Is Saudi Arabia your dream football destination right now? Then come start your 3rd division trials, which are now open for international footballers all over the world. Do you think you are a talented footballer? Do you have what it takes to compete at the highest level? If it’s a yes to these questions, then the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) wants you to be a part of its Saudi Arabia 3rd Division trials.
Does Saudi Arabia have trials?
Yes, Saudi Arabia football clubs hold trials for footballers all over the world. It doesn’t matter whether you’re coming from Africa, Europe, Asia, etc. Apart from those top-tier clubs, there are lots of Saudi Arabia third division trials that go on every season and pre-season. Saudi wasn’t known to be a football country, but ever since their interest, their football has been growing very quickly, and now they hold trials very often for people who want to play football and sign good contracts.
Saudi Arabia 3rd Division How To Join 2024
1. Talk to your coach
He might know someone who knows someone in Saudi Arabia. Your football coach will know a lot about you. He or she knows your strengths and weaknesses more than you do. Apart from that, he can connect you with other coaches outside your own country. It can be a Saudi coach who is looking for a new talent who can help them win the league or just be a competitive side. If your coach truly believes in you, they will go the extra mile to bring you these opportunities to meet other clubs.
Some football academies hold weekly meetings to update each other on player development. Sometimes, they are looking out for opportunities for you, even without telling you. They know that if they can find someone who admires your talent, they will benefit from the money coming from your sale.
2. Sign up with an agent in Saudi Arabia
We also have agents. Agents are people who are there to promote you to their network of scouts and coaches in other countries. They might also give you career advice if they think you need one. Some agents take 5 to 10% of your salary or an upfront fee. If you really want to go far in football, and you know your worth already, sign with an agent but make sure they are certified. Also, make sure it’s non-exclusive (so you can have multiple agents). And never pay an upfront fee. However, it’s usually not advisable to have an agent, especially for someone who is just starting a career.
Now, the question is, how can you get a soccer agent? If you’re done with club or college football and want to take the next step, check the Registered FIFA Agents list at https://agents.fifa.com/directory-agents. Look for agents in the countries where you want to go for trials. In this case, look for the ones in Saudi Arabia. Agents usually have the best contacts in their home country.
You have to find someone who can give you a chance to show your skills in the third Division. It should be someone who has connections with the Saudi 3rd division. How do you know if an agent has a good track record of getting players trials at various clubs? Look at their social media profile. See the type of content they post, and the football clubs they interact with the most.
Yes, there are many doubts about agents, but not all of them are bad. You might know a successful player who worked with an agent or have a family member in that field. But what you need is a reliable agent in Saudi Arabia so that they can get you ready for trials.
3. Send an email to the Saudi Club with your highlight videos
If you already have a good relationship with your agent and you have a solid place in your local football academy or club, then what you need now is to send an email to a Saudi club. Reaching out to clubs on your own can be very difficult because they don’t know if you are credible at all. These Saudi football clubs receive many emails daily with trial requests from footballers, and most of them are ignored. Many of them believe that their scouts know all the good players in their market. However, there’s a small chance of success if your email is unique. Remember, the bigger the club, the harder it is to get a response. So, my suggestion is for you to target the least-ranked 3rd division clubs. But focus on the wealthy ones, especially those that are just coming into the league.
4. Through Football Scouts
If you play for a top team in your country and reach the finals in many tournaments, scouts will likely notice you. Unfortunately, the chance that it’ll be a Saudi scout is very slim. Many top players got their start this way. But, it’s not guaranteed a scout will see you. Sometimes, the skills that make a player succeed aren’t obvious, so it’s easy for them to overlook you.
5. Use the power of your football academy
They already have the connections. Full-time private football academies will help you become a professional footballer. It should be easier to prepare you for the challenges ahead for your success. However, many academies have sprung up recently, and many of them don’t meet the necessary FIFA standards.
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Saudi 3rd division application form
Saudi Arabia 3rd Division Trials is Filled with New Regulations and New Opportunities
This is a landmark decision, to be honest, and the Board of Directors of SAFF has approved these new regulations for the 3rd division league. They are effective from the 2023-2024 sports season, and this means that clubs in the 3rd division league can now register the following players:
- Saudi professional players
- 2 non-Saudi professional players
- 1 professional born player (born in 2000 or older)
What this means is that if you are a foreign player, there can only be two of your kind in one third division club.
However, there is no limit for Saudi professional players. It’s not a lot, we know, but it’s still a game-changer for footballers all over the world.
Since there is no limit on Saudi professional players, Saudi clubs can scout and recruit as many talents from across the country. The addition of 2 non-Saudi professional players and 1 professional born player is a good opportunity for international players to break into the league.
Amended Registration Periods
As part of the new regulations, SAFF has also announced changes to the players’ registration periods for 3rd division clubs.
The summer registration period will now run from July 1 to September 20, while the winter period will take place from January 1, 2024, to January 30, 2024.
What this means is a longer window for third division clubs to scout, recruit, and register players. This is enough time for you to secure a spot in any of the clubs you believe will be easier for you to start or continue your career.
Why 3rd Division Trials?
As with any starting stage in European football, the 3rd division league here is a breeding ground. You won’t get to play against top-level opponents but you’ll play against your mates, and then gather the experience from coaches and your teammates in preparation for a more demanding football.
And unlike many other countries, especially here in Asia, Saudi Arabia is a good destination where scouts and coaches from higher divisions are much more likely to find you.
How Do You Even Join the 3rd Division Trials?
Here’s how to join the 3rd division trials:
It’s not as difficult as we often make it out to be. The first thing is for you to find a 3rd division club. There are a lot of them like Al Noor, Al Hejaz, Baish, Kumait, Al Huora, Al Fao, Al Watani, and Al Entelaq. No, you don’t have to actually visit the clubhouse or whatsoever to meet up. You can do so with your phone or PC.
The first place to go is their social media pages. But before you do that, make sure this club aligns with your aspirations. Don’t just jump on any club unless you just want a platform where you can start football.
You then have to reach out to the club’s coaching staff or management team. Football is a difficult industry, and it requires a lot of connections and “who knows who”. If you have some agents as friends, that’s even better. Get in touch with them about your interest in joining the trials. They might know someone who’ll make this process a lot easier than trying to attract Saudi clubs via their social pages or website. They receive a lot of applications, and sometimes don’t even read any of them.
For some, the third division is a very low place to begin football but it’s worth it. Saudi Arabia pays a lot of money. You could earn up to $4,000 per week. Multiply this number by 52, and you know how much money you can make playing in this league. In fact, lower Saudi Arabian divisions look for players very often. This 3rd division is just the start of some serious money.
So, what are you waiting for? Start your trials now.
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