Youth Swifts Allocation Days 7-8.30pm Thursday 9 and 16 March
Welcome to the Swifts Talent Centre
Here you will find key information regarding the 2023 winter season for U13-U17s
TRAINING DETAILS
The winter training programme begins:
- Monday 27 March 2023
The winter training programme ends:
- September 2023
Winter Training times:
U13s
Mondays: 7:20 - 8:20 pm at Te Whaea Turf
Wednesdays: 4 - 5 pm at Terawhiti Turf
Thursdays: 6 - 7 pm at Te Whaea Turf
U15s - TBC
U17s
Tuesdays: 7:20 - 8:20 pm at Te Whaea Turf (TBC)
Thursdays: 6 - 7 pm at Te Whaea Turf (TBC)
*One training to be added once ground bookings have been finalised.
There are no trainings over school holidays or on public holidays.
Cancellations:
The head coach will send a notification out via email if the conditions are deemed unsuitable for training.
Absences:
Please notify your head coach ahead of time so they can appropriately prepare the session.
TEAM SELECTION
U13s
To be selected for the Swifts Talent Centre programme please make sure you select to play ‘competitively’ at the time of registration and attend the ‘open training sessions’.
In 2022 our aim is to run two competitive Swifts Talent Centre teams at U13s, player numbers permitting. In the event that we can achieve this, it will allow us to run both teams closely together during the training week and split on a game day.
What is the selection process?
Players will be invited to attend our ‘open training days’. From here the Swifts coaching team will observe players and determine if a player is suited to the Swifts Talent Centre programme and what team they would be best suited to.
What are open training days?
The open training days are for all players wanting to be selected into one of the Swift Talent Centre teams. The Swifts coaching team will use these trainings to determine player selection and team suitability.
We encourage players to attend the Swifts Summer Training Programme to be seen by our Swifts Coaches on a regular basis. The ‘open training days’ are there to cover players still involved in summer sports or who are new to the club.
Player Placement
Players selected for the Swifts Talent Centre A team will be required to train 3 x per week and will be aiming to compete in the highest league available.
Players selected for the Swifts Talent Centre B team will be required to train 2 x per week, with the option to train 3 x per week and will be placed in the highest league available.
Player Movement
Players will start in a set team at the beginning of the season but throughout the year both teams will work closely with each other to allow player movement either up or down to support player numbers or provide opportunities for different development challenges. Player movement will always be determined by the head coach and communicated with the player and parents.
Open Training Days
The open trainings days will be held on:
-
9 March 2023 (7-8.30pm at Terawhiti Turf)
-
16 March 2023 (7-8.30pm at Terawhiti Turf)
The Open Training Day Format
Players will be taken through a typical training session that allows the Swifts coaching team to see the players in a variety of activities that they would do throughout the season.
What if I'm not selected?
Players not selected will be placed in a Waterside Karori AFC social team. The Swifts coaching team will provide feedback.
U17s
To be selected for the Swifts Talent Centre programme please make sure you select to play ‘competitively’ at the time of registration.
During pre-season all eligible U17 players will train with our senior mens environment mainly consisting of U20 players.
From here we will determine which environment each U17 player will be better suited to for the upcoming season, whether that be senior football or U17s football.
TOURNAMENTS
Swifts teams have access to the various tournaments that happen locally and nationally. The Swifts coaching team will determine what tournaments are attended.
Possible tournament opportunities if they run the age group.
Pre-season opportunities:
Kapiti Tournament
Mazengarb Park, Paraparaumu
Douglas Villa Tournament
Park Sports Ground, Masterton
In-season opportunities:
Karori Cup
Upper Hutt Football Club, Trentham Park
Post-season opportunites:
Western Suburbs Tournament
Endeavour Park, Whitby
NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS
Your team may decide to enter additional tournaments outside the Wellington region, such as those in Taupo, Auckland or Christchurch. Entry into these tournaments is optional and at the cost of those participating. Where required the Swifts Coaching team will pick players based on their holistic progress during the winter season.
Karori Cup
The Karori Cup is an annual fixture between Waterside Karori AFC v Upper Hutt City Football Club. It involves two teams from each of the junior grades and combined results determine the overall winner for the year.
GEAR
All players are expected to wear the Swifts training kit to all Swifts trainings.
The kit is made up of a black top with the Swifts logo on the chest, black shorts and black socks.
Kit can be purchased online from Ultra Football here.
Ultra Football also offers some optional extra Swifts gear, including Swifts hoodies, warm up pullovers, and club merchandise (see here - including rain jackets).
We have a training kit for the programme for a number of reasons:
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it provides consistency and builds a sense of team on the training field and between squads
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it sets the scene - players are expected to behave and train according to the Swifts values and rules whenever wearing the kit
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it makes it easier for coaches to create clearly identifiable teams within training sessions (vs mixed colours)
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it provides an alternative playing strip if one is required
PAYMENT DETAILS
The Swifts Talent Centre programme is an additional service to the Waterside Karori AFC membership fee and therefore all Swifts Talent Centre participants are required to pay a Swift contribution fee. Please note that the Swifts Talent Centre programme is optional as well as selection based. You are still required to pay for the standard Waterside Karori AFC Winter Registration Membership to play during the winter season.
Waterside Karori AFC is a not-for-profit charity and is proud to offer the Swifts Talent Centre programme. We aim to keep the cost of the programme as low as possible, with the support of grant funding and sponsorship.
Payment details
Players selected for Swifts will be asked to register online before the start of the season. Payment can be made in instalments over the course of the season.
Train 3 x per week: $770 (+ club subscription fee)
We encourage you to contact us about alternative payment arrangements if making payment in full will be difficult for you.