The Academy has a network of local, national and international scouts, who in turn are responsible for monitoring games and reporting to the Club on a player's ability and potential development.  The scouts also establish mutually beneficial relationships with clubs and schools.

There are a number of rules and regulations imposed by the FA Premier League controlling recruitment within Academies:

* The Academy can only take players in age groups Under 9 to Under 18

* Players in groups U9 - U12 must reside within one hour's travelling time and those in age groups U13 to U16 within one and a half hours travelling time of the Football Academy at which they are registered

* There are a maximum number of students a club
can register

Boys are selected to register with the Academy following a successful trial period. A player can be invited to attend for a trial following:

* Assessment in their own environments (eg: club, school, area or county)

* Recommendation from personnel within the professional game

* Demonstrating potential whilst attending ITFC Academy Development Centres (ages U7-U12)

* Recommendations by Community Department coaches resulting from attendance on their courses.

* Recommendation by school teachers and county officials within the area

Young players can feel assured that if they are playing club, school or county football regularly our scouts will see them.

Our network of scouts and coaches can watch in excess of 250,000 players each season. To maintain Ipswich Town's reputation as a club renowned for its successful development of players and considering the downturn in the current financial football climate, the recruitment of young talent remains a priority for the Academy.

However, as Ipswich Town continue to be one of the more innovative Academies in player development, the emphasis in recruiting players must always remain on quality and not quantity.

If you are playing football and have the ability, the aim is that our Academy scouting network will see you.

Malcolm Moore,
Academy Recruitment Officer