Clubs can now apply for Regional Talent Club (RTC) licence status as part of changes to improve the girls’ England talent pathway.
RTCs will replace the current Centre of Excellence and Player Development Centre model and will deliver enhanced coaching and support, designed to further enhance the development of elite female players.
The current programme has shown that clubs require the opportunity to grow and develop at different rates, according to their maturity and growth, as well as the grassroots infrastructure beneath them.
The FA Girls’ Player Development Centre programme has previously supported players that fall in between Centres of Excellence and grassroots football, however will now be picked up within the Tier 2 and Tier 3 clubs of the RTC programme.
As part of the changes, from the 2016-17 season, RTC age groups will run alongside the academic year, starting in September. This change will also mean that for the first time, girls’ U10 and U12 teams will compete in boys’ leagues, to enable players to further develop both technically and physically.
Clubs can now apply for the new Regional Talent Club status, to help improve elite female footballers
Clubs can apply for one of three tiers of licence status, depending on their facilities, infrastructure and development opportunities.
The changes have been led by The FA’s Elite Performance Unit, which was set up in 2014 to manage the development of elite female footballers and coaches. The unit, which is led by The FA’s Head of Women’s Elite Development Brent Hills, has engaged players, coaches, County FAs and key stakeholders in an assessment of talent pathways.
Hills said: "The women’s game has grown significantly in the past ten years, both at domestic and international levels. In line with this, we have evaluated and evolved our pathways to ensure that we have the right infrastructure in place to produce talented players that can compete on an international stage.
"By returning to academic year age bands, girls will now be able to play against boys on a regular basis which we feel is crucial to the development of our female players in all four corners. both physically and technically, and that we’ll see the results at international level.
"Working with our clubs, coaches and stakeholders we know that one size does not fit all and the new RTC model will allow clubs to work towards their own vision within The FA’s England DNA-based philosophy.
"Clubs will receive greater support and be able to develop at a pace that is right for them, depending on their facilities and set-up, as well as the grassroots organisation below them.
"We are confident that these changes will have huge benefits for our England teams at all age groups and ultimately, produce winning teams."
The application period opens on Monday 26 October and there will be a maximum of 35 licences granted across the three tiers, for up to three years each, subject to Sport England and FA funding.
To obtain further information on the application process, and find out the licence criteria please contact RTCapplications@TheFA.com.
The application process consists of three stages, and final confirmation of clubs that will be awarded a licence will be announced by end of April 2016. Clubs are encouraged to contact their local FA Women’s Regional Coach Developer for more information or support on their application.
