DETECT
Local and regional networks identify the most promising young players throughout the country.
THE FEDERAL PERFORMANCE PLAN (PPF)
Managed by the National Technical Department, the Federal Performance Plan (PPF) works with children from the age of 13 to prepare them for the elite national level and French Teams. Designed as a "double project" each young player is prepared both athletically and academically. Our focus is on these four areas: developing and optimizing facilities, updating the training programme, optimising the national talent detection plan and reinforcing coaching staff.
3 KEY AREAS
GUIDE
Young talent is guided towards pre-training and training facilities in order to guarantee their athletic, educational and personal development.
SUPPORT
Monitoring players and coaching plays a part in their development, which is essential to succeed at the elite level.
Key figures
450
Number of young players trained each season in the 15 men's clubs managed by the National Technical Department.
177
Number of young players trained each season in the 8 women's clubs managed by the National Technical Department.
130
Out of 700 trained young players per generation, only 130 sign their first professional contract.
30%
Percentage of players on the French World Champion team trained by an FFF academy.
TRAINING PATH TO JOIN THE ELITE LEVEL
Sports Sections
Accessible from 6th to 12th grade, this section - offered in nearly 1,000 establishments - provides access to elite training while keeping academics at the heart of the project.
Men's Academies
There are 15 of them, including the oldest, INF Clairefontaine, which prepares 13- and 14-year-old boys for elite training.
Women's Academies
8 facilities, including the French section at INSEP, takes on young girls between 16 and 18 years old to prepare them for elite football.
Elite training centres approved by professional clubs
Focusing on players aged 15 to 19, they provide an individualized training protocol and support at each stage of the training.
Frequent questions
- What facilities should young talents join to prepare themselves for the elite level?
Once they enter middle school, girls and boys can participate in sports sections to allow them to follow quality training while continuing their studies. Once they have completed middle school players continue either in a sports section at High School, in a French centre (INF, INSEP), a "Pôle Espoirs" (regional) or a professional club academy.
- At what age can you enter?
The 1st sport cycle section, which is integrated in schools approved by the French National Education and the FFF, are accessible from the age of 11 when a player enters 6th grade. At 13 and 14, boys also have the possibility of being referred to a Pôle Espoirs or an Elite Sports Section, which prepares them for the requirements of elite training. For girls, the Pôles Espoirs are open from the age of 16.
- What are the selection criteria?
Access to the male and female sports sections and to the male and female Pôles Espoirs is possible in different ways: through local recruitment, through the National Detection Plan, or after an entrance exam. In all cases, the pathways to the elite level are demanding; academics and behaviour are considered during the selection process.
- Do these training courses make it possible to reconcile sport and studies?
Education is essential to the balance and development of young players. It is one of the top priorities at these elite academies, which encourage development in three key areas: athletics, academics and education. To achieve this, the students' schedules are adapted to practice, training and competition schedules.