Register now for NWSF Academy trials!
The renowned NWSF Academy, powered by NWS Spirit FC, provides an opportunity for local club players to participate in additional sessions to enhance their football development. The Academy is for players from U8s to U18s for all genders. Training is delivered by experienced, qualified NWS Spirit FC coaches at Christie Park. Sessions will develop players understanding of the NWSF DNA by focusing specifically on their core actions through technical repetition and game-based training.
The Winter Academy is the first step in the NWSF pathway, exposing players to representative football and providing an opportunity to accelerate their development. Players are selected through a scouting and trial process to participate in 15-week program, including gameplay sessions. This is our core offering that underpins our association player development delivered by NWS Spirit coaches at Christie Park. You can learn more about the football program at nwsfdna.com/academy.
Pre-Academy is a non-selective program run in conjunction with the Academy dates for U6-U7 players to develop their skills and to prepare for future participation in the full Academy. Players are developed by NWS Spirit coaches in a fun, engaging environment. Register for Pre-Academy now, by clicking here!
Summer Academy is a further 9-week program delivered by Spirit FC coaches to develop the NWSF DNA during the summer, to enhance individual player development by focusing on core football actions & holistic player development. Players selected in the current year’s Winter Academy are eligible for the Summer Academy. More details will be sent to Academy participants later in 2024.
Trials for Winter Academy
Trials for Winter Academy 2024 will take place:
- Boys trials / Apr 29, 2024 / Christie Park
- U8 and U9 (born 2015 and 2016), incl GKs – 4.30pm
- U10 (born 2014) to U18 (born 2006), incl GKs – 6.15pm
- Girls trials / May 3, 2024 / Christie Park
- U8-U9 (born 2016 and 2015), incl GKs – 4.30pm
- U10-U11 (born 2014 and 2013), incl GKs – 6.00pm
- U12-U18 (born from 2012 to 2006) incl GKs – 7.30pm
Please register for the Winter Academy trials by clicking here.
2024 Winter Academy details:
Field player dates (Mondays):
- Week 1: May 6, 2024
- Week 2: May 13, 2024
- Week 3: May 20, 2024
- Week 4: May 27, 2024
- Week 5: Jun 3, 2024
Note public holiday, so no sessions on Jun 10, 2024 - Week 6: Jun 17, 2024
- Week 7: Jun 24, 2024
- Week 8: Jul 1, 2024
Note school holidays, so no sessions on Jul 8, 2024 and Jul 15, 2024 - Week 9: Jul 22, 2024
- Week 10: Jul 29, 2024
- Week 11: Aug 5, 2024
- Week 12: Aug 12, 2024
- Week 13: Aug 19, 2024
Goalkeeper player dates (Fridays):
- Week 1: May 10, 2024
- Week 2: May 17, 2024
- Week 3: May 24, 2024
- Week 4: May 31, 2024
- Week 5: Jun 7, 2024
Public holiday week, so no training on Jun 14th - Week 6: Jun 21, 2024
- Week 7: Jun 28, 2024
- Week 8: Jul 5, 2024
Note school holidays, so no sessions on Jul 8, 2024 and Jul 15, 2024 - Week 9: Jul 26, 2024
- Week 10: Aug 2, 2024
- Week 11: Aug 9, 2024
- Week 12: Aug 16, 2024
- Week 13: Aug 23, 2024
The cost for Winter Academy is $645.
Pre-Academy follows the same dates, but is a non-selective program. Players do not need to trial, and can register directly by clicking here. The cost for Winter Pre-Academy is $325.
Session times
- Boys/Girls U6 to U7 Pre-Academy – Mondays at 4.15pm to 5.15pm at Christie Park (register here!)
- Boys/Girls U8 to U9 Academy – Mondays at 5.30pm to 6.45pm at Christie Park
- Boys/Girls U10 to U14 Academy – Mondays at 6.45pm to 8pm at Christie Park
- Girls U15 to U18 Academy – Mondays at 6.45pm to 8pm at Tuckwell Park
- Boys U15 to U18 Academy – Mondays at 6.45pm to 8pm at Tuckwell Park
- Boys/Girls Goalkeeper Academy (U8 to U16) – Fridays at 4.45pm to 6pm at Christie Park
Academy includes two gameplay dates, for both field players and goalkeepers, which are as follows:
- Saturday Jun 1, 2024 (females) & Sunday Jun 2, 2024 (males)
- Saturday Jul 27, 2024 (females) & Jul 28, 2024 (males)
Gameplay times will be confirmed closer to these dates.
The Academy pathway
The Academy forms part of the talent foundations and talent development environments that exist in the NWSF pathway.
The Academy is the pathway for local players to progress towards Spirit FC’s SAP and Youth League programs. We are very proud of the close relationship formed between NWSF and NWS Spirit FC to ensure that the representative club is proudly local. Academy players are scouted closely for consideration to be selected into Spirit squads throughout the duration of the program. Many Spirit players began their representative football journey in the Academy, and it continues to form the foundation for talented players across the association.
Learn more about the Academy football program
Parents can find further information on the Academy program, our curriculum and information about how it connects to the NWSF pathway and representative programs at nwsfdna.com/academy. This is where recordings of Academy special presentations can also be found.
Parking
Parking is available at Christie Park but to avoid carpark congestion please consider street parking on Talavera Road, near Macquarie University, or parking at Macquarie Shopping Centre. These are highlighted in the below graphic.
