Girls & womens
Football Pathway
From 2027, Sutherland Sharks FC will operationally manage a full girls and women's football pathway, in collaboration with the SSFA, from the Girls Junior Development League, Girls Youth League and Senior Representative Teams.
The partnership is designed to strengthen player development opportunities, increase investment in Girls and Women's football, and ensure the representative pathway continues to grow in the Shire. By combining SSFA's grassroots reach and community foundation with the Sharks' high-performance environment and facilities, we're building a pathway with real ambition for the future.
Players will benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, including an elite gym, dedicated professional change rooms for both female and male squads, and a sophisticated video analysis suite. The shared commitment extends to securing the finest coaching talent and implementing a strategic plan for the next three years.
Here you can explore what we are building together with the SSFA, discover how to become involved, and gain insight into the structured pathway available at every level.
The SHARED vision for girls & womens Football
The strategic focus
To achieve our shared ambitions, we are concentrating on four strategic areas that will elevate every aspect of the program. This framework establishes the high standards required for growth, driving future initiatives and performance targets.
1. High Performance
We are dedicated to achieving NPL 1 promotion for the Senior and Youth programs at the earliest opportunity. This ambition is supported by an elite recruitment and development structure, focused on identifying and nurturing local talent, ensuring player progression and enjoyment remain a priority.
2. Best Practice Programs
We intend on achieving Football NSW’s highest standards and will focus on coaching, robust development frameworks, and a distinct playing identity, we continue to invest in the coaching staff, cutting-edge facilities, and technology. Our shared aim is clear: to secure Gold Status for the Youth and JDL programs.
3. Pathways & Education
We are defining and streamlining the pathway from grassroots through to elite senior football. Through structured support and improved player progression, the focus is on preparing athletes for senior level success and beyond, while fostering lifelong engagement with the game.
4. Community Engagement
We will continue to strengthen partnerships with the SSFA and local clubs by making Sharks players and coaches more visible, sharing knowledge, and supporting clear pathways for local talent. This will help connect grassroots and elite football and deliver lasting benefits for players and families across the Shire.
Facilities
Purpose-built change rooms
We have invested in state-of-the-art change rooms designed to support every player. The Junior Development squads enjoy dedicated, newly built facilities on the northern side of the stadium, while the Youth and Senior teams access the main change rooms under the grandstand. Fully equipped with modern showers, secure lockers, and ice baths, these spaces are optimised for premium post-training and game-day recovery.
Best-in-class pitch & Lights
Our eco-friendly synthetic turf features the latest European technology, providing a premium, all-weather playing surface. To complement the pitch, we have upgraded our stadium lighting to an elite 300 LUX standard. This ensures the teams can play and compete safely and effectively at our world-class facility all year round.
Elite Technology
Located below the grandstand is our purpose-built video analysis room, accessible to every team in the club. Our deep commitment to coaching is backed by cutting-edge resources, including Clubhouse—our bespoke software platform developed internally. This comprehensively streamlines video analysis, tactical breakdowns, player and parent feedback, and medical support, giving all staff the tools they need to maximise every player's potential.
State-of-the-art gym
The Seymour Shaw precinct features a newly outfitted gym alongside our elite Strength & Conditioning program. Youth and Senior players receive dedicated, highly individualised training plans. We prioritise player health and longevity with a targeted focus on ACL prehabilitation, cycle-oriented training, and intelligent load management to keep all athletes performing at their absolute best.
Join in 2027
Expression of interest
We're building the Sharks x SSFA Girls and Women's program across GJDL, Youth and Seniors for the 2027 season, and we're also looking for coaches who want to be part of the journey. Register your interest below and we'll be in touch as trial windows and program details are confirmed.
Girls JDL U10 - U13
An elite development program for the youngest girls, following the same methodology as our boys JDL program. All players must reside within the Sutherland Shire to be eligible.
Girls Youth League U14 - U18
The Girls Youth League pathway will give players regular high-performance training, video analysis and a genuine pathway into senior representative football.
Seniors U23 - First Grade
The Senior Women's program is where the pathway leads. A genuine representative side for the Shire's best female talent. We’re aiming for a promotion within the first year.
Coaches
We're seeking expressions of interest from coaches who want to be part of building an elite Girls and Women's program from day one, across GJDL, Youth and Senior level.
FAQs
The partnership & vision
Are the Sharks program competing with or replacing the SSFA representative teams?
Not at all—we have joined forces. This program is the result of a landmark strategic partnership between Sutherland Sharks FC and the Sutherland Shire Football Association (SSFA). Under this united approach, the SSFA proudly holds the representative licence, while the Sharks operationally manage the program. Together, we are collaborating closely to deliver one definitive, elite pathway for female footballers in the Shire.
What are the benefits of having both male and female elite pathways under the one club?
By bringing both the men’s and women’s representative pathways together under the Sutherland Sharks FC banner, we are creating a true "One Club" environment. This unified approach allows us to pool our resources, knowledge, and high-performance expertise into a single, powerhouse football program for the region. It ensures that all athletes—regardless of gender—benefit from the exact same elite culture, facilities, and developmental frameworks, allowing our male and female players to thrive and succeed side-by-side.
Why is this partnership so important for the region?
Historically, navigating the leap from local club football to elite representative levels could be complex. By aligning the SSFA’s fantastic grassroots strength with the Sharks' elite operational and high-performance infrastructure, we are creating a seamless, uninterrupted journey. We want Shire girls to dream of playing in the A-League Women and for the Matildas, without ever having to leave their community to get there.
TRIALS, SELECTION & PATHWAYs
When does the program officially launch?
The season officially kicks off in February 2027, but the groundwork starts right now. To ensure all squads are primed for success, all trials, team selections, and rigorous pre-season training will take place later this year.
How do I trial or register my interest?
We are officially accepting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) now. With trials for the 2027 season taking place later this year, we highly recommend registering your details via our EOI form today, further up this page. This ensures you will be the first to receive direct updates on trial dates, times, and selection criteria.
What is the exact pathway for a player in this program?
Talented players identified within our community can enter the Girls Junior Development League (JDL). From there, the pathway progresses directly into the Girls Youth League, and ultimately, the Senior First Grade team. It is a complete structural pathway designed for long-term player retention and elite development.
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT, FACILITIES & EQUALITY
Will the girls and women’s teams have equal access to the elite facilities at Seymour Shaw?
Absolutely. Equality is a non-negotiable, foundational pillar of this partnership. All female squads will have equitable access to best-in-class facilities in line with what’s required for their training & development. We also offer newly built, high-performance female-friendly change rooms.
Will the program focus solely on on-pitch football skills?
Elite football requires a holistic approach. Alongside advanced tactical and technical coaching, all youth and senior players receive dedicated strength and conditioning (S&C) and injury prevention programming—with a specific, critical focus on ACL prehabilitation, Cycle-orientated training and intelligent load management. We also utilise bespoke club software to provide comprehensive player feedback and medical support.
Are the coaching standards the same as the boys and men’s programs?
We hold all our staff to the exact same elite standards. The Girls and Women’s program will be spearheaded by highly accredited, experienced coaches holding advanced Football Australia and AFC licences. We are heavily investing in quality technical staff to ensure all female players receive the premier football education in New South Wales.