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Is there space for the W-League in A-League academies?

Roar Guru
26th September, 2014
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The W-League should receive a hefty increase in funding from the FFA (Image: Peter McAlpine)
Roar Guru
26th September, 2014
17

As A-League clubs begin to focus on their youth pathways, is there room for developing the next generation of players for the W-League?

Sydney FC recently appointed former FFA Assistant National Technical Director Kelly Cross as their Academy Director. They said they were focussed on how the DNA of the club will be instilled from a young age.

While planning on academy operations is in progress, it is early days in implementation. But is Sydney FC considering pathways for elite youth to play in the W-League?

FFA CEO David Gallop indicated in the recent State of the Game address that around 20 per cent of football’s participation base is female.

With renewed focus on growing the women’s game highlighted by the $536k FIFA Goal Project funding, the reality is the W-League looks set to continue to be semi-professional in wage and short on games.

The FIFA Goal Project funding is seen as a turning point in women’s football, improving coaching and funding development officers at state level.

Also in the works is a skills acquisition program for girls, in line with SAP programs already in place for boys.

However, how does youth development differ between boys and girls? If there is little difference, can youth development be run in parallel under the one system?

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While the fortunes of the men’s national team no longer drives the A-League as it did in the early years, the exploits of the women’s national team is important for the growth of the women’s game and the national league.

If the W-League is to grow with increasing technical standards, this will have a flow-on effect to the Matildas.

If the Matildas do well, more sponsorship could be forthcoming, which could benefit the W-League alongside more funding from the FFA.

Add in increasing commercial opportunities for the W-League, a proportion of any future increase in FFA income should go towards A-League clubs’ academies, including youth development for girls.

While academies of sport, state and regional development squads are the current production lines of talent, the elite level numbers could grow if aligned with A-League academies.

The Newcastle Jets’ Emerging Jets Program is a partnership between the Jets, Northern NSW Football and FFA. The Emerging Jets offers the chance for girls from under-11 onwards to aim for the W-League side, with the U18s squad competing in the Northern NSW Women’s Premier League – although that is under review due to quality of opposition.

Can Sydney FC, along with other A-League clubs (including Canberra United FC), incorporate youth development in their academies along with the Jets?

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The vision of the Matildas holding aloft the World Cup in the next decade or two could very well rest on that decision.

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