In the Nellogi household in Hyderabad, the sound of a football being kicked around is a constant companion, especially for Ayush Nellogi. Even during the lockdown, at every opportunity he got once his online schooling for the day was completed, 12-year-old Ayush would rush to the terrace to kick a ball around. His father was an encouraging presence, supportive of his son’s dedication towards “improving and perfecting” his skills.
Ayush, like thousands of kids his age around the country, has dreams of forging a career in football. Like his favorite player Harry Kane, he has aspirations of becoming a lethal striker. What began as a hobby three years ago has turned into an obsessive pursuit.
For the last couple of years, Ayush has been preparing to make a case for himself to be selected to train at the Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) Academy in Navi Mumbai, a fully paid five-year residential program. For aspiring footballers like Ayush, the academy, with its focus on sports training, academics and holistic development of players in equal measure, has emerged as among the most sought-after institutions in the country.
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Over the last couple of years, RFYC has been conferred a “Two-Star Academy” status by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), one of only two residential academies in India, alongside Bengaluru FC, to be granted this status; and a 5-star rating by the AIFF Academy Accreditation process in 2019, the first youth academy in India to earn that distinction.
Technology to the rescue
In the past, for aspirants such as Ayush, the pathway to put their hand up for a spot was fairly straightforward. Scouts from the RFYC would travel across the country, holding sessions where emerging footballers from the region would converge. The process was exhaustive, starting with scouts selecting players from local regions, followed by coaches from the academy personally monitoring them to train and play. Once the best players from around the country are identified, they will be invited to Mumbai for a seven-day camp for in-depth evaluations, leading to the final list of players being accepted into the academy.
The trialists were selected for the game based on their successful virtual trials using the @aiscout_app.
Exciting times ahead!
AiSCOUT | Congratulations to all 15 trialists who were selected to play against our U18’s on Tuesday
The trialists were selected for the game based on their successful virtual trials using the @aiscout_app.
Exciting times ahead!
Using the National Rating Score (NRS) to quantify a player’s physical performance, AiSCOUT can measure and benchmark performance across various age groups.
Once the application is downloaded onto a phone, the player enters their profile details before entering the NRS trials. The trials are designed to measure the core physical competencies, measuring attributes such as speed, power, strength, muscular endurance and co-ordination of the aspirant.
Virtual trials
Once this is complete, the virtual trials “unlock”, which then allows them to choose the RFYC trials. These can include aspects such as passing, dribbling and shooting. The NRS, coupled with organization-specific drills and exercises, helps scouts score and rate players, all done remotely, overcoming the hurdles created by the pandemic.
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Steve Charles, Head of Scouting at RFYC, said the AiSCOUT platform has been a big help for them in a difficult year. He said:
“Once everything was shut down and our usual player discovery methods were affected, we had to find a way a workaround. In that sense, the tool has been a great asset for us. Not only has it allowed us to conduct scouting remotely, it has also given us access to regions we previously were unable to reach.”
He added:
“We’ve honestly been completely blown away by the enthusiasm the players have shown so far and the quality on display. With thousands of players and potential Young Champs signing up for the trials, our coaches have their work cut out! The addition of the tool has brought in a scientific element to our traditional scouting processes. The NRS and RFYC trials allow us to remotely evaluate thousands of entrants and invite the best of the best for our regional and final scouting camp.”
Virtual Football trials for Reliance Foundation Young Champs. Will you be the next player to graduate from India’s No1 football academy into the @indiansuperleague ..? Download @aiscout_app and get ready. The trials will be unlocking very soon. #heroisl https://t.co/mi2Vel9cea
AiSCOUT – A success model in football
In the United Kingdom, where the platform was initially used, early indicators point to the success of the model. More than 18,000 football players aged eight to 23 participated and have received analysis and feedback this year.
Several English Premier League as well as Championship (First Division) clubs have taken to the platform and players are already starting to earn selection on the basis of the scouting method.
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For football clubs, the AiSCOUT offers a lot of flexibility with data driven statistics. Thomas added:
“For football clubs, it lowers recruitment costs while expanding reach and generating complete, data driven, profiles of prospective players. The tool does not seek to replace football recruitment professionals. It seeks to leverage their capabilities and make them more effective. Under the AiSCOUT paradigm, a club’s football professionals and talent identification capabilities will be more valuable and more important than ever.”
At RFYC, nine of whose graduates from the first batch of ten students last year earned professional contracts with Indian Super League clubs, excellence has been the buzzword since operations began in 2015. The unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic demanded a nimble response, while adhering to strict guidelines to ensure the safety of its staff and players scholars.
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Fortunately, a solution has been found to ensure scouting across the country continues, so the aspirations of determined kids such as Ayush Nellogi, who dreams of one day wearing the national jersey and playing in the English Premiership, aren’t crushed in the wake of an unprecedented crisis.
RFYC embraces tech solution to scout football talent in COVID-19 times
Source: Balita Manila Viral
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