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?
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?
The vision of the Matildas holding aloft the World Cup in the next decade or two could very well rest on that decision.
Griffo
Roar Guru
For those who subscribed: Northern NSW Football and Emerging Jets Program Director Gary van Egmond have secured the Emerging Jets teams in the "10-team Football NSW National Premier Leagues 1 competition against Sydney clubs, the Central Coast and Illawarra.": - via the Newcastle Herald
EPLextra
Roar Rookie
Hi Griffo, Just to let you know, your article was chosen as the Article of the Week for EPLextra Episode 9. Marko
AZ_RBB
Guest
The club confirmed today that it's the largest regular season crowd in W-League history. Next derby is only a month away.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
2-0 isn't "running away with it " AZ -our team is so young and inexperienced and Ms Keelin Winters seems to be whipping them into shape :-)
Griffo
Roar Guru
IIRC Bondy Brisbane Roar FC will have three W-League games at home before A-League matches this year.
Midfielder
Guest
phone post ... ignore if
Bondy
Guest
Griffo If we are talking about the W League I agree they should play prior to an A League Derby trial it and see how it goes, and a possible broadcast nationally ....
Griffo
Roar Guru
Amazing crowd AZ. Wonder if this would be a good game to have prior to an A-League Sydney derby?
Griffo
Roar Guru
Mid, should happen if...? :-)
Josh
Guest
Not long to go now before our W League team is getting bigger crowds than the GWS Giants.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Over 3,000 at the Sydney Derby at Marconi today!!! Amazing! WSW played well in parts but SFC ran away with it. Just a few minutes left in the game.
Midfielder
Guest
Should happen if
Punter
Guest
Great article Griff. The more emphasis on women sport & football in general would be great. I think it would be great if the A-League sides did fund women teams all the way down to u12, something that hopefully can eventuate in years to come. We've been so far & yet so long to go.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Premy, it's a good idea for development. I had a few links throughout the article but not sure what happened to them. One was from the Newcastle Herald where the U18 Emerging Jets girls team were being withdrawn from an expanded Women's Premier League next season. Not sure if refering to the boys or girls teams but academy director Gary van Egmond it seems is being asked to find better opposition for development of these teams. Also in view of Canberra, there was another link on an initiative for their 'Youth FC' side to enter their local NPL with a view to becoming part of the NYL. Thinking further the 'Youth FC' could come under the W-League club Canberra United, which could mean a development program with Capital Football (a la Emerging Jets) for youth. Upshot is in time when a Canberra A-League bid goes through, Canberra United would have a W-League and (potentially) an NYL side in place along with a development pathway. Canberra United is best placed to develop youth (both boys and girls) for senior sides with women leading the charge in the national league before the men.
premy
Guest
I would love to see the NSW based A-League Clubs form an Academy league for both Boys and Girls. U/12-U/18's Boys and Girls played from September-December 12 rounds incorporating Academy's from -Newcastle Jets/NNSW Football -Central Coast Mariners/ CC Football -Sydney FC/Football NSW -Western Sydney Wanderers/Football NSW -South Coast Wolves/Football SC -Canberra United/Capital Football Playing this competition would allow kids to play in the respective local competitions threw the winter months but also open them up to the elite competition they need threw the Spring time.
Griffo
Roar Guru
To me I believe the sport is universal in that a footballer can either be male or female. In that sense the training a footballer undergoes in their youth can be through the same system. It is not too late for most A-League clubs to develop their youth for both their mens and womens teams.
Bondy
Guest
I think its a great idea to incorporate both boys and girls academies ,remember football is not an overtly physical game and this should rise the level of technical skill of the girls ...