Talent Development Programme

Birkenhead United is an NZF Accredited Girls Talent Development Programme Provider. The programme is delivered by qualified and experienced coaches.

This programme is designed to offer Girls U14 - U16 players with a high quality learning experience based around three key principles.

• Maximum Enjoyment
• Maximum Ball-Rolling Time
• Maximum Decision-Making

Sessions will focus on four moments of the game with a different theme each week.

• Controlling Possession
• Defending
• Transition
• Creating & Converting

Our mission is to provide and enjoyable footballing experience which supports player development and game understanding. TDP also allows us the opportunity to offer a tailored approach to players who may require a different challenge point by playing players across age groups based on their needs.

TDP is overseen by our Head of Coaching, Dave Wright. Dave is currently working towards his OFC Professional Diploma, holds the UEFA A license and has vast experience working in Premier League academies, Brentford FC and Fulham FC in England, as well as Melbourne Victory. Dave has worked with the NZF U17 Men’s RTC squads in Auckland and is also the Head Coach of the Westlake Boys High School 1st XI.

Term 4 Girls TDP Trials and Training

As the season comes to a close we would like to update you on what Term 4 will look like for Football at Birkenhead as we appreciate this is a busy time between school and summer sport commitments.In Term 4, we will have a five-week training block. This will include:

• Two training sessions per week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 pm to 6:15pm at Westlake Girls High School, from 15th October to 21st November.
• During this training block, we will also invite other girls from different age groups in preparation for next year.
• We may look to organise games on the Weekend against other TDP teams during this period.

The purpose of this training block is to identify girls for the U14s team and girls for the U16s team for the 2025 season, ahead of next year’s trials. We are keen to continue the development and growth of our girls' football program.  The programme is open to all girls who are playing in U12 - U14.

For more information please see our website: https://birkenheadunited.org.nz/girls-and-womens-football/girls-youth-u14s-u16s or contact Jordan at womenstdp@buafc.org.nz