Registrations closing soon: Boys Football West Academy and State Team trials (U13 closed)

Football West News 1755223922,1758253995

Building on this year’s success and further strengthening pathways for young players across the state, Football West in partnership with Football Australia, looks forward to welcoming players to trial for our Academies, and State Teams for 2026

Registrations are closing soon for trials for the 2026 Football West-Football Australia Academy Boys program. Football West can also confirm the trial dates for the Boys WA State U15s and WA State U16s extended squads for next year’s CommBank Emerging Socceroos Championships.

The Girls Hyundai FW-FA Academy and Girls State Team trials for the 2026 CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships will be announced shortly.

IMPORTANT: Football West will conduct a combined trial process for the Boys Football West Academy U16 Team and WA State U15 extended training squad (2011-born players).

Players who do not wish to join the Academy but want to trial for the State U15 Team should still attend these trials.

ACADEMY TRIALS – BOYS

Football West is inviting talented young boys aged 12-15 to trial for the Football West Academy – a development-focused program designed to prepare players for progression into higher levels of the game.

The Academy aims to enhance technical skill, tactical understanding and high-performance behaviours in a structured and supportive environment.

Program overview

There are four squads covering U13, U14, U15 & U16 age groups
The program is delivered by experienced, accredited coaching staff
It is a 44-week program, averaging four sessions per week
Teams compete in the Junior Development League (JDL1) one year above their age group. Which means:
- Players turning 12 (2014) play in U13s
- Players turning 13 (2013) play in U14s
- Players turning 14 (2012) play in U15s
- Players turning 15 (2011) play in U16s

What to expect

Focused individual player development
Age-specific tactical education
Football conditioning and injury prevention
Growth in discipline, resilience and character

Membership players (train-on program)

Open to players in U13–U15
Train once per week with Football West Academy squads alongside full-time players
Ideal for players seeking additional development outside of club football
Eligible for CommBank Emerging Socceroos Championships when age-appropriate

Trial process

Players will only be assessed in their correct age group (based on year of birth)
Players born outside the listed age groups will not be eligible to trial
All players must register and attend the first two trials
Third and fourth trials are invite-only
Players must arrive 25 minutes early
Only registered players can participate

TRIAL SCHEDULE (U13/U14/U15 squads)

Under 13s (born 2014 only) — Registrations closed

Where: Gibbney Reserve, Maylands

When:

Trial One: Monday 8 September (4.30-6pm)
Trial Two: Tuesday 9 September (4.30-6pm)
Trial Three (invite only): Thursday 11 September (4.30-6pm)
Trial Four (invite only): Saturday 13 September (10.30am-12pm)

Registrations for Under 13s are now closed.

Under 14s (born 2013 only)

Where: Gibbney Reserve, Maylands

When:

Trial One: Tuesday 30 September (8.30-10am)
Trial Two: Thursday 2 October (8.30-10am)
Trial Three (invite only): Sunday 5 October (8.30-10am) - moved from Saturday 4 October
Trial Four (invite only): Tuesday 7 October (8.30-10am)

Under 15s (born 2012 only)

Where: Gibbney Reserve, Maylands

When:

Trial One: Tuesday 30 September (10.30am-12pm)
Trial Two: Thursday 2 October (10.30am-12pm)
Trial Three (invite only): Sunday 5 (10.30am-12pm) - moved from Saturday 4 October
Trial Four (invite only): Tuesday 7 October (10.30am-12pm)

PLEASE REGISTER HERE.

Any queries, please email Jenny.Davis@footballwest.com.au

U16 ACADEMY/U15 STATE SQUAD COMBINED TRIALS – BOYS

Football West will run a single, combined trial process in October 2025 to select:

The Football West Academy U16 team
The U15 State Team extended training squad

Please note: players are NOT trialing for two separate teams.

We have adopted this joint approach because some players may choose to remain with their clubs rather than join the Academy. By combining the trials, we can still identify and track these players, offering them an extended State team training opportunity to keep them in the Emerging Championship pathway.

The new trial dates are in response to the earlier scheduling of Football Australia’s 2026 CommBank Emerging Socceroos Championships. While Football Australia has not yet confirmed the exact dates, Football West has brought the trials forward to allow adequate preparation time.

Who Is eligible?

Players born 2011 only
Trials will be used to select players for:
- The Football West U16 Academy
- The U15 State Team extended training squad

Selected players will initially enter the U15 State Team extended squad, training once a week as part of their ongoing development pathway.

What to expect

Focused individual player development
Age-appropriate tactical education
Football conditioning and injury prevention
Personal growth, discipline, and resilience building

National pathway opportunity

Players born in 2011 are eligible for selection to the CommBank Emerging Socceroos Championships (previously known as the National Youth Championships), where Football Australia identifies talented players for Joeys camps and international competitions.

Trial process

Only players born in 2011 are eligible to trial
All players must register and attend the first two trials
Third and fourth trials are invite-only
Players must arrive 25 minutes early
Only registered players can participate

TRIAL SCHEDULE (Academy U16/State Team U15 squads)

Academy U16s/State Team U15 trials (born 2011 only)

Where: Gibbney Reserve, Maylands

When:

Trial One: Wednesday 1 October (9.30-11am)
Trial Two: Friday 3 October (9.30-11am)
Trial Three (invite only): Monday 6 October (9.30-11am)
Trial Four (invite only): Wednesday 8 October (9.30-11am)

PLEASE REGISTER HERE.

Any queries, please email Jenny.Davis@footballwest.com.au

U16 STATE TEAM TRIALS – BOYS

Football West invites eligible players born in 2010 to participate in trials for the U16 State Team in October 2025.

The trials are earlier this year in response to the earlier scheduling of Football Australia’s 2026 CommBank Emerging Socceroos Championships. While Football Australia has not yet confirmed the exact dates, Football West has brought the trials forward to allow adequate preparation time.

Eligibility

Open to players born in 2010 only
Players outside this age group are not eligible to trial
Trials will be used to select:
- The U16 State Team extended squad
- The final U16 State Team squad

Trial process

All players must register
Players must attend a minimum of two trial sessions
A third session will be invitation-only
Players must trial in their correct age group

Trial format

Trials are led by Football West technical staff, with support from experienced selectors and State Team coaches
Sessions include technical assessment in 11v11 play

Selection criteria

Technical and tactical execution under pressure
Decision-making and game intelligence
Physical attributes and athleticism
Attitude, effort and coachability in both games and training

Squad Announcement

Selected players will be notified via email
A provisional squad will be named initially, followed by additional training and review before the final team is confirmed

Program commitment

Selected players will enter a dedicated training block in preparation for the Emerging Championships
Attendance at all training sessions and matches
The program focuses on team cohesion, technical refinement, and tactical development in line with the demands of the national championship