AJFC Football Academy for Boys and Girls
THE AJFC FOOTBLL ACADEMY
One of Abbotsford Juniors Football Club’s core values is to promote participation and achievement at all levels (Respect and Development). Accordingly, the Club is committed to cater for male and femalte players who wish to play at a competitive level and those who play for social/friendship purposes.
In 2017, Abbotsford Juniors introduced the concept of AJFC Academy teams and football trials associated with the creation of these teams. Run by the AJFC Football Development program, the AJFC Football Academy program is focussed upon providing the platform each year for boys and girls to play at the highest Association (community) competitive level in their age group.
The 2024 Season will see further change to the AJFC Football Academy program. From next season, the AJFC Football Academy concept will only apply to teams in non-competitive age groups from Under 8 to Under 12. A separate program for Division 1 teams in Association (community) competitive age groups for Under 13 and above is being introduced for the 2024 season.
AJFC Academy teams will continue to be formed each year through publicised trials open to all players who register, whether or not they played for AJFC in the previous year. Participation in academy trials is optional. Players do not need to attend the trial session if they want to play for social/friendship purposes or if they want to continue to play in an already constituted team. Players who do not trial will be able to participate in AJFC teams formed by the Club in March upon completion of the registration period.
Players who are selected and accept a position in an academy team will be offered priority access to additional paid skills development training coordinated and run by the AJFC Football Development program. Players will also be entitled to purchase an academy training kit package for their team (the contents of which may vary from year to year).
The following rules and guidelines govern the formation of an AJFC Academy Team:
1. The AJFC Academy will apply to non-competitive age groups from Under 8 to Under 12 for boys and girls. An AJFC Academy team can only be formed through the completion of an open and public football trial process conducted by the Club.
2. Players must register their interest to trial and participate in the trials to be selected as part of an AJFC Academy team.
3. Players who played in an AJFC Academy team in the prior season do not automatically qualify for that team in the following season. That is, all players who aspire to play in an AJFC Academy team in the following year must attend the relevant trial for their age group to be considered.
4. Players who wish to trial but are unable to attend their age group’s trial session must email the Club at development@ajfc.net.au with their particular circumstances prior to the trial commencing. These players may be considered for the academy team in their age group based on their playing history with AJFC and coach feedback from the previous year.
5. For the avoidance of doubt, players and their teams who are of a Division One standard (as graded by Football Canterbury) and who wish to remain in their playing group without an open trial process can continue to remain as a team and play in a Division One graded competition for their age group. These teams will not be considered AJFC Academy teams and will not qualify for any academy benefits.
6. The Club, as directed by the AJFC Football Development program, may elect not to conduct trials for an age group where there are insufficient players numbers in an age group, or players do not meet a minimum skill level sufficient to play in a Division One graded competition.
7. If the Club does not receive sufficient pre-registrations for an age group trial, it may also at its discretion, cancel that age group’s Trial session with the result that no academy team is formed for that age group in that year.
8. Upon completion of each Trial, AJFC appointed trial assessors will discuss each player and commence the process of selection of the Academy team. These assessments will be provided to AJFC’s Football Development program, who will finalise the team selection for that age group.
9. The AJFC Football Development program may, at its discretion, discuss a prospective player’s footballing skill, attitude and behaviour with their previous coach(es) as an element of finalising the team selection.
10. Where sufficient skilled players are identified through the trials, the AJFC Football Development program may choose to form more than one Academy team in that age group.
11. Selected players will be offered a place in the academy team for their age group via email. These offers must be accepted by a parent or guardian on behalf of the player via email by the deadline date.
12. Should AJFC receive insufficient player acceptance by players, the AJFC Football Development program may at its discretion, elect not to form an Academy team for the age group in that year.
A copy of the AJFC Academy rules and guidelines is available for download.
2024 Abbotsford Juniors Academy Football Trials
AJFC Academy team trials will be held on the last two weekends in November and first two weekends in December. Details for the trials can be found below:
2024 Boys Academy and Division 1 Team Trial Information and Registration
2024 Girls Academy and Division 1 Team Trial Information and Registration
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