GIRLS ACADEMY (10-16 yrs)
Fremantle City FC has one of the largest girl’s academy programs in the state. The program has teams from U10s to U16s and is overseen by Thomas Richard, Girls Technical Director. Thomas has been coaching at Fremantle City FC for the last 15 years, managing girls and women’s teams from U12s to NPL. Thomas and his support team provide education and support to academy coaches, players and parents.
The academy football department
Technical Director
Thomas Richard (B)
Girls Academy Admin
Anita Andrijic & Lolita Elverd
Girls Academy Manager & Events Manager
Rudi Cyrbja
Psychomotricity – Strength - Conditioning
Mikayla Lyons (PhD), Susan Smith (MSc)
Gaining Ground
Jarrah-Smith Taylor
Goalkeeper Coach
Nick Hook (FFA level 1)
U10-U12 Technical Coordinator
Garry Church (A)
Role: support, educate coaches
Help implement culture and vision
Academy U10 BLUE Team
Academy U12 BLUE Team
Development U10 GREEN Team
Development U12 GREEN Team
Community U10 ORANGE Teams
Community U12 ORANGE Teams
U13-U14 Technical Coordinator
Darren Young (A)
Role: support, educate coaches
Help implement culture and vision
Academy U13 JDL – Division 1
Academy U14 JDL – Division 1
Development U13 JDL – Division 2
Development U14 JDL – Division 2
Community U13 JDL – Division 3
Community U14 JDL – Division 3
U15-U16 Technical Coordinator
Thomas Richard (B)
Role: support, educate coaches
Help implement culture and vision
Academy U15 JDL – Division 1
Academy U16 JDL – Division 1
Development U15 JDL – Division 2
Development U16 JDL – Division 2
Community U15 JDL – Division 3
Community U16 JDL – Division 3
Technical committee
Fay Chambers (A), Sam Geddes (B), Darren Young (B), Garry Church (A), Thomas Richard (B)
GIRLS ACADEMY PHILOSOPHY
1.) Player-Centered Development
Prioritise the individual growth of players, ensuring that their personal development is at the heart of our academy’s mission.
2.) Coaching Program Aligned with Growth Phases
Our coaching methods are tailored to the developmental stages of our players, providing age-appropriate guidance and support.
3.) Intra-Team Competition for U15 – U16
We foster a competitive environment within the team for players in the U15 and U16 age groups, encouraging healthy competition and motivation.
4.) Focus on Coaches’ Development
Our commitment extends beyond players to include the professional growth of our coaches, enhancing their skills and effectiveness.
ACADEMY OVERVIEW
Our academy program is designed to enhance players’ technical skills and physical attributes, ensuring they are agile, coordinated, and exhibit excellent body mechanics. This includes:
1.) On-the-Ball Skills
Confidence and Courage: Develop players to be assertive and brave when handling the ball.
Body Positioning: Teach optimal positioning (side on, ½ turn) when receiving the ball.
Technical Accuracy and Speed: Improve first touch and passing precision and speed.
1v1 Offensive Quality: Enhance players’ ability to perform effectively in one-on-one attacking situations.
2.) Off-the-Ball Skills
Confidence and Courage: Foster bravery and self-assuredness in players’ off-ball actions.
1v1 Defensive Quality: Strengthen defensive skills in one-on-one scenarios.
Pressure, Cover, Balance: Train players to apply pressure, provide coverage, and maintain balance.
Delay vs. Press: Teach when to delay and when to press in defensive situations
3.) Awareness and Game Reading
Alertness: Encourage players to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings.
Perception and Scanning: Develop the ability to scan and perceive the game environment.
Game Reading: Improve players’ capacity to sense danger and read the flow of the game.
4.) Receptiveness to Feedback
Open to Feedback: Cultivate an attitude of receptiveness and willingness to learn from feedback.
5.) Team-Oriented Mindset
Put Team First: Emphasize the importance of prioritizing team success over individual accolades.
ACADEMY GOALS
1.) Integration into the First Team
Objective: Achieve 30% of the first team squad comprised of players from the junior program by 2028.
2.) Player Progression
Objective: Ensure that 2 players each year progress from U16 to the U21 squad by 2026.
3.) Competitive Excellence
Objective: Secure a top 4 finish in the U13, U14, U15, and U16 age groups each season by 2026.
PHYSCIAL DEVELOPMENT
We are introducing a renewed emphasis on key areas such as agility, coordination, injury prevention, and strength and conditioning (S&C) through specialised sessions tailored to each age group. These dedicated sessions will focus on enhancing the physical and technical skills necessary for optimal performance and injury reduction.
Additionally, players in the U15 and U16 age groups will have exclusive access to our gym facilities. This access is designed to support their advanced training needs and help them achieve their athletic goals through targeted strength and conditioning programs.
PLAYER EXPECTATIONS
Training: Arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start time.
Games: U10-U12: Arrive 30 minutes before kickoff (KO). U13-U16: Arrive 1 hour before kickoff (KO).
Attendance and Commitment: We expect 100% effort at both training sessions and games.
Team first attitude at all time.
PARENT EXPECTATIONS
Be a Supportive Presence: Encourage and support your child and their teammates with enthusiasm and positivity.
Avoid Coaching from the Sidelines: Let the coaches provide guidance and direction during practices and games.
Maintain a Positive Attitude: Focus on fostering a positive environment, regardless of the game’s outcome.
Emphasise Development: Prioritize your child’s growth and development over immediate results.
Get In Touch:
If you have questions about our academy teams, you can email academygirls@fremantlecityfc.com.au