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Welcome to the Aberystwyth Town Football Club Academy web-site. Hopefully, you will find within the site everything you need to know about the Academy and its activities.

History
Purpose
Welfare
Selection
Age Groups
Goalkeeper School
Academy Matches
Ceredigion Schools
Ian Rush Tournament
Coaching

History

In 1992, Aberystwyth Town Football Club was a founder member of the newly formed League of Wales now known as the Welsh Premier League. The club has remained in the League ever since and in 1999, after finishing in fourth position, represented Wales in Europe in the UEFA Inter Toto cup against Maltese side Floriana. Aber again finished fourth in season 2003/2004 and qualified for the Inter Toto cup this time against Latvian side FC Dinaburg.

During the summer of 2000 UEFA awarded national leagues, within its membership, grant aid to encourage and promote youth development activities. This prompted the then League of Wales to develop a comprehensive framework for player development activities within an Academy structure.

Aberystwyth Town Football club immediately took up the challenge of establishing an Academy of Football to serve talented young footballers throughout the county of Ceredigion and since then the Academy has grown and matured to become one of the best Academies in Wales.

Purpose

The purpose of the Academy is to develop the skills of talented young footballers through quality coaching provided by UEFA licensed football coaches in a safe and enjoyable environment and in accordance with UEFA guidelines and FAW policies and procedures.

Welfare

Aberystwyth Town Football Club recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children, young persons and vulnerable adults who are members of the club including registered members of the Academy.

The club is committed to providing good quality football in a safe environment and adopts the procedures and working practices of the FAW's Welfare Policy. To further this end the Academy has appointed a Welfare and Child Protection Officer and has developed a Welfare and Child protection policy.

Selection

At a very young age children are encouraged to take an interest in the game of football. The FAW through the FAW Trust promotes football through primary schools and helps children find a team to play for at junior league level.

Children who are motivated to improve their skills are invited to Football Development Centres and perhaps enhanced development centres up to 11 and under level. Through the Development Centres talented young footballers with potential can be identified and invited to join the Aberystwyth Town Football Club Academy. But this is not the only route to the Academy. The club recognises that talent and potential may not be evident at a very young age so there is always the opportunity to enter the Academy for a trial period through recommendation.

Age Groups

The Academy is divided into age groups depending on the year of birth. Presently, there are five Academy age groups from age twelve and under to age 16 and under. Academy coaching sessions take place each week at the Astroturf facility at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Each coaching session lasts 1 hour 30 minutes.

Goalkeeper School

In addition to the main Academy coaching sessions, Academy goalkeepers receive specific goalkeeper coaching every fortnight (during the Academy terms)in sessions held at Aberaeron School Playing fields.

Academy Matches

Academy teams are formed within the various age groups and each of the teams in the 12 and under and 16 and under age groups play 'coached' matches against Academies of other Welsh Premier clubs. These 'coached' matches are designed to ensure that all academy players are fully involved

Ceredigion Schools

Academy players in age groups up to and including the 15 and under age group are likely to be selected to represent Ceredigion in matches arranged by the Welsh Schools Association. These matches are part of the Welsh pyramid system for young players. Because it is representative football it is not designed to ensure full participation. The matches are competitive rather than coached and selection is not limited to players attending Aberystwyth Town Football Club Academy. Indeed, players registered with other Academies who are pupils attending school in Ceredigion can be selected to represent Ceredigion in these matches. Furthermore, players attending school outside of Ceredigion but attending Aberystwyth Academy can either be selected to play for their own County or for Ceredigion schools provided permission is first obtained.

Players who perform well for Ceredigion Schools may well be selected for the South or North regional schools squads with the further possibility of progression to the national schools squad.

Aberystwyth Town Football Club Academy fully supports schools football and our Academy players are expected to be available for selection.

Ian Rush Tournament

The Academy season culminates in the summer with participation in the Ian Rush Football tournament in July. A squad of sixteen players will normally be selected from each age group for the Ian Rush Tournament.

Scouts from professional clubs are often present at Academy games, Schools matches and the Ian Rush Tournament and any interest in an Academy player by a professional club or other Academy must be notified to the Academy Director.

Coaching

As well as player development the Academy is committed to a programme of coach education and development. There is a licensing system for coaches operated by UEFA and coaches achieve licence qualifications through attending approved courses arranged in Wales by the FAW Trust.

All Academy coaches and assistant coaches will have acquired basic qualifications before commencing coaching within the Academy. Our age group coaches will either have attained their 'B' Licence or be working toward their 'B' Licence. Some will be working toward their 'A' Licence. As a minimum our assistant coaches will be working toward their 'C' Licence, having achieved the Football Leaders Award including the FAW Goalkeepers Award.