Pre-Academy Development Program
Powered By MKJ Projects
The Only Way
Player Centred, Coach Led
The Wanderers Pre-Academy Development Program, powered by MKJ Projects, is a 10-week football training program run each school term, and hosted at a number of locations across Western Sydney for players wanting to take their game to the next level.
Designed to advance the skills of players 5-15 years old, this program is open to boys and girls wanting to train under the guidance of Western Sydney Wanderers Academy coaches.
Registrations remain open throughout the term, meaning you can join at any time to kickstart your football journey with the Wanderers. If you register after the term start date, you will only be required to pay for the sessions that remain.
JOIN OUR PRE ACADEMY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Term Two 2026
Ages 5-6
Minis Program
$215
- 8-week program at Wanderers Fives, Rooty Hill (20 April – 5 July)
- Open to boys & girls (Ages 5-6)
- Junior football coaching by qualified coaches
- Development opportunities into our Pre-Academy Programs
- Renewal discount for returning players each term
Ages 7-12
Mixed
$399
- 11-week program at various locations across Western Sydney (20 April – 5 July)
- Open to boys & girls (Ages 5-15)
- Elite coaching by qualified academy coaches
- Pathway opportunities to boys and girls Elite Pre-Academy and the Wanderers Academy
- Training at Rooty Hill, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Parramatta, Penrith, Strathfield, Kenthurst & Chipping Norton
- Renewal discount for returning players each term
Ages 7-13
Girls Only
$399
- 11-week program (Tuesday or Friday evenings)
- Open exclusively to girls (Ages 7-13)
- Elite coaching by qualified academy coaches
- Pathway opportunities to Girls Elite Pre-Academy and the Wanderers Girls Academy
- Located at Wanderers Football Park, Rooty Hill
- Renewal discount for returning players each term
Ages 10-16+
Goalkeeper
$350
- 9-week program (20 April – 29 June)
- Open to boys & girls (Ages 10 - 16+)
- Specialist goalkeeper coaching
- Pathway opportunities to Elite Pre-Academy and the Wanderers Academy
- Located at Field 5, Wanderers Football Park, Rooty Hill
- Renewal discount for returning players each term
Ages 13-15
13-15's Development Program
$399
- 11-week program at Wanderers Football Park, Rooty Hill (20 April – 5 July)
- Open to boys & girls
- Elite coaching by qualified academy coaches
- Supplementary training for older players to improve their football
- Renewal discount for returning players each term
Invitation
- Advanced training program exclusively for invited boys and girls from any of our Pre-Academy Program locations
- 11-week program Elite Boys (U8-U12)
- Boys Elite: U9 (2017), U10 (2016), U11 (2015), U12 (2014)
- 10-week program Elite Girls (U9-U13)
- Girls Elite: U9 (2017), U10 (2016), U11 (2015), U12 (2014), U13 (2013)
- Located at Rooty Hill, Fairfield (Boys & Girls) and Kenthurst (Boys)
DISCOVER OUR PRE ACADEMY LOCATIONS
Term Two 2026
PRE-ACADEMY TRAINING UNIFORM
Please note: Wanderers Jersey and Shorts are compulsory for the Pre-Academy Development Program. All other items are optional.
Full Training Uniform
$70.00 (Save $10.00)
Be our Wanderer with your own full training kit valued at $80.00.
Add all 3 items at the Wanderers Shop to receive $10.00 off.
- Jersey
- Shorts
- Socks
Jersey
$35.00
A moisture-absorbing football jersey made in part with recycled materials.
- Material: 100% recycled polyester interlock
- V-neck
- Moisture-absorbing AEROREADY
Shorts
$30.00
Wherever your day takes you, you're set in these football shorts.
- Material: 100% recycled polyester interlock
- Regular fit
- Elastic waist with drawcord
- Moisture-absorbing AEROREADY
Socks
$15.00
Make a statement with these football socks, featuring strategic cushioning and breathable mesh inserts.
- One pair per pack
- Ribbed cuffs, ankle and instep
- Anatomically placed cushioning to support and protect high stress areas
- Material: 99% nylon / 1% elastane
Track Jacket
$80.00
This track jacket keeps you covered as you warm up before training sessions or games. It is made of breathable, quick-drying fabric, so you stay cool and dry.
- Material: Polyester
- Double-knit body and sleeves
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
SEE WHAT'S ON NEAR YOU
Pre-Academy Development Program | Under 8-14s | Development | Goulburn
Pre-Academy Development Program
WHAT YOU GET
- Professional coaching from our highly qualified Academy coaches under the guidance of Youth Technical Director, Corey Gameiro and Youth Technical Director of the Wanderers Girls Academy, Geoff Abrahams
- Players will be coached the same skills and methods as our Wanderers Academy players
- An opportunity to be identified and transition from the Pre-Academy, to the Elite Pre-Academy, to the Wanderers Academy.
- Open to both boys and girls, outfield and in goals
2026 Calendar
Our Pre-Academy Development Program will run alongside the school calendar year.
- Summer Block | Wednesday 7 January – Friday 23 January
- Term One | Thursday 29 January – Tuesday 31 March
- Term Two | Monday 20 April – Sunday 5 July
- Term Three | Monday 20 July – Sunday 27 September
- Term Four | Monday 12 October – Sunday 20 December
Proud to be a Wanderer
"My daughter is loving the Pre-Academy! The coaches are great, she is learning new skills every week and making some very great friends along the way."
"Its fantastic, my son's football skills have developed in leaps and bounds. The improvement from this program has been significant."
"My son has tried many programs, but this is one of the best ones around. The coach cares about my sons development and is invested in him as a person, not just a player. There is a real dedication to fostering talent and ensuring some of the best players make it big time."
What Sets The Wanderers Apart?
- All programs are delivered under the Wanderers model
- The Pre-Academy provides a clear pathway into our Elite Program and our academies
- Every participant is catered for, and our focus is to develop every player into the best version of themselves
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PRE-ACADEMY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Frequently Asked Questions
The Pre-Academy Development Program is hosted in a number of regions across Western Sydney, including, Penrith, Parramatta, Hills and our home of football; Wanderers Football Park, Rooty Hill.
Goalkeeper (sessions held on Monday) at Wanderers Football Park
- Ages 10-12: 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
- Ages 13-15: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Ages 16-17: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Rooty Hill Development Mixed (sessions held on Friday) at Wanderers Football Park
- U/8's: Friday, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
- U/9-10's: Friday, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
- U/11-12's: Friday, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Rooty Hill Advanced (sessions held on Friday) at Wanderers Football Park
- U/9-10's: Friday, 6:15 pm – 7:30 pm
- U/11-12's: Friday, 7:30 pm – 8:45 pm
Boys Elite Rooty Hill (sessions held on Friday) at Wanderers Football Park
- U/9-10's: Friday, 6:15 pm – 7:30 pm
- U11-12's: Friday, 7:30 pm – 8:45 pm
Youth Development Program Rooty Hill (sessions held on Friday) at Wanderers Football Park
- Ages 13-15: Friday, 6:15 pm – 7:15 pm
Parramatta Development (sessions held on Sunday) at WSU Parramatta
- U/8's: Sunday, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
- U/9-10's: Sunday, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
- U/11-12's: Sunday, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Parramatta Advanced (sessions held on Sunday) at WSU Parramatta
- U/9-10's: Sunday, 10:00 am – 11:15 am
- U/11-12's: Sunday, 10:00 am – 11:15 am
Minis Program (sessions held on Sunday) at Wanderers Fives
- Ages 5-7: 10:00 am -11:00 am
Girls Only Development Rooty Hill (sessions held on Sunday) at Wanderers Football Park
- U/9-10's Sunday: 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
- U/11-12's Sunday: 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
- U/13's Sunday: 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
Girls Only Advanced Rooty Hill (sessions held on Sunday) at Wanderers Football Park
- U/10-12's Sunday: 5:15 pm – 6:30 pm
- U/13's Sunday: 5:15 pm – 6:30 pm
Girls Elite Rooty Hill (sessions held on Sunday) at Wanderers Football Park
- U/10-12's Sunday: 5:15 pm – 6:30 pm
- U/13's Sunday: 6:45 pm – 8:00 pm
Kenthurst Development (sessions held on Sunday) at Hills Grammar
- U/8's: Sunday, 6:15 pm – 7:15 pm
- U/9-10's: Sunday, 6:15 pm – 7:15 pm
- U/11-12's: Sunday, 6:15 pm – 7:15 pm
Kenthurst Advanced (sessions held on Sunday) at Hills Grammar
- U/9-10's: Sunday, 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm
- U/11-12's: Sunday, 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm
Kemps Creek Development (sessions held on Sunday) held at Mamre Anglican College
- U/8's: Sunday, 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
- U/9-10's: Sunday, 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
- U/11-12's: Sunday, 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
Kemps Creek Advanced (sessions held on Sunday) held at Mamre Anglican College
- U/9-10's: Sunday, 6:15 pm – 7:30 pm
- U/11-12's: Sunday, 6:15 pm – 7:30 pm
Fairfield Development (sessions held on Sunday) at Endeavour Sports Park
- U/8's: Sunday, 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
- U/9-10's: Sunday, 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
- U/11-12's: Sunday, 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
Fairfield Advanced (sessions held on Sunday) at Endeavour Sports Park
- U/8's: Sunday, 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
- U/9-10's: Sunday, 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
- U/11-12's: Sunday, 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
Trained by our highly qualified Pre-Academy coaches, the Wanderers coaching philosophy is player-centric and driven with the outcome to provide players for our Wanderers Academy teams, and eventually the Isuzu UTE A-League Men and Ninja A-League Women.
The price for the program is varying dependent upon location and tier. We have lowered the price of the Development program to allow greater accessibility. The Advanced and Elite tiers will have an increased cost as they will be a higher level of intensity and smaller player to coach ratios.
For the exact price of each program, please check individual locations and tiers.
Yes, the Pre-Academy Development Program is inclusive and open to both boys and girls across all listed age groups. There is also a girls only option available at Rooty Hill.
Parents are invited to join the Stack Team App where updates on each program are provided. We have recently moved a number of Pre-Academy programs to venues with synthetic fields, to avoid washouts as best we can. Programs held at grounds that are not the Wanderers Football Park, ground closures are a possibility. We ask parents ensure they have joined the Stack Team App for their chosen venue and regularly check for updates as this is the quickest way for us to communicate changes to everyone. If sessions are cancelled, we offer participants the chance to attend other locations to make-up any missed sessions.
We do not provide any refunds for a cancelled or missed session, and will only provide an opportunity to attend a make-up session at our all-weather facility in Rooty Hill, or a credit to a future Western Sydney Wanderers program.
