for basic technical errors in a trial.

Mental preparation

Most players don’t fail trials due to lack of talent, but due to nerves. The stress of being evaluated can make you perform at 60% of your real capacity. Prepare your mind: visualize the trial, imagine game situations, practice concentration under pressure. If you can play competitive matches (local leagues, tournaments, high-level friendlies) before the trial, you will arrive more seasoned.

What happens during a trial: typical structure

Phase	Includes	Evaluated aspects
Registration	Arrival, accreditation, group assignment, and bib distribution	Punctuality, attitude, professional presentation
Warm-up	Warm-up led by coaching staff	Disposition, concentration, body language
Technical drills	Passing, control, dribbling, finishing	Technical quality, first touch, accuracy
Small-sided games	Matches in reduced space (5v5, 7v7)	Decision-making, vision, intensity, communication
Full match	Full or near full pitch match	Overall performance, tactical intelligence, personality, leadership

What evaluators really look for

It’s not just about scoring a goal or making a spectacular play. Scouts and coaches evaluate things most players underestimate:

First touch. How you receive the ball under pressure reveals more about your level than anything else. A clean, oriented first touch tells the scout you have quality.

Decisions. Do you choose the right pass? Do you know when to play simple and when to take risks? Do you scan before receiving? Tactical intelligence separates average players from professionals.

Communication. Do you talk on the pitch? Do you call for the ball? Do you organize teammates? A silent player in a trial is a red flag for any evaluator.

Off-ball attitude. Do you press? Cover spaces? Offer yourself as a passing option? Ninety percent of the game is without the ball — scouts know this.

Resilience. How do you react after a mistake? Do you hide or keep asking for the ball? Evaluators want players who recover quickly from setbacks.

Mistakes that ruin a trial

Avoid these mistakes

Unnecessary tricks. Spectacular dribbles that lead nowhere make you look selfish and undisciplined. Play simple, fast, and effective.
Disappearing after the first 20 minutes. If you arrive without the necessary physical preparation, it shows immediately. Scouts assess your performance over the full 90 minutes, not just the first 10.
Not communicating. Silence on the pitch makes you invisible. Talk, ask, organize. Show you add value to the team.
Complaining about the referee, teammates, or pitch. Nothing turns off evaluators more than a complaining player. Adapt to conditions and play.
Arriving late or without proper equipment. Seems basic, but it happens. Arrive 30 minutes early, with clean boots, shin guards, and all necessary gear. The first impression starts before the pitch.

After the trial: follow-up

If the trial was positive, the club will contact you. But if you don’t receive a response within 7-10 days, send a brief follow-up email thanking them for the opportunity and asking if there is any feedback. Don’t be pushy, but don’t disappear either — many opportunities materialize on the second or third contact.

If the trial didn’t result in a contract, don’t get discouraged. Ask for feedback if possible (what areas to improve?), work on those points, and keep seeking the next opportunity. Jay DeMerit bought a one-way ticket to England at 23, played in the ninth division for 2 years, and ended up signing with Watford in the Championship. Persistence is part of the profession.

Keep your profile updated. After each trial, update your sporting CV and your Futbol CV profile with the new experience. An updated profile tells any evaluator that you are an active and committed professional.

This guide was developed based on best practices from scouts, coaches, and professional academies. If you are building your football career, create your profile on Futbol CV and make your talent visible to those who can give you the next opportunity.

How to Get a Trial at a Professional Football Club