Football West General Manager – Football David Lewis has praised clubs for embracing the 2025 Youth Club Championship.
The YCC was launched this year for clubs excelling in junior development. It provided up to 10 extra competitive matches before and after the regular season and rewarded holistic player development and club culture.
The Youth Club Championship bookended the regular league season, kicking off with pre-season fixtures that gave players valuable competitive preparation and finishing with post-season finals that crowned the top age-group teams and overall club champions.
These additional games provided an extended development window for players, with more match minutes in meaningful environments and opportunities for coaches to apply the principles introduced through the Junior Football Review.
Fremantle City were crowned the inaugural Girls champions, with Perth RedStar taking the Boys title.
To partake in the YCC, clubs had to meet set criteria. This included having a minimum B-Diploma accreditation and a Member Protection Information Officer.
YCC COMPETITION RULES
Across five high-intensity weekends, clubs fielded their leading teams from Under 14s through to Under 16s (Boys) and Under 14s and Under 16s (Girls). Each age group followed a short-form league leading into finals, with age-group champions decided first before total points across all teams determined the overall club champions.
The structure rewarded consistency, depth, and a whole-of-club approach rather than one-off results.
Club rankings were based on:
- Aggregate points total across all teams and age groups
- Bonus points and/or deductions for non-performance metrics such as adherence to club culture, behaviour, and development initiatives
This points system ensured that the Youth Club Championship went beyond on-field performance. Clubs earned recognition for promoting player wellbeing, demonstrating sportsmanship and supporting their coaches to gain accreditation. This reinforced the view that development, not just results, drives success.
Mr Lewis said: “The early feedback we have received from clubs involved in the Youth Club Championship has been positive, and overall it delivered on its aims.
“We were pleased that the YCC resulted in more accredited coaches working with junior players, and that the 8-10 extra matches provided more match minutes for players, aiding their development.
“All of the clubs embraced the spirit of the championships, with a special word for Fremantle City who went above and beyond in delivering extensive workshops for their junior players. They were deserved winners of the Girls Youth Club Championship, as were Perth RedStar in the Boys.
“As the first edition of the Youth Club Championship, there were naturally some learnings along the way, particularly around scheduling, logistics and how the bonus point system operates. These learnings will help us refine and strengthen the competition in 2026.”
YOUTH CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP – AGGREGATE CLUB STANDINGS
The Youth Club Champions were calculated from the total points earned by each club across all participating age groups.
Bonus points were awarded for coach accreditation, player conduct and completion of development initiatives, while deductions applied for disciplinary breaches.
Summary of overall club standings
YOUTH CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS – AGE GROUP FINALS RESULTS
Boys
U14s Perth RedStar 1-2 Perth SC
U15s Perth RedStar 3-2 Sorrento FC
U16s Cockburn City 1-1 Football West Academy (Cockburn won 4-2 on penalties)
Girls
U14s Carramar Shamrock Rovers 4-2 Fremantle City
U16s Perth RedStar 3-4 UWA Nedlands
HAVE YOUR SAY
As Football West reviews the first season of the Youth Club Championship, feedback from clubs, coaches, players and parents will play an important role in shaping what comes next.
If you were involved in the YCC this year, please take a few minutes to complete the Youth Club Championship Feedback Survey.
Your input will help us understand what worked well, identify areas for improvement, and continue building a competition that supports the development of young players across Western Australia.