To sign or not to sign...

The academy season is nearly upon us and most parents have already signed their child's new contract (generally within 2 seconds of being handed it) and those that have not will no doubt be getting the cold shoulder from the club and will have it signed before the season starts because it is their child's future after all.
I remember when my eldest son was playing grassroots football and beginning to make a name amongst scouts, he was invited up to trials at several clubs and like most people signed the first contract that he was offered. The contract was apparently for 12 months and was supposedly for the protection of the player. Again I will say apparently. The more time spent in academy football the more it becomes apparent that the contract has no benefit for players and their families and only serves the football clubs.
A 12 month contract should mean just that 12 months and then it is up to both parties to decide if they wish to renew.  However that is not what it is at all. At the end of the 12 months the club is free to drop a player, and they frequently do, without a second thought. The player on the other hand can choose not to sign and after months of nonsense and negotiations will be given a form which entitles them to find another club. It sounds fair enough, however, if the player finds another club, that club has to pay compensation to the players previous academy and I know of several occasions where the academy has placed a ridiculous price tag on players (often as young as 10) so that no team will take them on and then the player, who just wants to play football returns with his tail between his legs and the academy welcomes him back with open arms.
Most fans of football will agree there is often a lack of common sense and integrity in the game and I think this is one of those situations. A contract between a club and a child, if it needs to exist at all, should be there to protect the child first and foremost and the investment of the club should come a very distant second.