Academies & Federation

    2024 – Term 2 - Pre-Academy Registrations Now Open

    We are pleased to announce that our premier development programme that caters for 9th – 12th Grade Boys and Girls will be back for Terms 2 and 3 in 2024.


    What is involved in the Pre-Academy?

    The Pre-Academy programme is primarily a development programme that caters for the 9th grade and up (both girls and boys) with a focus on taking the players technical and tactical ability to the next level. For 9th grade to 12th Grade, it involves one extra training per week (in addition to the training run by the Saturday club team coach).

    The primary focus is on improving the player’s technical ability particularly and the sessions will be game related and will cover various technical and positional components (more so for the older age groups) of football. 

    The sessions will be age appropriate and we will provide a positive environment that ensures that all players are engaged, have lots of time on the ball and be challenged to better themselves and ultimately, we want players to express themselves and love playing the beautiful game.  


    Our Coaching Team for Pre-Academy

    Che Bunce, our Director of Football, will continue to oversee all coaching of the Pre-academy, but he will also utilise other coaching resources. Our coaches are crucial to the success, and we will have quality, experienced coaches delivering our coaching programmes.  

    We are proud and lucky to have some of New Zealand’s top coaches at NUSC who not only put their name to our programme but are also part of the delivery of ALL the sessions.  Our coaching team includes:

    • Mike Groom - former All White and technical specialist, Mike is one of the best youth development coaches in the country, with his "Samba style" coaching philosophy, he has inspired many young players who have gone on to be All Whites and professionals. 

    • Roger Wilkinson – National league Coach, Former NZ age group Coach and Football guru. Roger is founder of Premier Skills Football and has done everything in the game in NZ, USA and New Zealand and also nurtured many future All Whites and professionals. 

    • Scott Granville - Scott is born and bred in the Waikato and has coached here in NZ and in the USA. Scott, a US university scholar, also ran successful youth coaching programmes in New York City.  

    • Derek Tieku - Derek is a former professional player having played in the UK for Crystal Palace and currently the most lethal striker in the country holding many goalscoring accolades in the NZ national league. Derek also has a wealth of coaching experience with his successful 1 on 1 programmes and with schools and clubs in the Waikato


    What is new in the 2024 Pre-Academy?

    For 2024, there will be the opportunity for high performing participants to be selected to be a part of tournament teams that will compete in Metro and/or Federation top age group competitions.   


    Term 2 Schedule

    The Pre-Academy programme for both age groups will start on Monday 29th April 2024, based at Korikori Park, at these times:

    • 9th & 10th Grade Boys & Girls – 4pm – 5pm
    • 11th & 12th Grade Boys & Girls – 5:15pm – 6:30pm


    To Register

    Select the Term 2 Registration form to the top right of your screen