Program Summary

Program Season: October - April
Age Group: 14-18 Years of Age
Gender: Female

Current Program Status:
2023-2024 Program has concluded. 
Currently Under Review for 24/25

The South West Sydney Academy of Sport implements high performance programs for talent identified athletes from South Western Sydney across a number of sports. The Academy implements an Aussie Rules program for Girls in association with the local club and representative programs, and is provided by high performance coaching staff. 

This program is targeted for athletes who are participating in the Junior AFL W competition within the South West Sydney region, who are looking to gain skill development and sports performance education required to be successful in not only trialling for future representative development programs, including the GWS Giants Academy, but in gaining selection in older age group club and representative teams. 

Athletes who have been selected into the various phases of the GWS Giants Academy are also eligible to participate within the SWSAS Academy.

Program Objectives

Create an environment where athletes can develop the necessary tactical, technical, physiological and psychological skill competencies to aid progression through the sports Athlete high Performance Pathway.

Develop athletes to be competitive, with a fundamentally sound base.

Provide fundamental individual and squad skill development sessions for athletes during representative off-season programs, in parallel to AFL Academy Pathway programs.

Compliment athletes local Representative team training, encourage and develop athletes to be leaders within those teams.

Prepare athletes for High Performance / AFL Academy trials and pathways, such as the GWS Giants Academy. 

Athlete Benefits

The program provides access to pathway performance coaching, analysis of individual skill and development within a squad structure, sports science testing, and access to high performance strength and conditioning programs.

A large range of athlete appropriate education workshops such as sport psychology, nutrition, drugs in sport awareness, public speaking, resilience, media training, sports medicine and injury prevention are also undertaken as a part of the regular training program.

The South West Sydney Academy of Sport AFLW program mirrors the Academy program structure of sports conducted by fellow Regional Academies, and as such is designed to introduce athletes to the State and National high performance pathways. And include training in the Style of Play along with technical and tactical skill development. 

Key performance opportunities will be selected to best suit the current development level of athletes, and may include camp and/or performance events scheduled in conjunction with other High Performance Centres, and/or regional development programs.

Athlete Eligibility

• Athletes must be between 14 and 18 years of age as of 31 December 2025. 
  • ie born 2007 - 2011
• Athletes must be a registered and financial member of AFL NSW/ACT
• Athletes must reside in, or attend school, or compete for an AFL NSW/ACT affiliated association within the Academy area of Campbelltown, Camden, Liverpool or Wollondilly local Government areas.

In addition;

• Athletes who have nominated and been selected into various phase programs of the GWS Giants Academy are eligible to nominate for SWSAS, and may enter into the SWSAS Academy program at the conclusion of their GWS Giants Academy Program period. 

Selection Process

What to Expect: 

The AFL Women's squad is selected based on the athletes performance at an open trial.

The trial will feature a number of skill and drill components, followed by a series of short-sided or modified trial games to assess the athletes skill and potential.

Elements of sport science testing and/or fitness assessment may be conducted as a part of the trial, however there is no required "pass mark" for these elements to be achieved. 

Selection Process:

• Athletes must complete a South West Sydney Academy of Sport Athlete Nomination Form prior to the advertised closing date. 
• Athletes must attend at all trial dates. If an athlete is unable to attend a trial they must provide a reason in writing, prior to that trial to gain an exemption.  
• The Academy may select up to 25 Female athletes from the 14-18yr age group.
• The Academy will select a squad, not a team. As such, there is no requirement to select based on filling certain playing positions, nor age teams.
• Final selections, number of athletes and squad composition will be made dependant on the talent available during the trial process. 
• Successful athletes will be advised within seven (7) days of the the final trial. 

Athlete Scholarship Levy

• An Athlete Scholarship levy of $300 inclusive of GST, will apply to all successful athletes. 
• This levy assists in offsetting the program costs of;
  • Annual Athlete Membership including ID Card, Athlete Journal, Annual Awards Dinner admission; 
  • Training and Development including training venue hire, sports equipment, skill development programming, and guest / coaching costs.
  • Education and Support Services including online access to programs / XPS network, targeted sports education lectures and workshops with guest presenters, sport specific strength and conditioning program with an Academy S&C partner facility, sport science testing, and access to athlete wellbeing and support service network providers.

Additional Fees / Levies

Uniform Costs

• All uniform purchases are to be made via the Academy's uniform supplier ACEIT, utilising their online store. 
• New athletes will be required to purchase uniform consisting of at minimum, Athlete Polo Shirt, Walkout Shorts and Gym T-shirt. The cost of this is approx. $90. 
• New athletes will be provided a discount code to purchase an Academy tracksuit following receipt of payment of the Athlete Scholarship Levy. 
• Additional competition uniform costs exist, specific to sport requirements, which athletes will need to purchase. The required items, if not listed below, will be identified at the sport program induction. 
• Athletes may purchase additional Academy items, that includes Hoodie, Socks, Towel, Sports Bag, Backpacks, and Active Wear. 

Camps, Tours and Tournaments

• Camps, Tours and Tournaments form an important part of each sport program structure. The costs of these events, as with the overall sport program, are heavily subsidised by the Academy and its partners.
• Camp / Tour costs may be applied for certain activities throughout the program year and will be communicated well ahead of the event. These are generally costed at $100-$150 per day and include transport, accommodation and the majority of meal costs, as well as any entry fees associated with tournaments or performance elements of the camp / tour. 
• Tournaments held locally (where the Academy does not provide Accommodation) may attract a nominal fee of between $10 and $50 depending on the sport requirements, and are used to assist in covering the tournament entry, venue hire and any transport costs.

All Athlete levies must be paid in full within 30 days of the invoiced date, or the scholarship offer will be automatically withdrawn; unless financial hardship or payment plan arrangements have been made with the CEO.

Training and Performance Opportunities

• The Academy will conduct regular on-field training sessions that will include individual and squad based fundamental skill development training between October and April. 
  • A focus on team dynamics and tactical skill development will take place towards the latter part of the program and as a part of a Performance Camp scheduled to take place throughout the program year.
     

• Additional Academy Education sessions and off-field development may take place following the conclusion of the "program year", with the program formally concluding at the Annual Athlete Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner, generally held in late July. 
   

• The timing of training sessions will be aligned to avoid clashes with the representative training and competition schedules of those clubs within the South West Sydney Academy of Sport catchment area, as much as possible.
   

• Athletes will be required to undertake a strength and conditioning program, including access to a supervised gym program throughout the period. 
   

• The Academy will seek to send age appropriate team's to tournaments, or conduct Development Camps/Challenges with other regional high performance programs or invited teams throughout the period that do not clash with local representative club commitments.
   

• Training sessions will take place at AFL grounds within the South West Sydney Region throughout the program.  A full training and performance schedule will be provided to successful athletes through the XPS Network online communication tool. 

Squad and Support Staff

2024-2025 The Mac AFL W Squad and Coaching Staff will be announced after the selection date. 

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