Pre-Academy Development Program
Support Your Child To Realise Their Potential
The Wanderers Pre-Academy Development Program is designed to help aspiring young footballers to build confidence and improve their skills through high quality coaching. Aspiring young footballers often seek additional development because existing coaching programs lack consistency and deliberate progression pathways which results in unmet aspirations to reach their potential.
The Pre-Academy Development Program is a focused, additional session per week with Western Sydney Wanderers Academy coaches utilising the same philosophy, same methods and same standards we use to develop our own Academy players. It is built to complement your child's football commitments and performance in-season, and support preparation and development in off-season.
The program is open to boys (ages 8-12) and girls (ages 9-13) and hosted at multiple locations across Western Sydney. While it is run as an annual curriculum to support each participant to reach their potential and play at their highest level, delivery is aligned to school terms and participants are encouraged to join at any time.
OUR CURRICULUM
The Pre-Academy Development Program runs an annual curriculum across four terms, commencing in Term 4 of each school year. The program is structured across two distinct phases: Preparation and Performance.
Term 4 and Term 1: Preparation
The Preparation phase focuses on developing individual techniques that support long-term player development and set your child up for the football season ahead. The goals of this phase are to build the technical foundations that give players confidence on the ball, sharpness in their skills, and the fitness to compete.
Term 2 and Term 3: Performance
The Performance phase shifts focus to individual tactics and behaviours that complement club performance and ongoing player development. Building on what your child is already doing in their regular football commitments, this phase challenges them to apply and grow what they have developed, on the field and under pressure.
The Wanderers Football Philosophy: The Four Rs
Our curriculum is built around the four responsibilities of a top performing player. The best players in the world are confident and competent in each of the following actions, each corresponding to a core skill of the game.
- RETAIN: Running with the ball / Attacking 1v1
- RECEIVE: First touch
- RELEASE: Striking the ball
- RETRIEVE: Defending 1v1
A Visible Pathway
Every player in our program receives an evaluation each term, giving you a clear picture of your child's progress within the program and how it sits within the broader Football NSW ecosystem. Our pathway runs from the Pre-Academy Development Program through to our Elite program and beyond, with players having gone on to represent the Western Sydney Wanderers Academy. Progress is not a hope. It is a plan.
HOW IT FITS YOUR WEEK
Designed to slot in, not take over
We know the drill: training nights, games on weekends, and a calendar that's already full. Pre-Academy isn't designed to replace any of that.
- One session per week, 60 minutes, at a location near you
- Runs alongside your child's existing club or grassroots team.
- Multiple locations across Western Sydney
- Flexible enrolment. Join anytime during the term, and pay only for what's left
Think of it as the extra layer that makes your child's existing football count for more: sharper skills, more confidence, every time they step onto their regular pitch.
JOIN OUR PRE ACADEMY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Term Four 2026
Ages 8-12
Development
From $295
- 10-week program at various locations across Western Sydney
- Open to boys & girls (Ages 8-12)
- Quality coaching by Wanderers Academy coaches
- Pathway opportunities to Advanced and Elite Groups
- Training offered at Rooty Hill, Fairfield, Kenthurst, Penrith, Parramatta and Goulburn
Ages 9-13
Girls
From $295
- 10-week program
- Open exclusively to girls (Ages 9-13)
- Quality coaching by Wanderers Academy coaches
- Pathway opportunities to Advanced and Elite Groups
- Located at Wanderers Football Park, Rooty Hill
Ages 10-17
Goalkeeper
From $350
- 10-week program
- Open to boys & girls (Ages 10 - 16+)
- Specialist goalkeeper coaching by Wanderers Academy coaches
- Pathway opportunities to Advanced and Elite Groups
- Located at Wanderers Football Park, Rooty Hill
DISCOVER OUR PRE ACADEMY LOCATIONS
TERM 4 2026
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
SEE WHAT'S ON NEAR YOU
HEAR FROM PARENTS
Frequently Asked Questions
The Pre-Academy Development Program is hosted in a number of regions across Western Sydney, including Kemps Creek, Newington, The Hills, Fairfield, 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
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
Minis Program (sessions held on Saturday) 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
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
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
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
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 A-League Men and A-League Women teams.
Head of Boys Pre-Academy:
Lachlan Inns
Head of Girls Pre-Academy:
Angelo Maralit
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.
Players can ONLY receive an invitation by being externally scouted by one of our coaches at their club or school OR being promoted from our Development tier.
The Pre-Academy Program has three tiers: Development, Advanced and Elite.
Development is the entry-level group for any players to join; this is where all our players must begin their Wanderers journey. This is targeted for players at the start of their football journey and those looking to further refine their game and make the step to Advanced and Elite football.
Advanced is our second tier, and is invitation-only for players who show a high level of technical ability. Players can be invited to this group by being externally scouted by one of our coaches at their club or school OR being promoted from our Development tier.
Elite is our highest Pre-Academy tier. The Elite group is a select group of invited players who are the best in their respective age groups who are on the pathway to playing BYL or GYL and are considered for Wanderers Academy selections from U13 (boys) and U14 (girls) onwards.
Players can be invited to this group by being externally scouted by one of our coaches at their club or school OR being promoted from our Development tier.
Each term, our coaches make player assessments and move players up and down between Development, Advanced and Elite groups.
Any move between tiers is purely to get the best out of your child, and to put them in the most skill-matched group possible.
Players can be promoted just as freely as well and we encourage players to put in 100% effort in all groups.
Our goalkeeper Pre-Academy is held on Monday evenings at Wanderers Football Park, Rooty Hill. Our goalkeeper age groups begin later than our standard program, with sessions hosted for 10-12s, 13-15s, and 16-17s.
The program is led by A-League Women's GK Coach, Trinity Allen, and our Head of Goalkeeping, Jim Fraser.
For Advanced and Elite goalkeepers, players will have the option to attend both Mondays and the standard Advanced/Elite program on a Friday or Sunday with the other outfield players to train.
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, have the possibility of grounds being closed. 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. As a general rule, we will endeavour to push ahead with sessions unless of course there is severe weather (Lightning/Thunderstorms).
We do not provide any refunds for a missed session, if a session is cancelled due to severe weather (Lightning/Thunderstorm) we will provide an opportunity for participants to attend a make-up session at another Pre-Academy location, or a credit to a future Western Sydney Wanderers program.
For any general enquiries, please email us at community@wswanderersfc.com.au or call on 02 8602 6400.
For any direct enquiries, please contact Harley at hevans@wswanderersfc.com.au
