Parent Information
Practical information for families considering Ashford Advanced Football Academy, including suitability, assessment, attendance, kit, costs, safeguarding and development boundaries.
The academy does not promise professional academy placement, trials, club signings, or affiliation with any professional club.
Parent Guide
The cards below cover suitability, assessment, kit, communication and safeguarding while keeping the same development boundaries as the academy policies.
Suitability
AAFA is for U8-U11 players who enjoy football, respond well to coaching detail and are ready for a structured, positive training environment.
Assessment
Assessment helps the coaching team understand confidence, technical habits, attention and group readiness before recommending a route.
Kit
Families should make sure players arrive ready for the surface, the weather and the session rhythm.
Communication
This static website is informational only. Families should use existing agreed academy communication channels for attendance, welfare or session updates.
Safeguarding
Sessions are planned and supervised with clear expectations around behaviour, respect, parent conduct, privacy and player wellbeing.
Assessment Process
Assessment helps families understand fit, readiness and the right programme route before committing.
01
Review programmes, pricing, parent guidance and policies before making any commitment.
02
£0-£10One low-pressure session helps coaches observe confidence, technique, attention and group readiness.
03
The recommended route is based on coaching assessment, not pressure or self-selection.
04
Weekly sessions, 12-week curriculum themes and quarterly written development feedback.
Assessment Enquiry
This website does not collect personal details, take bookings or run a contact form. Families should use the academy's existing agreed communication route and include enough context for coaches to advise on assessment suitability.
Do not attend an assessment until the time, venue, arrival guidance and any player-specific welfare information have been confirmed through that route.
New players should complete a low-pressure assessment before any membership recommendation is made.
Availability depends on age group, group balance, welfare, coach capacity and whether the session environment is suitable for the player.
This static website does not take bookings. Families should request assessment details through the academy's existing agreed communication route.
Practical Expectations
Players should arrive on time, ready to train, and families should use agreed academy channels if a player cannot attend.
Players need suitable training clothing, shin pads, water, and footwear for the surface. Annual kit and registration costs are listed on the pricing page.
Parents should support calmly from the side, avoid pressure-heavy instructions, and help maintain a respectful development environment.
Players should arrive in suitable training kit, clean boots or trainers for the surface, shin pads, water, and weather-appropriate layers.
Sessions are structured, energetic and positive, with technical repetition, small-sided games and coaching points matched to each age group.
Parents should support calm, respectful behaviour from the touchline and raise any welfare or practical concern with the coaching team.
Version 1 of this website is informational only, so families should use existing agreed academy communication channels for practical updates.
Timetable and term dates
Membership is built around regular weekly coaching rather than one-off attendance.
Assessment timing should be confirmed through agreed academy communication channels before attending.
Holiday masterclasses may run separately from the weekly membership timetable when available.
Feedback Cadence
Feedback is built around observable football behaviours, confidence and next steps. It supports development without creating pressure, promises or unrealistic claims.
Cadence 1
Coaches use short, practical pointers around observable behaviours, confidence and effort.
Cadence 2
Parents receive development feedback that highlights progress, next targets and realistic next steps.
Cadence 3
The coaching team recommends suitable next steps without creating pressure, promises or unrealistic claims.
Pricing Pointer
Membership, assessment, 1-to-1 coaching, holiday masterclass, and annual kit/registration ranges are listed on the pricing page.
Assessment session £0-£10
1-to-1 coaching £45-£75/hour
Holiday masterclass £35-£60/day
Annual kit/registration £50-£95
Safeguarding and Curriculum Boundary
Safeguarding guidance, parent conduct, privacy, images, behaviour and welfare expectations are covered on the policies page.
Heading is not part of the U7-U11 curriculum. Heading in matches is banned for U7-U11 from the 2026/27 season.
Read PoliciesParent FAQ
Suitability is based on age, confidence, listening, group readiness and whether the player responds well to structured coaching.
No. It is a low-pressure coaching assessment for programme fit, not a professional club trial.
No. Programme tier recommendations are based on coaching assessment and suitability.
Use the academy's existing agreed communication route and include the player's age group, football experience, confidence level and any relevant welfare or medical information.
No. Places depend on age group, coach capacity, group balance, welfare and whether the current session environment is the right fit.
Weekly training rhythm, assessment windows and any holiday masterclasses should be confirmed through agreed academy communication channels before attending.
This page explains the 12-week curriculum rhythm. Exact term dates, venue timings and weather updates should be confirmed through agreed academy channels.
Suitable kit, shin pads, water, weather-appropriate layers and footwear matched to the confirmed surface.
Tell the coaching team before assessment. Suitability includes confidence, group readiness and welfare, not just football ability.
That is common. AAFA is positioned as additional technical development and does not replace parent responsibility for grassroots commitments.
Parent viewing arrangements depend on the venue and session setup. Families should follow the confirmed arrival, supervision and conduct guidance.
The coaching team recommends a suitable route, which may be a membership tier, further support, a later review, or no immediate placement if the fit is not right.
Parents receive practical guidance through agreed academy channels and development feedback through the published cadence.
Safeguarding, conduct, privacy, images, cancellation and complaints are covered on the policies page.