Are you Prepared to Play Pro? Learn how you can find out

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Every day we receive requests from players across North America, UK, US and other countries in the world to assist them secure trials at professional clubs.

Through our extensive network of scouts, agents and clubs securing trial opportunities is not as issue. Professional clubs want to sign players who have the potential to play for their first team or perhaps sell to other clubs.

The real issue is that the majority of players do not know how they compare to the players already signed by professional clubs and the performance levels that they must reach before they can be seriously considered.

The most convenient way for players to understand their own individual performance levels and the performance gaps that they must overcome with training is to complete EPL benchmark tests.

Thanks to advancements in technology, we can provide this at our Player ID events and provide players with an understanding of what level is required. From there, we develop an individual learning plan (ILP) that they can follow so that they are fully prepared and at a good level to be seriously considered by professional clubs.

Why Benchmarking Your Performance Matters

If you want to play professional football in the UK or Europe, the journey doesn’t start with a trial — it starts with knowing exactly what your current performance level is and how you compare with players who have already been signed by professional clubs.

Most players in North America have the talent and desire, but they’re rarely exposed to the same training volume, testing standards, and performance benchmarks used in European academies.

At top EPL academies, players are tested and tracked year-round on. Key performance benchmarks show steady progress through the age-groups between U9 and U18+.

The core battery of EPL academies, as part of the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) includes:

EPPP Physical Performance Tests (Core Battery)

Test Area	Test Name	What It Measures	Notes / EPL Standard
Speed & Acceleration	10 m Sprint	Explosive first-step acceleration	Electronic timing gates; 1.8–2.2 s range (U11–U16)
	20 m / 30 m Sprint	Max velocity & sprint mechanics	4.2–5.2 s range (U11–U16)
Agility / Change of Direction	505 Agility Test	Deceleration + reacceleration	Often paired with force plate or timing gates
	Illinois Agility Test	Directional speed, control, balance	15–19 s (no ball); +1.5–3.0 s with ball
	Arrowhead Test	Dribbling speed + COD with ball	Used by multiple EPL Category 1 academies
Power / Strength	Countermovement Jump (CMJ)	Explosive leg power	30–45 cm range (U11–U16); hands-on-hips
	Standing Long Jump	Horizontal power & coordination	Common in Category 2/3 academies
	Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull	Max strength (force-plate test)	Used from U15 upward
Endurance	Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test (Level 1)	Aerobic capacity under repeat-sprint demand	Used from U13+; Level 1 or 2
	30–15 Intermittent Fitness Test	VO₂ max estimate	Used in higher-tier academies
Movement / Mobility	FMS (Functional Movement Screen)	Mobility, stability, asymmetry	Used to guide prehab programs
Anthropometric Data	Height / Weight / Wingspan / Body Fat %	Growth & maturity tracking	Essential for PHV (Peak Height Velocity) analysis

Optional / Supplemental Tests

These vary by academy or by phase:

Category	Example Tests	Used For
Speed-Endurance	Repeated Sprint Test (6 × 30 m)	Fatigue resistance
Coordination	Dribble slalom with ball, juggling tests	Technical speed
Psychomotor	Reaction time, perception-response tests (e.g., A-Champs ROX or FitLight)	Cognitive-motor development
Balance / Stability	Y-Balance, single-leg hops	Injury prevention metrics

By age 16, these players have built a performance profile that shows coaches how they compare to the demands of the professional game.

To compete for trials or contracts overseas, you need to match those metrics — or at least understand your current gap and have a plan to close it.

That’s why benchmarking is the first step.It provides:

✅ Clear data on where you are now

✅ Motivation and direction for what to improve

✅ Credibility when sharing performance reports or footage with clubs

At Ian McClurg Learn Perform Coaching, we help players measure their data against EPL academy standards, then design individual training plans to raise their performance levels step by step.

Once you’ve closed that gap, you’re ready to pursue professional trials with confidence.

Register for our next Pro Trials Player ID Event on November 14th (PA Day) in Toronto

REGISTER TODAY