Ku-ring-gai Phoenix Trials Principles
October 2024
As we transition to a joint club structure across GFC, NTFC, CCFC and Ku-ring-gai Phoenix we ask for your patience as we work through the details and accommodate as many variables relating to our players as is possible.
To help you understand the strategy behind Phoenix, the age groups available, how the process will operate, and how this will interoperate with GFC, CCFC and NTFC, we have provided key points:
Ku-ring-gai Phoenix Strategy and Approach
Ku-ring-gai Phoenix (Phoenix) is a partnership between NTFC, CCFC and GFC to provide selected Development Squad opportunities for our children looking for a structured development path to higher football honours - including Junior Development League 1, Super League or Diamond League.
There are three levels of high level football depending on age group:
Junior Development League (JDL) Division 1 and 2 covers the U8 - U11 age groups and is commonly referred to as JDL1 and JDL2. It includes boys and girls with plans to grow to top level football.
Youth is U12 - U18. Super League (SL) is Division 1, commonly referred to SL. Division 2 in Youth is commonly considered Development League, and the larger clubs sometimes practice together and interchange players with some limitations.
Diamond League (DL) is the same as Youth but for females only. This covers G12 - G18.
In 2025 Phoenix is focused ONLY on the following:
Juniors - JDL2
Youth - Div 2
Diamond - Div 2
U18 Super League
Phoenix is a long-term investment and strategy. It may take a year or two to have sufficient capability and depth in a team to qualify for JDL1/ SL/ DL
Phoenix players will be known to be playing in our Dev Squads, similar to other clubs until such time as we have teams qualified for JDL1/ SL or DL
Beyond 2025 we will let the process assess our players and team readiness for JDL1, SL, and DL
Our priority will be on local players from GFC, NTFC and CCFC during the trials process in the first instance as we maintain our community focus and culture.
Phoenix Development Squad Age Groups Approach
NSFA have reserved spots in JDL2 for U8-U11 for Phoenix. We will spend 90% of our effort on building from this base to create a foundation for the future
Youth Age Groups have been assessed within their home clubs for Div 2 readiness. Those teams with automatic qualification from their 2024 performance are being consulted. This includes 2024 GFC U12A and U14A
Should these teams prefer to maintain home club status under GFC they will be offered an additional advanced training session with our preferred training partner - Vision Football - in line with all other advanced GFC players, similar to our 2024 offer
All other Youth age groups assessed with known sufficient aggregate home club (GFC/CCFC/NTFC) potential will be offered Phoenix trials
Phoenix Trial Outcomes
In 2025, no teams will be proposed to NSFA beyond JDL2 and Youth Div 2 without a track record of supported performance, depth and capability to be successful. At this juncture this is only U18, a prior collaboration with NTFC and other clubs.
Phoenix may judge that we have insufficient numbers to trial an age group and will therefore not run the trial for that group.
Players may trial for age groups and perform well, but Phoenix may judge that we have insufficient depth and/ or numbers to field a team and this age group will be withdrawn.
If your child has a successful JDL1, SL, DL track record, and wishes to maintain playing at this level in 2025, the Phoenix offer may not suitable, however we will endeavor to assess the situation as the trial process evolves