What Our Coaches Look for in a Player
Technical Ability
This is the foundation everything else is built on.
Control, passing, finishing, movement - the core skills that every professional player needs to have dialed in. We're not looking for perfection, but we are looking for quality and consistency, especially under pressure.
Can you execute the basics when it matters? That's where it starts.
Tactical Understanding
Can you read the game before the ball arrives?
Tactical intelligence - your decision-making, your positioning, your awareness of space and structure - is what separates good players from smart ones. We look at how you move off the ball, how you adapt to different systems, and whether you understand your role within the team.
This is something we develop at CIFA Elite. But you need a base to build on.
Physical Condition
Two sessions a day, every day. The trial is demanding by design.
Your speed, endurance, strength, and recovery all tell us something about your potential. We're not just evaluating where you are right now - we're looking at your athletic foundation and how much room there is to grow.
Arrive fit. Arrive ready. The pitch doesn't wait.
Mental & Behavioural Profile
This is the dimension most players underestimate - and the one that most often determines who gets selected.
How do you respond to a bad session? How do you take feedback from a coach? How do you carry yourself in a new environment, away from home, under daily evaluation?
The mental side of football is something we take seriously at CIFA Elite. At the professional level, talent alone is rarely enough. The players who make it are the ones who are resilient, focused, and professional - in every session, not just the good ones.
What Happens After the Evaluation?
At the end of your trial, our coaching staff produces a full individual report covering all four dimensions.
Players who are selected are invited into the next phase - our Pathway to Pro programs, available in 3, 6, and 10-month formats. These are designed to prepare athletes for real opportunities at professional clubs across Europe, with structured training, competitive matches, and direct exposure to scouts and partner clubs.
The trial is your stage. Come ready to show everything you have.
Ready to Be Evaluated?
Trials are open year-round to players aged 15 to 23 from anywhere in the world. Applications are reviewed individually - only players who meet our standards are invited to trial.
CIFA Elite Portugal — Train. Compete. Get Discovered.