“Subway Skills Acquisition Program (SAP) Summer League” ready for kick off this weekend
All ten (10) regions will be playing weekly until the 18th of December as part of the summer draw, while SAP Country regions (Western, Southern and Riverina Branches) will be taking part in place of the bye matches. Central Coast SAP squad will enter the competition over the next few weeks.
With a plethora of rising youngsters as well as a huge pool of talented coaches, such as former Young Socceroos, Olyroos, NSL greats and Socceroos stars such as Paul Wade, Peter Katholos, Gerry Gomez, Ufuk Talay and Saso Petrovski, will all be running a watchful eye on the development of this unique program.
Football NSW Technical Director and former Socceroo Alex Tobin is eagerly anticipating the commencement of the SAP Summer League and was brimming with confidence that this program would potentially unearth future Australian stars.
?I have seen some great talent and have heard some fantastic feedback from all of our SAP coaches during their trial periods and they?ve all indicated how excited they, along with the players, are with the commencement of training and matches this weekend.
?It is certainly a step forward for the development of young players in this state which will in turn benefit the country on a whole as the aim is to create a clear pathway for youngsters and to potentially see them progress as future Australian youth and senior internationals.
?Everyone involved in the program is looking forward to the challenge ahead and I have no doubt that with the knowledge and experience our SAP coaches bring to the table, I am confident that our young NSW players will see the benefits throughout their Skill Acquisition Program.?
Football NSW SAP provides a pathway for identified talented football players in which players aged 9 to 12 years are selected into one of thirteen (13) elite regional training centres in laying down the foundations required to give the best youth footballers the highest chance possible to succeed at the elite level.
The structure of the SAP involves approximately nine (9) of the best players in each age group in each region.
In the U9/10 squads the number of players selected will be more heavily weighted to the U10 age group.
Goalkeepers will be selected in the U10, U11 and U12 age groups only.
Selected players train 3 sessions per week for 40 weeks of the year in addition to playing in the Football NSW SAP elite competitions. These regional centres provide an intense training environment specific to the geographical region in which the player resides.
The existing Metropolitan League falls directly in the path of the Skill Acquisition Phase of youth development so that the SAP initiative will work closely into this existing competition. It is for this reason that that the Technical Department of Football NSW has tabled significant structural and philosophical changes to the competition which have been widely supported by the relevant parties. From 2012 it will be known as the Subway Skill Acquisition League.
The Subway Skill Acquisition League will be a consistent 1:4:3:3 development competition.
Points and tables are to be removed. The Frank Broughton and Centenary Cup will be combined to form a Gala Day / Cup competition at the conclusion of the season. Coaches will be instructed on technical aspects of the formation as well as a style of play and a development philosophy that is to be encouraged. The line of communication will come from the Association Coaching Director or Technical Director through to the State Technical Director.
In those SAP squads of U/11s and U/12s representing one association the Subway Skill Acquisition Program will merge into the Skill Acquisition League during the winter season whilst the younger group continue in the SAP competition. For those representing more than one association these teams continue in the SAP competition.
These squads are:
? Metropolitan East SAP
*Canterbury, Eastern Suburbs, St George
? Metropolitan South SAP
*Bankstown, Southern Districts
? Metropolitan West SAP
*Blacktown, Granville
? Metropolitan Illawarra SAP
? Metropolitan Sutherland SAP
? Metropolitan Macarthur SAP
? Metropolitan Nepean SAP
? Metropolitan Gladesville SAP
? Metropolitan Manly SAP
? Metropolitan Central Coast SAP
? Western Branch SAP
? Southern Branch SAP
? Riverina Branch SAP
To view the 2011 Summer Subway SAP Draw click here
-Football NSW Press Release
