The Skills Acquisition Program (SAP) is a Football NSW program. Spirit FC operates both a mixed and girls program.
It is for the development of the Under 10, 11, 12 and 13 age groups as preparation and transition of selected club players to youth programs in the Under 13 age group for mixed teams, or Under 14 for womens teams. Squads contain up to 16 female players. There are also positions available for female players in the mixed squads. Squad allocation is determined by Spirit FC technical leadership and coaching staff.
SAP exists as the first step in representative football on the NWSF pathway, providing opportunities for young players to develop as individuals.
The SAP program, guided by our Technical Director and Assistant Technical Director, focuses on the development of the NWSF DNA, with a specific focus on creating safe, enjoyable and challenging environments for players to progress as individuals. Our yearly curriculum, divided into 6-week cycles, focuses on developing players understanding of core actions and the development of core skills.
Teams compete in FNSW-scheduled fixtures from March to August, and compete in trial matches from November to February.
In addition to training three times a week on Christie Park’s synthetic pitches, our SAP teams:
- Participate in weekly video analysis sessions of their own performances and review world class examples
- Develop mental skills through the incorporation of a mentality framework within the team environment
- Utilise individual development plans and complete regular feedback interviews with coaches and parents
- Access additional sessions to develop ‘X-factors’ that enhance their skills, including position-specific coaches and individual skill development coaches