Developing Better Footballers Through Individual Player Development
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At FootyBugs Junior Academy, every training session is designed around one simple philosophy: Develop the individual player first, so they can thrive within the team.
Our Junior Academy delivers an individual player development programme within a fun, challenging and engaging group environment, where every player receives the technical foundation, confidence and game understanding needed to maximise their potential.
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While football is a team sport, great teams are built on technically confident individuals. Our coaches create an environment where players are encouraged to express themselves, make decisions, solve problems and continually improve.
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Training is built around our proven Four Pillars of Player Development, with game-based learning, rondos and small-sided games used throughout each session to help players apply their skills in realistic match situations.
Our Four Pillars of Player Development
âš½ Technical Development
Master the core techniques of the game including dribbling, first touch, passing, receiving, turning, ball striking and more. Every topic is taught progressively with demonstrations, individual feedback and instant coaching corrections.
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🔥 1v1 Dominance
Develop the confidence to beat defenders, protect the ball, attack with purpose and defend effectively in one-on-one situations. Players will learn when and how to use skill moves, changes of direction and defensive techniques during match situations.
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👣 Ball Mastery
​Build confidence using every surface of both feet through dynamic and static ball mastery exercises. These skills create players who are comfortable in possession, creative under pressure and capable of producing moments that make a difference.
âš¡ Agility & Coordination
Improve balance, footwork, coordination, speed of movement and reaction time to become quicker, more explosive and more confident both with and without the ball.
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Applying Skills in Match Situations
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Technical ability alone is not enough.
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Throughout every session, players apply what they have learned through rondos, positional games, transition games and small-sided matches that encourage quick decision-making, intelligent movement, teamwork and game awareness.
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These game-based activities help players transfer their technical skills into real football situations, preparing them for success on match day.
Junior Academy training sessions are planned to be held mid-week on Wednesdays and scheduled to commence in Term 4, Oct 2026 and concludes in Term 1, April 2027 (20-22 weeks, break over Christmas).
Training Times Season 2025/2026
2026, Term 4 - U8, U10, U12:
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START: 8 October 2026
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END: 17 December 2026
2027, Term 1 - U8, U10, U12:
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START: 31 January 2027
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END: 8 April 2027
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​U8 Team : Thursday, 4:30pm - 5:45pm*
U10 Team : Thursday, 6:00pm - 7:30pm*
U12 Team : TBC*
*TRAINING TIMES MAY CHANGE (subject to number of teams registered)
​​Please arrive 5-10 min before start times. ​
What to bring?
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Players must wear the FootyBugs Training Kit (MANDATORY)
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Shorts and Socks
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Sport shoes, Indoor Futsal/Football shoes or Sneakers. NO FOOTBALL BOOTS or TURF BOOTS*.
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Shin pads (must be worn under the socks and not vice versa)
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Drink bottle (named)
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* Sports Ground is newly built multi-use artificial turf. Use of any type of Football boots with any type of studs may damage the turf.
FOOTYBUGS & CITY LEAGUE
FootyBugs & City League Junior Football
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FootyBugs offers children to join the FootyBugs Junior Academy to play in a FootyBugs U8, U10 or U12 team representing FootyBugs in the Summer Football Junior City League, subject to availability.