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Girls Youth League

The Girls Youth League is the second stage of the Sharks x SSFA girls’ and women’s pathway, for players U14 to U18. Regular high-performance training and video analysis open a genuine pathway into senior representative football.

Ages
U14 to U18
Technical Director
Charlotte Young
In partnership with
The SSFA
Selection
By trial
Register your interest

2027 trials are complete, and selected players have been contacted.

A Sharks girl in the sky blue kit walking off the pitch at Seymour Shaw on a sunny afternoon, a few fans in the stand behind her

The gym

The base of the club’s strength and conditioning programme, where youth players train to individual plans.

Programme overview

The Girls Youth League is where the Shire’s best young players prepare for senior football. Every player benefits from the exact same elite culture, facilities and developmental frameworks as our boys’ and men’s programmes.

The Sharks x SSFA partnership

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.

Under this united approach, the SSFA proudly holds the representative licence, while the Sharks operationally manage the programme.

High performance

Youth players train in a high-performance environment at Seymour Shaw, with:

  • Dedicated, highly individualised Strength & Conditioning plans in the newly outfitted gym.
  • A targeted focus on ACL prehabilitation, cycle-oriented training and intelligent load management.
  • Video analysis in the purpose-built room under the grandstand, with tactical breakdowns and player feedback through Clubhouse, our own platform.
  • The main change rooms under the grandstand, with private showers and a dedicated seat for every player.

Led by Charlotte Young

Charlotte Young, our Girls Youth Technical Director, leads the Girls Youth League, recruiting its coaches and players alongside the rest of the football department.

Charlotte represented England at U23 level and played for Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton, then for St George and as captain of APIA in Sydney. She holds a UEFA A Licence, has coached in the English FA’s national development programme and Brighton’s youth setup, was Technical Director at Sydney University, and is Head of Girls Football at Endeavour Sports High School.

Trials and selection

Players join the Girls Youth League by trial. Our 2027 trials are complete, and selected players have been contacted.

Register your interest for future intakes to be the first to hear about trial dates, times and selection criteria.

Where it leads

The Senior Women’s programme, from U23 to First Grade, is where the pathway leads: a genuine representative side for the Shire’s best female talent. Women’s First Grade is coached by Alicia Ferguson, a dual World Cup Matilda and 2000 Sydney Olympian.

Change rooms

World-class change rooms, with private showers and a dedicated seat for every player. Youth and senior players have their names backlit at their seat: one connected pathway. Every facility at the club is female-friendly.

A plan for every player

Every player has a development plan with their coach, approved by the programme’s Technical Director.

Clubhouse on a phone, playing on a loop: Sofia rates their own game, sees Charlotte’s view beside it, opens the goal they agreed and adds a moment from one of their filmed matches to it.

  1. Their own say

    Each player rates their own game first, corner by corner, then sees their coach’s view beside it.

  2. Two or three goals

    Player and coach agree the goals that matter most this block, and the coach’s notes stay in the plan.

  3. Clear on the pitch

    Every goal says what to do at training, what to do in a match, and why it matters.

  4. Proof on video

    Players add their own moments from filmed matches to a goal, and their coach replies. Families follow it all in Clubhouse.

How we develop players

The video analysis room

Every team has scheduled video sessions in its weekly training programme, with positive clips as well as learning moments, all in each player’s Clubhouse account. A dedicated video analyst supports the coaches, so every session is of the highest quality.

Your child’s coaches

Who leads the programme, and who coaches alongside them.

FAQs

The partnership and vision

Are the Sharks programmes competing with or replacing the SSFA representative teams?

Not at all—we have joined forces. This programme 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 programme. 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 programme 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.

Player development, facilities and 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 and development. We also offer newly built, high-performance female-friendly change rooms.

Will the programme 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-oriented 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 programmes?

We hold all our staff to the exact same elite standards. The Girls and Women’s programme 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.

The Academy

  1. 01Nursery

    Boys and girls

  2. 02Juniors

    Boys and girls

    Boys and men

    Girls and women

  3. 03Youth

    Boys and men

    Girls and women

    • Girls Youth LeagueYou are here

  4. 04Senior

    Boys and men

    Girls and women

Alongside the Academy