We are pleased to announce that we are recruiting for the Football NSW (FNSW) Association Championships, to be held during the July 2026 school holidays.
The Association Championships is a representative tournament, replacing the former State Titles and Association Youth League. It is a key representative pathway for community football players.
Tournament Information
The 2026 Association Championships will be held from Tuesday 7 to Thursday 9 July in Mudgee, NSW, across the following age groups:
- Boys: Under 13 and Under 14
- Girls: Under 14 and Under 15
NWSF intends on entering teams in all of the above age grades. Selected players and coaches in the Association Championship Teams (ACTs) will train one night per week, in addition to their local club training. This training will be delivered in conjunction with the NWSF Winter Academy.
Player Selections
Selections for the ACTs will be held in conjunction with the Winter Academy trials. To be considered for selection, players must nominate and trial for the NWSF Winter Academy via the following form:
Association Championships Player Nomination Form
Nomination forms are due by Sunday 10 May 2026.
Trial dates for the ACTs are as follows:
- Monday 11 May 2026: Boys Under-13 and Under-14
- Friday 15 May 2026: Girls Under-14 and Under-15
To be eligible for selection into the ACTs, players must be an active and financial registered player at an NWSF community club for the 2026 winter season.
Players selected into the NWSF ACTs will:
- Participate in weekly training with their ACT at the Winter Academy
- Represent NWSF at the Association Championships tournament in July
Training
ACT training will be held once per week at Christie Park (Monday for Boys, and Friday for Girls). The training program aligns with the Winter Academy program, and continues beyond the Association Championships, providing selected players ongoing development and connection to the NWS Spirit FC coaches and pathway.
Training program dates and times are:
- Boys: Monday 18 May to Monday 31 August 2026, 8:05 pm start time
- Girls: Friday 22 May to Friday 4 September 2026, 6:00 pm start time
Costs
Players selected in the NWSF ACTs will be required to pay a $650 participation fee. This fee includes:
- 15 weeks of ACT training, delivered as part of the Winter Academy
- Winter Academy training apparel
- Team entry to the Association Championships tournament
- Additional representative apparel for participation in the tournament, including a NWSF tracksuit and NWSF polo shirt
The NWSF ACTs will not travel to the Championships as a group, with individual families responsible for travel and accommodation. The additional program costs players should be aware of include:
- Individual travel to and from the Association Championships
- Accommodation at the Association Championships
- Food and other incidentals at the Association Championships
Coach Selection Process
NWSF will seek to appoint club-based coaches to work alongside experienced NWS Spirit FC coaches in the Winter Academy and deliver the Association Championships program. This model is designed to:
- Support coach development
- Share best-practice coaching methods
- Build coaching capability across NWSF clubs
Coaches must be available to:
- Attend weekly Winter Academy training sessions
- Attend the three-day Association Championships tournament in July in Mudgee
Interested coaches should submit a Nomination Form via JotForm to the NWSF office.
Association Championships Coach Nomination Form
Nomination forms are due by Friday 1 May 2026.
Coaches must:
- Be registered at a grassroots/community club within NWSF for the 2026 season
- Hold a current Working with Children Check
- Complete the Play by the Rules safeguarding e-learning
- Hold a current Football Australia coaching qualification (Foundation of Football or higher), or be willing to attain the qualification prior to the Championships
Coach Reimbursement and Benefits
Coaches selected in the NWSF ACT’s will receive:
- 15 weeks of coach development, delivered as part of the Winter Academy training program
- Winter Academy training apparel
- Additional representative apparel for participation in the tournament, including a NWSF tracksuit and NWSF polo shirt
- An honorarium of $1,000 to off-set the costs of their participation in the training program
- Accommodation at the Association Championships (coordinated by NWSF)
Next Steps for Clubs
NWSF will communicate directly with eligible players. Clubs are also asked to:
- Promote the Association Championships to their eligible players
- Encourage your talented club players to nominate to trial for the NWSF Winter Academy and potentially a spot in the Association Championships in:
- Boys Under-13 and-Under 14
- Girls Under-14 and-Under 15
- Encourage suitably qualified coaches to submit a nomination form for coaching positions
Enquiries
Any enquiries regarding the 2026 Association Championships should be directed to NWSF General Manager – Game Development Malcolm Arnold in the first instance, via a message in your club tiles on Basecamp.
