North Coast Football has announced the dates of its trials for players interested in participating in an expanded 2023 Player Development Program (PDP).
The program is for girls and boys who want to pursue their passion for football at a higher level locally and for those that wish to pursue a career in football in Australia or overseas.
In 2023, programs will run in Coffs Harbour and Grafton. The program will be expanded with the entry of an under 18’s boys’ side in the Northern New South Wales Premier Youth League (PYL).
A Talented Female Football Program (12 to 17) will also run for the entire football year. Existing programs for PYL for 12 to 16 year olds, the Skills Acquisition Phase Program (9 to under 12) and the Emerging Skills Acquisition Phase Program (7 to 9), also return in 2023.
The programs have been the foundation for some players who have gone on to the Matildas, A-League and W-League. In the last two years, program participants have trained with Newcastle Jets, Melbourne City and Western Sydney Wanderers. Some players have earned a trial with the Newcastle Jets following their recent visit to Coffs.
The YPL program involves children aged 13 to 18 playing in the Premier Youth League competition with over 20 matches against Newcastle and Mid-North Coast teams. Players play for North Coast, and training commences in December ahead of the competition starting in March 2022.
The SAP program involves children aged nine to 12 training twice a week with North Coast Football and training with the club, and playing in local competitions at the weekend. The program commences in November and runs through to the end of September 2022.
The Talented Female Football Program will be available to selected players from 12 to 17 and will consist of 30 weeks of one session per week.
The Emerging Skill Acquisition Phase (ESAP) is a program focusing on mastering the ball for players talented players in the NCF Zone aged seven to nine over 30 weeks from February to September
The NCF Player Development Program is sponsored by Guzman y Gomez, Coffs Harbour City Council, C.ex Group, Ace Performance, Hoys Health, and Deploy Football.
Comments by Alex Nolan, Manager, Player and Coach Development, North Coast Football
Skill Acquisition Phase Program
The SAP program in 2022 was quite a success with player satisfaction and development.
The SAP program takes a game-based approach to create and foster an ideal environment for the development of football skills for players aged nine to 12.
The 30-week program is aimed at players looking to develop their skills in an environment with high expectations where we seek to challenge the individual and educate them about the technique and skills involved in all aspects of football.
Premier Youth League
2023 will be exciting for the Northern NSW NYL as the competition will better support regional footballers. With only eight away games and more competitive matches, this program will see our players engage in more competitive football in multiple competitions.
2022 was a successful season, with the synthetics allowing us to train and play without any disruption. Two of the four NPL teams will be playing in the finals, and our great coaching staff fostered an environment where player development was at the forefront.
With four players getting selected for National Youth Championships and multiple players invited to train with the Newcastle Jets regularly, it shows that if you are an aspiring footballer, the NCF PYL program is the best option.
PYL 18
Northern NSW has included U18s in the PYL for 2023. This new division is a massive step forward for player pathways in regional areas as players will now have the opportunity to be seen more often and play against like competition up until they are ready to play senior football.
North Coast Football has a history of strong players of 16 to18, and this will allow us to showcase this talent to A-league academies and some of the strongest NPL clubs in the country.
With only eight away games a season, I recommend the 18 YPL program for aspiring footballers as it often helps your studies to have routine and regular exercise with training and matches.
