About SSFA Rep Programs
The Sutherland Shire Football Association offers a variety of Representative Programs tailored for different age groups:
Girls Skills Acquisition Program (GSAP): ages U10-U13.
Skills Acquisition Program (SAP – Boys): ages U9-U12.
Girls Youth League (GYL): r ages U14-U16.
First Grade (Women’s): Available for ages U20 and above, including First Grade.
Associations Youth League (AYL – Boys): o ages U13-U18.
If you have not already, fill in the Expression of Interest form located HERE:
Overseeing these Representative Programs are experienced staff members from SSFA. These professionals bring diverse expertise, including elite-level playing and coaching, business management, and football club administration. SSFA, one of the country’s largest sporting associations boasting over 20,000 registered players, ensures the smooth operation and high standards of its Representative programs.
Representative Season
All Representative teams are expected to start competitions in March and run until September.
Competitions are played on a Home and Away on an alternate basis.
Home Ground: Harrie Dening Centre (HDC)
Training Venues: HDC, Kareela Synthetics, The Ridge 10
Game Days: either Saturdays or Sundays depending on competition
Representative locations can be found HERE
What to expect
Sutherland Shire FA prides itself on fostering a family-friendly environment, emphasising sportsmanship among both players and supporters. By joining us, you become part of a close-knit community where players and families actively engage in various Club activities throughout the season.
Our Club boasts a highly skilled coaching staff dedicated to player and coach development. We are deeply committed to nurturing and guiding players to achieve eligibility for selection to prestigious teams such as State, A-Leagues, and National teams. With numerous players having earned spots in these elite levels over the years, Sutherland Shire FA maintains strong connections with high-caliber football.
Additionally, we have a specialised program tailored for the growth of our Goalkeepers, designed by our Goalkeeper coaches. Our goal is to provide dedicated coaching to every goalkeeper across all teams.
To ensure the well-being of our players, we offer the services of a physiotherapist/strapper for our Seniors games.
Our Representative Team continually introduces innovative ideas to the Club, and we highly value your input and suggestions. Your contributions are warmly welcomed and essential to our collective growth.
What the Club Expects of you
Transitioning into Representative Football marks a significant milestone for both players and parents. This privilege comes with several responsibilities and expectations, all of which should be thoroughly understood before making this commitment. If your child is selected to play for Sutherland Shire FA, it’s crucial to consider and adhere to the Club’s expectations.
Players are expected to take pride in wearing the Sutherland Shire Football Association strip. Respect for the Club, its management, coaches, and fellow players is paramount. Punctuality is vital; repeated lateness communicates a lack of commitment to the Club.
Attendance at training and matches is mandatory. Players may be excused from training due to illness, but if injured and not ill, attendance is expected at both training and games.
In the interest of player welfare, players must inform their coach about additional sporting activities, and no extra football training should occur without the team coach’s approval.
Parents are integral to fostering a positive atmosphere. Negative criticism of any player, parent, or the Club is counterproductive and can disrupt team harmony. While constructive suggestions are encouraged, destructive criticism and gossip damaging the Club’s reputation or morale will not be tolerated. The Representative team is open to feedback relevant to nurturing the club culture.
Coaching directives should be left to the coaches. The style of play at the Representative level adheres to the National Coaching Curriculum, emphasising specific formations and strategies. While sideline instructions may be well-intentioned, they can contradict the coach’s teachings, leading to confusion and poor performance. It’s essential to let the coaches carry out their duties without interference.
The Club relies on funds generated from the canteen and barbecue operations during home games. Parental assistance with setup, pack up, canteen, BBQ, or ground control duties is mandatory and will be coordinated through Team managers.
Lastly, players and parents are required to sign the Sutherland Shire Football Club’s Code of Conduct. Breaching this code may lead to sanctions or dismissal from the Club. Compliance with these guidelines ensures a positive and respectful environment for all involved.
Competition Structures
GSAP
it is anticipated that twenty-four associations/clubs will participate in the Girls Skills Acquisition Program (GSAP), with each club fielding four teams in the categories of Under 10, Under 11, Under 12, and Under 13. FNSW is likely to divide the Girls SAP (GSAP) into geographical conferences for streamlined organization.
The SSFA GSAP will run as a full-time program, exclusively featuring players representing SSFA. However, other associations/clubs in the GSAP may opt for part-time programs, potentially leading to complexities in scheduling.
Games are to be played on either Saturday or Sunday, contingent on the Home Team, field availability, and FNSW discretion. The Sutherland Shire Football Association has expressed a preference for home games to be held on Sundays. On any given match day, all teams from one club will face off against all teams from an opposing club. Specific match times are yet to be finalized and will be communicated upon confirmation from FNSW.
It’s important to note that no GSAP league tables will be maintained, and there will be no finals series at the season’s end. The primary focus of GSAP is on coaching and player development. Additionally, FNSW may organise gala days during the 2024 season, and it is mandatory for all selected players to participate.
Players are expected to demonstrate their support for the Club and their fellow players by remaining at the field to watch at least the first half of the game following their own. This collective spirit enhances the sense of camaraderie within the team and fosters a positive atmosphere for everyone involved.
SAP
It is anticipated that over forty associations/clubs will participate in the SAP, with each club fielding eight teams (two in each age group: Under 9, Under 10, Under 11, and Under 12). FNSW is likely to organize the SAP into geographical conferences for efficient management.
The SSFA SAP will function as a full-time program, with players exclusively representing SSFA. However, other associations/clubs in the SAP competition may opt for part-time programs, potentially leading to complexities in scheduling.
Games are slated to be played on either Saturday or Sunday, contingent on the Home Team, field availability, and FNSW discretion. Sutherland has expressed a preference for home games to be scheduled on Saturdays at the Harrie Dening Centre. Specific match times are yet to be finalized and will be communicated upon confirmation from FNSW.
It’s important to note that no SAP league tables will be maintained, and there will be no finals series at the end of the season. The primary focus of SAP is on coaching and player development. Additionally, FNSW will organize gala days during the 2024 season, and it is mandatory for all selected players to participate.
Players are expected to demonstrate their support for the Club and their fellow players by remaining at the field to watch at least the first half of the game following their own. This collective spirit enhances team unity and fosters a positive atmosphere for everyone involved.
AYL
Association Youth League will feature ten clubs, each fielding five teams in the age groups of Under 13, Under 14, Under 15, Under 16, and U18. The exact number of matches for the season is yet to be determined by FNSW.
Games are typically scheduled for either Saturdays or Sundays, a decision primarily left to the home team. The Sutherland Shire Football Association (SSFA) has requested home games to be held on Saturdays. On a given match day, all four teams from one club will compete against the corresponding teams from another club. Match timings may vary due to field availability at each location.
It’s important to note that players are required to arrive at the field one hour before the scheduled game time. Additionally, players are expected to demonstrate their support for the Club and their fellow players by staying at the field to watch at least the first half of the game following theirs. This collective spirit enhances the sense of unity within the team and fosters a positive atmosphere for everyone involved.
L1W/GYL
Football NSW has announced the participation of fourteen clubs in the Women’s Competition. Each club will engage in a double-round robin format, potentially including a pre-season competition. The clubs feature five teams: Under 14, Under 15, Under 16, Under 20, and First Grade.
Matchdays are predominantly scheduled for Sundays. On a given match day, all five teams from one club will compete against their counterparts from an opposing club at the same venue, a schedule subject to FNSW discretion.
It is essential for players to arrive at the field one hour before the designated game time. Furthermore, players are expected to support the Club and their teammates by remaining at the field to watch at least the first half of the game following their own.
Championships and Finals
Clubs in the Women’s League Competition compete for three titles in the following order of priority: Club Championship, Grade/Age Premiership, and Grade/Age Championship (Grand Final Winner). Teams earn 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 for a loss. The Grade/Age Group Premiership is secured by the team with the most competition points at the end of the season, following the ‘first past the post’ system. The top four teams in each grade/age group proceed to the Semi-Finals and then the Grand Final or Championship after the regular season.
WPL Promotion/Relegation
The competition operates on a system similar to the English Premier League. While the exact number of clubs to be promoted or relegated each year is yet to be announced by Football NSW, the last-placed team in the WPL1 Club Championship may face relegation, while the top team in WPL2 might be offered promotion. Sutherland Women’s objective, like every other club, is to participate in the NSW Women’s League (NPL). Given that a club’s aggregate competition points determine promotion and relegation, strong performances in First Grade and U20s become particularly crucial.
Sponsorship
With the opportunity to reach over 20,000 local participants weekly from 5-80+ years of age, sponsoring Sutherland Shire Football Association is the perfect environment for local businesses to support the local community with large weekly exposure.
There are a range of sponsorship opportunities and packages to choose from. To discuss having your business front and centre in the football community please complete the EIO form here:
Uniforms
Players will receive the following gear:
Training:
Shorts, shirt, jacket, and bag
Match Day:
Playing shirt, shorts, and socks
Tracksuit pants and club polo shirt
Players will undergo a ‘fit out’ process. In the weeks following selections . Apparel for the season must be ordered online; specific details will be communicated via email.
During training sessions, players are required to wear the provided training gear without any exceptions or additions, except for skins if a player prefers. For games, players must wear the club polo and Jackets to the game.
The training shirt and shorts will also serve as the team’s alternate strip. It’s mandatory for players to bring this alternate strip to every match. Failure to do so may result in the player not being able to participate in the match.
It’s crucial to note that spare apparel is not available on-site, and therefore, there is no possibility for exchanges or additional items.
As representative players, it is the responsibility of players to ensure all required equipment and apparel are available for use as needed.
training
Training will commence in the weeks leading up to Christmas, with the specific schedule determined by the Team Coach and the SSFA Football Manager. During this period, training sessions will be held at least two nights per week as part of the pre-season preparations. After a brief break, pre-season training will resume in mid-January.
Pre-season training
Dates, times and location of training will be decided after consultation between the Team Coach and the SSFA Football Manager, taking into account field availability. Typically, pre-season training is not conducted at Harrie Dening Centre, Bates Drive, Kareela. Instead, alternate venues like the Kareela Synthetic fields or Ridge 9 or 10 are considered, although the final location is yet to be confirmed.
During the regular season, training sessions will primarily take place at Harrie Dening Centre and/or the Kareela synthetic fields. Additional locations may be used as needed, and training will be held on two nights per week, with the possibility of a third night being added if required.
Additionally, pre-season activities typically include mandatory participation in the Proctor Cup/ Bathurst Cup. These tournaments dates are set by FNSW however generally occur between the last week of January and Mid- February in Bathurst. These tournaments not only offers valuable gameplay experience but also serves as an excellent opportunity for players and families to strengthen their bonds.
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