AthletiLink
searchJoin free
Guide

How to find a football club that actually fits

Finding a club is mostly a filtering exercise. There are usually more teams within twenty miles of you than you think, and most of them are short of players in at least one position.

Browse clubs and trialsBrowse player profiles

Free on AthletiLink

  • Public player profile with measurables and film
  • Availability status for transfers and trials
  • Searchable directory for clubs, coaches and scouts
  • Private scouting watchlist with notes
  • Direct messaging — no commission, no lead fees

AthletiLink helps players become more discoverable. Selection and signing decisions always belong to clubs and coaches.

Live tournaments & results

Judge the level honestly

Playing two levels above you means splinters; two levels below means boredom. Ask what division a club plays in, how many train weekly, and whether the squad is settled or rebuilding.

  • Division and standard, plus how competitive selection is
  • Training nights and whether attendance is expected
  • Squad size — a settled 20-player squad means limited minutes
  • Cost: subs, kit, match fees
  • Travel: pitch location and away fixture distance

Where the openings actually are

Trials and open sessions cluster in pre-season, but mid-season vacancies open constantly through injuries and dropouts. Public trial listings, club pages and the club's own posts are the fastest route; a good message to five nearby clubs beats waiting for one to advertise.

What to send a club

Six lines: age, position, current or last club and level, availability, travel radius, and a link to your profile with film. Clubs reply to specifics because they are trying to solve a positional problem, not read a biography.

Be findable while you search

Half of amateur moves happen because a coach found a player, not because a player applied. A public profile with your position, level, measurables and availability helps you become more discoverable — no guarantees, but it is the part you control.

Step by step

  1. 01

    Set your radius and level

    Be realistic about travel and standard before you shortlist.

  2. 02

    Shortlist five clubs

    Mix one stretch, three matches, one safe.

  3. 03

    Message with specifics

    Position, level, availability, profile link.

  4. 04

    Attend an open session

    Turning up beats messaging twice.

  5. 05

    Publish your profile

    Let coaches searching your position find you too.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to look for a club?

Four to eight weeks before a season starts, when squads are being finalised. Mid-season is still worth trying, since injuries create vacancies all year.

What if I have no recent film?

Film a full game on a phone from an elevated angle and note your shirt number. Imperfect full-game film is more useful to a coach than no film or a highlight reel.

Does AthletiLink guarantee I will be scouted or signed?

No, and nobody honestly can. What AthletiLink does is help players become more discoverable: your position, measurables, film and availability sit where clubs, coaches and scouts are already searching, so decision-makers can find and assess you.

Is it free?

Yes. Player and scout profiles, the directory, availability listings and messaging are free. No listing fees, no commission.

Transfer and scouting tools

A player profile that makes you easier to find

Build a free football player profile with position, measurables, stats, film and availability — a performance profile clubs, coaches and scouts can actually search and assess.

Amateur football transfers, in the open

A transfer marketplace for amateur and semi-pro football: players list availability, clubs list openings, and both sides talk directly. Free, public and searchable.

Scouting tools for amateur and youth football

Search amateur and youth players by position, level, measurables and city, keep a watchlist with private notes, and message players and coaches directly. Free scouting tools.

Football trials and open sessions near you

Find football trials, open training sessions and clubs recruiting in your area, then prepare properly with a profile and film clubs can review before you turn up.

Everything a scout needs in one place

Free tools for football scouts and club recruiters: searchable player profiles, private watchlists with notes, direct messaging and analytics on your recruitment pipeline.

A working platform for player representation

Tools for football agents and intermediaries: maintain player profiles, track club interest, message clubs directly and keep agreements and correspondence in one place.

Find football scouts — and understand how scouting actually works

Browse scouts and recruiters by club, region and age group, learn what they look for, and publish a profile that helps you become more discoverable. Free and public.

A football scouting platform built around searchable player data

Search amateur and semi-pro players by position, birth year, level and location, build shortlists, keep notes and message players or clubs directly — free for scouts and recruiters.

Youth football scouting, done properly

How youth football scouting works by age group, what academies assess, how parents and clubs should be involved, and how young players can become more discoverable safely.

A player recruitment marketplace with no middleman

Clubs post openings by position and level; players list availability. Both sides search and message directly — free, public and searchable, with no agent fees or commission.

A sports transfer marketplace for every sport, not just football

List yourself as a free agent or find athletes available to join: football, basketball, volleyball, rugby, handball and more. Public, searchable and free — no commission.

Be easier to find

Publish your position, measurables, film and availability so clubs, coaches and scouts can find and assess you. Free, with no commission.

Browse clubs and trials

More on transfers, scouting and profiles

A player profile that makes you easier to find

Build a free football player profile with position, measurables, stats, film and availability — a performance profile clubs, coaches and scouts can actually search and assess.

Amateur football transfers, in the open

A transfer marketplace for amateur and semi-pro football: players list availability, clubs list openings, and both sides talk directly. Free, public and searchable.

Scouting tools for amateur and youth football

Search amateur and youth players by position, level, measurables and city, keep a watchlist with private notes, and message players and coaches directly. Free scouting tools.

Football trials and open sessions near you

Find football trials, open training sessions and clubs recruiting in your area, then prepare properly with a profile and film clubs can review before you turn up.

Everything a scout needs in one place

Free tools for football scouts and club recruiters: searchable player profiles, private watchlists with notes, direct messaging and analytics on your recruitment pipeline.

A working platform for player representation

Tools for football agents and intermediaries: maintain player profiles, track club interest, message clubs directly and keep agreements and correspondence in one place.

Find football scouts — and understand how scouting actually works

Browse scouts and recruiters by club, region and age group, learn what they look for, and publish a profile that helps you become more discoverable. Free and public.

A football scouting platform built around searchable player data

Search amateur and semi-pro players by position, birth year, level and location, build shortlists, keep notes and message players or clubs directly — free for scouts and recruiters.

Youth football scouting, done properly

How youth football scouting works by age group, what academies assess, how parents and clubs should be involved, and how young players can become more discoverable safely.

A player recruitment marketplace with no middleman

Clubs post openings by position and level; players list availability. Both sides search and message directly — free, public and searchable, with no agent fees or commission.

A sports transfer marketplace for every sport, not just football

List yourself as a free agent or find athletes available to join: football, basketball, volleyball, rugby, handball and more. Public, searchable and free — no commission.

How to get scouted in football

A practical guide to becoming more discoverable in football: build a searchable profile, film the right footage, approach clubs properly and use trials without wasting seasons.

How to create a football player profile

Step-by-step guide to writing a football player profile: the facts to include, how to present measurables and film, what to leave out, and how to keep it current.

Keep going

Free recruiting readiness score

Ten questions, an honest score, and your prioritized next steps.

College athletic recruiting guide

Timelines by grade, division fit and a readiness checklist.

NCAA Eligibility Center

What the NCAA Eligibility Center requires: 16 core courses, D1 and D2 GPA rules, registration timing, transcripts, amateurism and a step-by-step checklist.

Athletic scholarships

How athletic scholarships work: head-count vs equivalency sports, scholarship limits by sport, stacking academic aid, and how to compare real net cost.

How to email college coaches (with templates that get replies)

How to email college coaches: subject lines, what to include, follow-up cadence, and copy-paste templates for first contact, camps and senior-year outreach.

NCAA recruiting rules

NCAA recruiting rules explained: contact periods by division, when coaches can call, official and unofficial visits, dead periods, and what you may do first.

Guides by sport

Find teammates by sport

For clubs and coaches

For coaches and trainers

Events, tournaments and coaches

Transfers, scouting and player profiles

All sportsRecruiting blogFootball & soccerGyms, trainers & clubs near meBrowse athlete prospectsCreate a free athlete profile