2026 FQ Academy & Pre-Academy Teams Information and registration

Thank you for your interest in our 2026 Academy program. All Junior and Youth Academy teams for boys and girls are listed below, as are the benefits of being a Mitchelton FC Academy player. The 'Pre-Academy' Boys teams that shadow the FQA Boys at Junior level are also outlined, and you will find more information about the purpose of those Pre-Academy teams at the bottom of this page.

Please note our Academy Boys trials are by invitation only and will take place in October. We'll email you in late September/early October (depending on age-group) stating whether or not your application was successful, and where appropriate confirm the dates and times for ID sessions. Trials for Academy Girls and Pre-Academy Boys are open to anyone who wishes to attend, as long as an Expression of Interest is registered. Players must trial in their own age group in the first instance, based on year of birth. All trials will take place in October (see home page for details), with Pre-Academy trials happening soon after Academy trials are completed, as those who do not get an Academy spot may wish to trial for a Pre-Academy place.

FQ Academy Junior Boys:
• U10 (Born 2016), U11 (Born 2015) & U12 (Born 2014)

FQ Academy Youth Boys:
• U13 (Born 2013), U14 (Born 2012), U15 (Born 2011), U16 (Born 2010) & U18 (Born 2008/9)

FQ Academy Junior Girls:
• U11 (Born 2015) & U12 (Born 2014)

FQ Academy Youth Girls:
• U13 (Born 2013), U14 (Born 2012), U15 (Born 2011) & U17 (Born 2009 - 2010)

Pre-Academy Junior Boys:
• U8 (Born 2018), U9 (Born 2017), U10 (Born 2016), U11 (Born 2015), U12 (Born 2014)

Pre-Academy Junior Girls:
• U9/10 (Born 2016 or 2017),

What We Offer Academy Players (inclusive of membership fee):

• Qualified Coaching - Our experienced and certified coaching staff are dedicated to helping each player reach their full potential. Each ‘Head Coach’ holds either a ‘C’, ‘B’ or ‘A’ Diploma. All are overseen by our 'A' licensed Head of Football, as well as our AFC/FA 'A' licensed Technical Director, Sam Griffin. Sam has two decades of coaching experience ranging from community football, through to Senior Assistant Coach for the Newcastle Jets A-League Women's First team, and NNSW Football Technical Advisor for Football NSW. Kids and coaches in the MFC Academy also benefit from a group of highly qualified technical leads, including Jason Powell, who is an FA-accredited coach developer, former QLD state coach and selector in various age groups, and has represented Australia at Futsal. We also provide specialist Goalkeeper coaching for our budding keepers.

 • Structured Development Pathway - We provide a clear pathway for progression, from junior to youth levels and onwards to senior competition. Our curriculum and 36-week training program is overseen by our Advanced ‘A’ Diploma Technical Director, and designed to develop well-rounded, technical players and leaders, both on and off the pitch.

• High Quality Training Environment & Tools - Our program utilizes an advanced Athlete Management System, and extensive training facilities (including a FIFA certified synthetic pitch). Academy players train 3 nights a week, leading to match days. We emphasize a player-centric approach to training, including individual development plans and mentorship. Academy players also benefit from videography (all home games are recorded); injury assessment/triage by a qualified physio, and ‘return to play’ guidance; Player ‘maturation’ testing/tracking, educational seminars and workshops; tracking/monitoring of mental wellbeing and physical loading. • Competitive Opportunities - Players will compete in high-level regional competitions and carnivals, providing exposure and valuable match experience. Mitchelton FC is audited as a ‘strong’ Silver ranked academy competing in FQA2.

• Apparel – Full ‘Home’ kit, ‘Alternate’ kit, & ‘Training’ kit; smart polo for travelling to games; club bag; and club tracksuit (top only in junior age groups).

A full list of inclusions and the associated fee/deposit are supplied with offer emails.


What is a ‘Pre-Academy’ team? When a young player misses out on an Academy team, we appreciate the challenge to keep pace developmentally, and bridge the gap to become an Academy player at a future date. Particularly when a player in the ‘Metro’ system is training less hours, and isn’t benefiting from the support, infrastructure and opportunities offered at academy level. Our intention is to smooth the pathway between ‘Metro’ and ‘Academy’ football to give kids, who may not initially get selected, the best opportunity to make a subsequent Academy team.

Pre-Academy teams all feature certified coaches who are also involved in our high-performance pathway to progress their qualifications to the next level, and, like the players, work under the guidance of our highly experienced Junior Development Manager (Jason Powell). Jason not only represented Australia in Futsal, and held an Advanced ‘A’ Diploma, but also has great experience training coaches for both Football Queensland and Football Australia. ‘Pre-Academy’ teams will access as much of the Mitchelton FC Academy program benefits and support as possible during the week, and follow the same coaching curriculum, whilst we aim to keep player fees between the traditional ‘Metro’ level and our full Academy offering.

Other benefits include:
• Program oversight and ad-hoc input from our Advanced 'A' Diploma Technical Director
• Apparel as listed below:
     o Full ‘Home’ kit (shirt, shorts, socks)
     o Smart Polo
     o 2 x ‘Academy’ style training shirt & pair of shorts for training sessions mixed with Academy players
• 30-week training schedule (term 1 until end of term 3) following the coaching curriculum and associated session plans adapted from our Academy Program to allow players the opportunity to develop the core skills necessary to step up.
• 2 nights a week training as standard (3 nights for U9 Pre-Academy 1 Boys), plus regular scheduled additional training nights mixed with respective Academy squads. For example, this is bi-weekly for U10-U12 Pre-Academy Boys, and monthly for U8s
• Specialist weekly goalkeeping training, as appropriate, from a qualified keeper coach
• Opportunities for coach identified shadow squad members to gain experience training with Academy teams/players to cover illness/absence.
• Entry (U9 Pre-Academy Boys) into Football Queensland’s flagship mid-season 3-day state carnival i.e. Winterfest.
• Video recording of all home matches.
• Video analysis may be provided when appropriate, but not guaranteed at Junior level
• Access to our Athlete Management System (XPS) to:
     o Notify, log and track training and match day attendance
     o Capture and monitor mental wellbeing
     o Capture training/match loading, which is assessed by our Head of Sports Science & Medicine.
     o Capture weekly ‘individual development goals’, and self-reflections on match day performance.
     o Communication with players and families
     o Team and individual Calendar
• Individual player reviews & development recommendations at the end of term 1 & 2
• Parent information session(s)
• Regular educational seminars on e.g. diet, injury prevention, personal development planning.
• Team photo
• Post season opportunity to represent Mitchelton as a ‘Pathway’ team at Premier Invitational (supplementary fee $140pp). This is the biggest football competition in Australia for players (U6-U17)


If you have questions, please contact our Head of Football, Tony Skinner – hof@mitchiefc.org.au