How to check whether a sports trial or academy is genuine

The five checks that catch most fake trials

1. 1Trace the authority. A genuine selection trial is announced or acknowledged by a district association, state association or national federation. Find that announcement on the body's own website or notice board — not only in the organiser's poster or WhatsApp forward.
2. 2Call the association directly. Ask one question: 'Is this trial on your calendar, and who is the appointed selector?' A body that has never heard of the event is your answer.
3. 3Question every payment. Registration fees exist, but selection is never sold. Any request for money in exchange for selection, a franchise contract, a 'sponsorship slot' or a guaranteed place is disqualifying.
4. 4Check the venue and the date independently. Phone the stadium or ground and confirm the booking. Fake events often list well-known venues that have no such booking.
5. 5Verify the people. Coaches and selectors have a traceable record: certification, a club, past teams, published results. If nothing about a person exists outside their own message, treat the event as unverified.

Warning signs, ranked

Legitimate organisers are comfortable with questions. If asking who appointed the selector causes irritation, you have learned what you needed to know.

Protecting the athlete on the day

• Carry photocopies and digital scans; keep originals at home.
• A minor should be accompanied by a parent or guardian, and should never travel to a private residence or hotel room for an assessment.
• Assessments happen on a ground, court or in a gym, in daylight, with other athletes present.
• Note the names of officials present and photograph the schedule or notice board.
• If anything about the setting feels wrong, leave. No trial is worth the risk.

Checking an academy before you enrol

Academies are a longer commitment than a trial, so the checks are heavier. Ask for the coach-to-athlete ratio, the certification of the coaches who actually take sessions, the competition calendar the academy enters, and the names of athletes it has progressed to district or state level in the last two seasons. Ask to observe one session before paying, and read the refund and withdrawal clauses in the fee agreement.

• Written fee structure covering coaching, boarding, kit and travel separately.
• Named, certified coaches — not just a head-coach photograph.
• A published competition calendar for your age group.
• A safeguarding policy and a named person responsible for minors.
• A trial or observation session before enrolment.

What verification on KhelGrid means

When a listing on KhelGrid is marked verified, it means we have confirmed the organiser's identity and contact details, matched the event against the relevant association's calendar or an official confirmation, and checked that no payment is being asked in exchange for selection. It is a check on the listing, not a prediction of your outcome — verification never implies that you will be selected, and unverified listings are labelled as such so you can apply your own judgement.

If you find a listing that fails any of the checks on this page, report it to khelgrid@gmail.com with the listing link and we will review and remove it.