Please see below our County Trials & Nominations FAQ, which has been composed of the most common questions asked by Schools and parents relating to nominations and trials.

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1. How does the nomination process work?

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• Primary Schools (U10/U11 Boys & U10/U11/U12 Girls): The RCTSFA contacts all primary schools between January and March each year to request nominations.

  • As a guideline, we ask for a maximum of two boys to be nominated per school at U10 and two boys at U11. More nominations may be considered for schools with multiple children signed to FAW academy-level clubs.

  • There is no limit on girl nominations to encourage the ongoing development of the female game.

• Secondary Schools (U12 Boys): Schools are contacted in October for U12 boys' nominations.

• Secondary Schools (U13-U16 Boys): Schools are contacted in March for nominations in these age groups.

• Development Squads (U7-U9): Open nominations are held periodically throughout the year. Parents/guardians can nominate directly. Follow our social media for announcements.

The RCTSFA manages the trial process in stages due to the high number of pupils involved and the volunteer-led nature of the organization. Being nominated for a county trial is an achievement in itself.

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2. Do all schools nominate?

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We encourage all schools to participate, but not all do. Parents are encouraged to discuss nominations with their child's school.

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3. How can I ensure that my school nominates?

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The simplest way is to speak to the School when the nomination window opens.  Typically, the window will open every year in January for Primary Schools and September for Secondary Schools.

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4. What is the nomination process?

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The Association will contact all RCT based Schools and we share our nomination letters.  These letters are shared with the pupils whom the Schools wish to nominate for County Trials.  It is then the responsibility of the parents/guardians to book their place at the appropriate trial via our trial portal on our website.

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5. How does the trial process work?

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• Trials are held in the summer term (May/June for primary, June/July for secondary).

• A diverse pool of selectors, including Welsh Schools coaches, Premier League/Cardiff City/Swansea City coaches, PE teachers, and experienced county team coaches, assess the players.

• Trials involve small-sided games and where appropriate technical and skill drills.​

 

6. Do current RCTSFA squads retrial along with new nominees?

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No.  We're not an academy, as a Schools Association we do things differently. As a rule we don't drop children in and out of our "system", this is a conscious and deliberate decision. Instead we have the option to retain players, support them and offer them the opportunity to stay within the Association on the Development Pathway - this means that they stay with their squad and train with the hope that they continue their development with us. The door remains open for them to return to the squad as a core player if their development accelerates - we have seen this happen many times, particularly where the coaching is focused on improvement and development. This also inevitably means that squads are not limited by capacity in absolute terms when trailing new players.

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7. My school has yet to nominate during the window, what should I do?

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We respectfully and politely ask that you contact the school directly and raise it with the PE Teacher or Sports Co-ordinator.

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8. What happens if I've missed the nomination deadline?

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Opportunities to trial are available until U16, so you can try out in future years.

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9. What should I expect on the evening of the trials?

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• Arrive on time.

• Dress appropriately for the weather.

• Bring plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.

• Inform RCTSFA volunteers of any medical conditions.

• Players will be assigned numbered bibs.

• Trials consist of small-sided games.

• No spectators are allowed inside the playing facility

 

10. How long does will it take to hear about the trial outcome?

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Typically it will take up to 3 weeks from the end of the trial process to hear your outcome. But do please bear in mind that there may be more than trial per age group, so it might not be 3 weeks from your trial date if there are additional trial dates scheduled after your trial. If unsure, please query this with the RCTSFA Volunteer staff at your trial.

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11. Can I have personalised feedback from my county trial?

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No, we're afraid that this is not possible due to the volume of trialists that we assess throughout our trial processes. Upon completion of each trial process all related paperwork and documentation is destroyed safely to ensure that we comply with GDPR regulations

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12. Does RCTSFA have a balanced cohort of players from across the RCT area?

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Generally, yes. There is a good balance of representation in our squads from across the RCT area, Selectors are not told which schools players attend and all player details are anonymized - there is no conscious or unconscious bias against or in favour of any town, village or area of RCT.

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13. Why doesn't RCTSFA ask clubs to nominate?

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We are affiliated to the Welsh Schools FA, and as such we are here to provide pupils and students across RCT with the opportunity to play representative football. Our players are part of RCTSFA as representatives of their schools and not their clubs.  In tandem with county football, RCTSFA also provides inter schools football opportunities and provision at Primary and Secondary School level. There are many other opportunities for clubs to nominate players for FAW pathways, including FAW Academy football but it is important to understand the distinction between what we do and the FAW club pathway

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14. What if I'm dissatisfied with my experience at a county trial?

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Feedback is welcome. Please email trials.rctsfa@gmail.com with your comments.

About RCTSFA

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RCTSFA is a volunteer-led association with over 350 pupils across 16 boys and girls squads. Our volunteers dedicate their time to provide children with valuable football opportunities. Please keep this in mind when engaging with RCTSFA activities.

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February 2024 v2