Football SA is delighted to announce the expansion of its Development Centres for boys and girls from ages 9 to 13. The Development Centres will offer more football and more opportunities for players in the Barossa, Noarlunga, Port Lincoln and Metropolitan Adelaide.
The 5 new centres are in addition to centres established in the Limestone Coast, Whyalla, Riverland and the Adelaide Hills in 2023, taking the total to 9 centres in 2024.
After the recent success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup on home soil, the game has seen an increase in player participation in regional areas by 16.5%, with a total increase across the State of 9%. The expansion of the Football SA Development Centres is fundamental to capturing the potential talent that is coming into the game. The additional sessions will not compete with clubs and will further develop players fundamental skills of the game.
Football South Australia Technical Director, Michael Cooper, is excited about the expansion.
“When we started the original program in 2023, we had the vision to implement a state-wide program that provides equal opportunities for players to progress to our State programs and offerings, which are highly regarded nationally.
Taking our programs to regional South Australia has prevented the need for young players to travel week in week out to Adelaide for specialised coaching. This illustrates our support for regional associations and pathways we collectively offer. We are excited to see all players come together at events such as the State Development Carnival in July and I am confident more players will be identified from regional areas in the future.”
Vice President of the Port Lincoln Soccer Association, Nathan Spinks, added:
“This is an exciting opportunity to continue the recent growth and development of football in Port Lincoln and the Lower Eyre Peninsula by exposing local juniors to FSA programs previously out of reach for a lot of our community.”
President of the Barossa United Soccer Club, George Triandafyllidis is delighted to welcome the program to the region.
“The establishment of a Development Centre for boys and girls at Nuriootpa on the back of our newly developed synthetic pitch complete with floodlights by Football SA and the Barossa Council, is a great outcome for our growing club and region more broadly. “
Debs Huxford, Secretary of the Noarlunga & District Soccer Association (NDJSA) said:
“NDJSA is very excited to be involved in the expansion of the FSA Development Program in 2024. We see huge potential in this venture. Our players will now not only have the opportunity to participate in the FSA Development Program as an Association player but will be able to do so at a local venue alongside their club peers. By providing this opportunity there is no doubt we will be able to identify more young players demonstrating potential and subsequently engage with and develop an increased number of players through a larger scale program.”
Football SA Development Centres have been carefully designed for regional players to get more opportunities to progress into State and Regional Squads.
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For any queries, please contact FSA Participation Officer, Owen Gallas at owen.gallas@footballsa.com.au.
