PerspectivesOctober 20, 2026

Professional club academies: fewer than one young player in five turns pro. What about the others?

Every year, an approved academy prepares young players for professional sport. Only a minority will sign a first contract. For the others, the French Sports Code requires the club to help them into education or work, and federations now assess schooling and life after sport. Education up to the baccalauréat is often well organised. What comes next much less so.

A minority signs a first contract

According to the ministerial instruction of 20 October 2025, 184 professional club academies, under seven team-sport federations, are recognised by the State and host more than 4,000 young athletes.

Football. "Out of 700 young players trained per generation, only 130 sign a first professional contract," says the French Football Federation (FFF), about 18%.
Rugby. In 2024-2025, the 30 academies of professional clubs had 825 young players under contract. The French rugby league (LNR) announced nearly 96 first professional contracts for the following season, about 12% of the total.

In other sports, the leagues publish no comparable exit rate.

What the law says when there is no contract

A young player admitted to an academy signs a training agreement with the club. Article L. 211-5 of the Sports Code states that "the agreement sets the duration, level and arrangements of the training". It also provides that the player may be required to sign a first employment contract with the club, for up to three years. The rule that matters for the other four is this one:

"If the sports association or company does not offer them an employment contract, it must provide the person with support for their educational or professional integration, under the conditions set out in the agreement."

The 2025 instruction adds that the training agreement is mandatory "regardless of any other contract" the player may sign with the club. Nothing prevents combining an academy place with an apprenticeship. The academy charter of the French professional football league (LFP) actually provides for players under apprentice status, with clubs approved as apprenticeship masters.

What federations and leagues already assess

Football. The FFF's 2025-2026 academy evaluation, published on 6 July 2026, uses five criteria. One of them is schooling, measured by the diplomas obtained during the previous season.
Rugby. Since the 2024-2025 season, the LNR and FFR evaluation model gives 10% of the score to preparation for life after sport. The LNR's €6.4 million "Training" fund includes a guaranteed €50,000 per club and a variable share allocated according to that evaluation.
Families. In football clubs, schooling has become "a strong argument to attract and reassure families" (franceinfo, 4 September 2025). The best academies report baccalauréat pass rates of 95 to 100%.

Success at the baccalauréat is tracked, scored and promoted. What happens to the player after the academy (higher education, apprenticeship, a first job outside sport) much less so: the leagues publish no indicator on it.

An academy is expensive, its graduates are its best proof

Basketball. In the top division (Betclic Élite), an academy averages €479,663 in income and €502,044 in costs (LNB DNCCG report, 2024-2025 season). In second-division (Pro B) clubs, it accounts for 9% of operating costs.
Volleyball. A survey by the national technical department puts the annual cost of training one player at €8,000 to €12,000, excluding accommodation.

For a club, a graduate who holds a qualification and a job is the clearest proof of that investment, for families, local authorities and partners.

Dual career after school, in practice

The dual career does not have to stop at the baccalauréat. Five levers extend it:

Apprenticeship during and after the academy. An apprenticeship contract with the club or its partner companies leads to a diploma or qualification, in sport-related jobs or outside sport.
A club apprenticeship centre (CFA) or training unit. LOU Rugby has run LOU Formation, a training organisation and CFA, since 2018. Stade Rochelais and Limoges CSP host an apprenticeship training unit of the CREPS de Poitiers CFA. These structures also train former players and club staff.
Qualifications split into skill blocks. A qualification registered in the RNCP (France's national register of professional qualifications) can be validated block by block: the player builds recognised skills during the season, without waiting for the end of the academy.
Validation of prior experience (VAE). For players at the end of their careers, coaching, leadership or management experience can lead to a diploma or qualification.
Individual skills tracking. Measuring the gap between acquired and target skills, generating a path for each player and issuing skill badges gives graduates a readable record, and the club a follow-up indicator.

Key takeaways

184 approved academies host more than 4,000 young players. In football, 130 out of 700 sign a first professional contract.
The Sports Code requires the club to support the educational or professional integration of any player it does not offer a contract.
The FFF scores schooling; the LNR scores preparation for life after sport and links part of its Training fund to it.
The training agreement does not rule out apprenticeship: a club can organise a real qualifying path after school.
Leagues publish no indicator on what becomes of graduates: a club that measures it stands out.

How Mentivis can help

Mentivis is a training operator: we design, open and run schools, apprenticeship centres and academies. For a club, we take charge of the path after the academy:

A club CFA or academy. Design, declaration and operation, for young players, former players and staff: set up a CFA and corporate academy.
Recognised qualifications. Choosing qualifications, partnering with certifiers, or registering your own: RNCP certification.
Individual skills tracking. Our platform MentivisOS measures each player's skills, generates their path and issues skill badges.

To discuss it, book a 30-minute call.

Sources

Further reading: company CFA: definition, conditions and creation, how to set up a CFA in 2026, RS or RNCP: which certification to choose and supporting a VAE application.

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