Skill Acquisition Program (SAP)
SAP. Skills Acquisition Program
Byron Bay FC was awarded one of the foundation licences to run the Skill Acquisition Program (SAP) on the Far North Coast. SAP is one of the key development programs in Australian football and at Byron Bay it is a 25-week program comprising two training sessions per week and six half-day carnivals.
Training is by accredited coaches and focuses on the four core skills:
First touch
Striking the ball
1 v 1s
Running with the ball
SAP is open to boys and girls aged 8-years-old to 11-years-old with the 2024 intake being players born in 2014, 2015, 2016. The program aims to provide additional football development opportunities for the most football motivated players in this age group and requires players to be focused on improving their game. There is an additional levy for the program to cover the cost of coaching and fee relief is available on application.
2024 Trial Dates
Trial dates for the 2024 Season Byron Bay FC SAP have been confirmed at:
The Cavanbah Centre.
8s & 9s - 3:45 pm - 4:45 pm on Tuesday 13th Feb, Thursday 15th Feb, Tuesday 20th Feb, Thursday 22nd Feb
10s & 11s - 5pm to 6pm on Tuesday 13th Feb, Thursday 15th Feb, Tuesday 20th Feb, Thursday 22nd Feb
Girls 9 to 12 - 4:30pm to 5:30pm on Wednesday the 14th & Wednesday the 21st of February
All trials are held at the Cavanbah Centre. Please arrive at the trials 15 minutes prior to the session start time.
Please add your NAME/EMAIL/PH NO./CHILDS NAME to form provided on the day.
ASAP trial registration form will be issued in the new year.
Training days for the season will be as follows:
8s & 9s - Tuesdays 3:45 to 4:45
10s & 11s - Tuesdays and Thursdays - times TBA
SAP team structure
SAP 9/10/11’s players chosen in the SAP squads will play as a team each Saturday and participate in a miniroos SAP playing pool. (SAP 8’s will play spread across the miniroos teams in the normal miniroos competition with their own coach per team. They will train with a SAP coach one additional day per week.) This will be a more challenging pool of teams who are undertaking a similar development program so will provide an appropriately challenging game each week for the players to develop their skills. This will mean that they’ll have to make a choice of whether to stay in their existing team which is more social and friends based or step out to play in the SAP team. If deemed appropriate, the grade 11 team may be nominated to play up in the grade 12 mixed competitive division. An 11/12 girls SAP team may also be nominated to participate in the weekly grade 11 SAP playing pool to further develop the girls skills.
There is some interchangeability of players between SAP squads and where opportunities arise for players to participate in a higher graded team this is determined by the SAP coaches and junior TD based on the players ability, application and behaviour at training and current performance. For carnival days, this is more likely to be interchangeability of players between squads and playing squads for carnival days will be announced in the week prior to the carnival. Every player will have an opportunity to participate regardless but additional opportunities may be provided to some players.
Player Development Philosophy
Our SAP program places as much importance on developing well rounded football players as it does on technical football skills. We want our players to develop technically while also adopting good personal habits that will enable them to progress to further challenges and opportunities. This includes;
Training attendance, attitude and application at games & training
Sportsmanship, self discipline & maintaining a positive team environment
Respect for coaches, teammates, opposition players and referees/game leaders
General behaviour and commitment to being a part of the SAP program (helping setup/packup etc.)
We expect all parents to support these principles both on and off the field and behave accordingly as spectators on the sideline. The players are young and have many years to develop and the foundations we lay from the ages of 8 to 12 will be key in how they progress as sportspeople and individuals.