The Academy pathway provides opportunities for players (13th Grade and above) who are highly motivated and committed to training 2-3 times per week with teams formed based on abilities, commitment and motivation. Players following this pathway must be able to commit to 2-3 training sessions a week (depending on team) plus a game (played across Auckland)

The top Academy Team plays in the NRFL Lotto Youth Mixed League for their age, with all other selected Academy Teams playing in the NRF Championship  or NRF Conference Youth Mixed Leagues.

For male players following the Academy pathway once they are too old for U17 grade, it is anticipated that they would move into either the Premier Men or U23 squads.  

(For other player pathways, please see the information on the Youth Mixed 13 - 19 Years page)

Note: For our female players, mixed teams are generally 90% boys. Our most talented female players also have the option to play in our Mixed Academy Teams either within their age group or a year below. Please contact our Head of Junior & Youth Football for more information.  Female players also have the option of playing in Girls Only teams.

Registrations and Teams

Players must attend Player ID sessions (mixed teams) or muster day(s) (for girls only teams) in February to be considered for an Academy Team and they must also be registered with the club for the season. 

The Head of Men's Football and Head of Junior and Youth Football will select teams to play in the Mixed Academy teams. Teams are usually announced during mid March. Squads usually consist of 16-18 players per team. To be considered for an Academy team players must attend the Player ID Sessions for 2023.

Note: For our female players, mixed teams are generally 90% boys. Our most talented female players also have the option to play in our Mixed Academy Teams either within their age group or a year below. Please contact our Head of Junior and Youth Football for more information .

Youth Mixed Academy 13 - 17 Years

Girls and Boys aged 13 - 17 Years

Sunday - kick-off between 10:00am and 3:00pm at clubs across the Northern region

Training - 3 sessions per week for top Academy team (NRFL Youth team) , 2 sessions per week for all other teams (NRF Championship/Conference)

U13 Mixed (option for girls and boys born in 2010 / girls born in 2009)

• Player ID Sessions for Academy Teams - register attendance on Friendly Manager.  Players invited to and attending the Term 1 Academy training do not need to attend the ID Sessions. Any players not attending the Term 1 Academy training but who would like to play in an Academy team should attend ID Sessions. Players may then be invited into the Academy training group for Term 1 (and transferred across from the Skill Centre group if needed).  ID Sessions:
• Friday 10 February 5:30-6:30pm
• Wednesday 15 February 4:30-5:30pm

• Skill Centre Mixed U11-13 training during Term 1 (open to all players) - register on Friendly Manager
• Mondays 4-5pm from 20 February to 3 April

• U13 Academy training during Term 1 (invited players) - register on Friendly Manager.
• Mondays 5:25-6:35pm from 13 February to 27 February (6 February is public holiday)
• Wednesdays 5:25-6:35pm from 8 February to 1 March 

• U13 Academy teams for 2023 will be selected by Friday 3 March for team trainings to begin the following week at same day/time.
• Additional Coaching fees for Academy Coaches
• 3x Academy teams from Monday 6 March
• 1x NRFL Youth Academy team (TDP Group) - with Academy Coach - training Mondays/Wednesdays/Thursdays 5:25-6:35pm
• 1x NRF Championship Academy team - with Academy Coach - training Mondays/Wednesdays 5:25-6:35pm
• 1x NRF Conference Academy team - with Academy Coach - training Mondays/Wednesdays 5:25-6:35pm

U14 Mixed (option for girls and boys born in 2009 / girls born in 2008)

• Player ID Sessions for Academy Teams - register attendance on Friendly Manager.  Players invited to and attending the Term 1 Academy training do not need to attend the ID Sessions. Any players not attending the Term 1 Academy training but who would like to play in an Academy team should attend ID Sessions. Players may then be invited into the Academy training group for Term 1.  ID Sessions:
• Friday 10 February 5:30-6:30pm
• Wednesday 15 February 4:30-5:30pm

• U14 Academy training during Term 1 (invited players) - register on Friendly Manager.
• Mondays 5:25-6:35pm from 13 February to 27 February (6 February is public holiday)
• Wednesdays 5:25-6:35pm from 8 February to 1 March 

• U14 Academy teams for 2023 will be selected by Friday 3 March for team trainings to begin the following week at same day/time.
• Additional Coaching fees for Academy Coaches
• 2-3x Academy teams from Monday 6 March
• 1x NRFL Youth Academy team (TDP Group) - with Academy Coach - training Mondays/Wednesdays/Thursdays 5:25-6:35pm
• 1x NRF Championship Academy team - with Academy Coach - training Mondays/Wednesdays 5:25-6:35pm
• 1x NRF Conference Academy team - with Academy Coach - training Mondays/Wednesdays 5:25-6:35pm

U15 Mixed (option for girls and boys born in 2008 / girls born in 2007)

• Player ID Sessions for Academy Teams - any players who were not in the 2022 Academy training group but have a good range of skills and are highly motivated/committed to train either 2x or 3x weekly in the teams as below can register their interest by emailing andy@wsafc.org.nz   Players invited to and registering for the Term 1 Academy training do not need to attend the ID Sessions.

• U15 Academy training during Term 1 (invited players) - register on Friendly Manager.  All players who are motivated/committed to play in an Academy team should attend these Term 1 (weeks 1-4) trainings.
• Tuesdays 5:25-6:35pm from 7 February to 28 February
• Thursdays 5:25-6:35pm from 9 February to 2 March 

• U15 Academy teams for 2023 selected by Friday 3 March for team trainings to begin the following week at same day/time
• Additional Coaching fees for Academy Coaches
• 2x Academy teams from Monday 6 March
• 1x NRFL Youth Academy team (Talent Development Programme Group) - with Academy Coach - training Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays 5:25-6:35pm
• 1x NRF Championship Academy team - with Academy Coach - training Tuesdays/Thursdays 5:25-6:35pm

U17 Mixed (option for girls and boys born in 2006-07 / girls born in 2005-06)

• Player ID Sessions for Academy Teams - any players who were not in the 2022 Academy training group but have a good range of skills and are highly motivated/committed to train either 2x or 3x weekly in the teams as below can register their interest by emailing andy@wsafc.org.nz   Players invited to and registering for the Term 1 Academy training do not need to attend the ID Sessions.

• U17 Academy training during Term 1 (invited players) - register on Friendly Manager.  All players who are motivated/committed to play in an Academy team should attend these Term 1 (weeks 1-4) trainings.
• Tuesdays 5:25-6:35pm from 7 February to 28 February
• Thursdays 5:25-6:35pm from 9 February to 2 March 

• U17 Academy teams for 2023 selected by Friday 3 March for team trainings to begin the following week at same day/time Term 2 & 3 training and games
• Additional Coaching fees for Academy Coaches
• 2x Academy teams from Monday 6 March
• 1x NRFL Youth Academy team (Talent Development Programme Group) - with Academy Coach - training Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays 5:25-6:35pm
• 1x NRF Championship Academy team - with Academy Coach - training Tuesdays/Thursdays 5:25-6:35pm

NRFL Youth/Premiership Start: 26 March 2023
NRFL Youth/Premiership Finish: 3 September 2023 *subject to change by NRF

NRF Championship/Conference Start: 30 April 2023
NRF Championship/Conference Finish: 16 September 2023 *subject to change by NRF

No games: TBC once fixtures are published

13th Grade Coordinator – Claire Turner – coordinator2010@wsafc.org.nz
14th Grade Coordinator – Tony Townley – coordinator2009@wsafc.org.nz
15th Grade Coordinator – Josh Hosking – coordinator2008@wsafc.org.nz
16th - 19th Grade Coordinator – Jane Welsh – youthcoordinator@wsafc.org.nz

Grading is strictly based on the year of birth:
2010 - 13th Grade  |  2009 – 14th Grade | 2008 – 15th Grade  |  2007 – 16th Grade  |  2006 – 17th Grade  |  2005 – 18th Grade  |  2004 – 19th Grade

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COACHES
Western Springs AFC is committed to continuing to improve the level of coaching at the Club. All NRFL Youth & NRF Championship teams are required to have a coach qualified to a minimum of NZF/OFC C Licence (or equivalent).  Where the club provides a suitably qualified coach, there will be an additional fee required to cover the expenses of this coach throughout the season.

PITCH (Optimal and where available)
U13 & U14 - 82m x 50m
U15 - 90m x 55m
U17 - 100m x 60m

LENGTH OF GAME
U13 – 2 x 30 mins
U14 – 2 x 35 mins
U15 – 2 x 40 mins
U17 – 2 x 45 mins

FORMAT

• 11v11 games including Goalkeepers
• Up to 5 rolling substitutes
• As per FIFA rules

ORGANISATION OF GAMES
For teams playing in NRF Championship division, the weekly allocation of fixtures and field locations will be published on the Northern Region Football (NRF) website.

Home games are usually played at Seddon Fields, Meola Road. Away games are played at clubs throughout Auckland and up north as far as Northland and south to Drury.

PARENTS/SUPPORTERS
Should watch games from behind the fence or on the balcony. Provide encouragement to all players but leave specific football comments to the coach.

Those interested in playing an active role supporting the players could:

- Manage a team – working with the coach
- Enrol in a Community Referee (CR) course so they can referee games.
- Run the line as an Assistant Referee.