PlayerDevelopmentPathway

Weetabix Wildcats & Skills Centre

Tier 1 sessions are the entry level to our player development pathway. There are no entry requirements (e.g. trial process), with bookings open to all grassroots football players looking for an additional skills session each week. Players that excel on our tier 1 sessions, can be recommended for trial on our tier 2 sessions (Player Development Centres).

Weetabix Wildcats (Girls)

A non-competitive football session for girls who want to give football a go for the very first time or want to play with other girls their own age. Most importantly, Weetabix Wildcats is all about having loads of fun and meeting amazing new friends, whilst developing technical ability on the ball.

Skills Centre (Boys)

Turn up and play session, for grassroots football players looking to receive an additional skills session per week. These sessions will work on different technical aspects of the game, in line with our tier 2 (PDC) coaching syllabus.

Player Development Centres

Tier 2 sessions are designed for ‘advanced’ grassroots football players, looking to develop their game further. Players will receive one session (1hr) per week, with an additional fixture programme. Coaches will work across the FA Four Corner Model (Technical/Tactical, Psychological, Physical, and Social) and our PDC coaching/playing syllabus (in possession, out of possession, and transitions) to ensure we improve the player’s overall game. Sessions are catered to work with the individual and to improve the individual as a player and as a person. Players will also receive two individual player reports per season to inform the players their areas of strength and areas of development, with a retain/release process at the end of each season. Kit option is also available with our tier 2 sessions.

If players are excelling at our tier 2 sessions, players can be recommended for our tier 3 sessions, Advanced PDC (boys), and Girls Emerging Talent Centre.

Player Development Centres

Girls
U10–U12: 5.00pm–6.00pm
U14: 6.00pm–7.00pm

Boys

U7–U10: 6.00pm–7.00pm
U11–U13: 7.00pm–8.00pm
U14–U16: 8.00pm–9.00pm

Boys
Watford, St Albans, Hemel Hempstead, and Harrow

Girls
St Albans

If requesting a trial, please use the link above to register your child’s details on our waiting list. Please do not email directly if requesting a trial. Applications are reviewed every 4–6 weeks, with successful applicants contacted and invited into trial. Please note, submitting your child’s details on our waiting list DOES NOT guarantee your child a trial.

Advanced Player Development Centre (Boys)

Our Advanced PDC is designed for players looking to push on beyond grassroots football. We offer two sessions per week, with an additional fixture programme during school holidays against other similar shadow/elite/advanced squads. We also organise additional fixtures against professional academies as a showcase fixture for our Advanced PDC players to showcase their ability in front of academy coaches/scouts.

The Player Development Manager & Advanced PDC head coach will be constantly reviewing and observing players, and any players that they feel are ready for the step up for an academy trial, we will send a trial recommendation to local professional football academies. For the majority, the Advanced PDC will create unforgettable experiences in terms of training at high quality facilities, in addition to playing in the WFC kit for fixtures. Players will also receive two face-to-face development meetings to discuss their development, with a retain/release process twice a season (December & June).

Advanced Player Development Centre (Boys)

U7–16 (Year 2–Year 11) Boys

Mondays
Borehamwood FC

Fridays
Watford FC Training Ground (St Albans)

If requesting a trial, please use the link above to register your child’s details on our waiting list. Please do not email directly if requesting a trial. Applications are reviewed every 4-6 weeks, with successful applicants contacted and invited into trial. Please note, submitting your child’s details on our waiting list DOES NOT guarantee your child a trial.

FA Girls Emerging Talent Centre

The Football Association have allocated Watford FC CSE Trust the new ‘FA Girls Emerging Talent Centre,’ with the main aims of increasing the number of environments to support player transition from participation to excellence, creating a wide base to the pathway that’s fully inclusive and accessible to all players, and creating a diverse player pool of which to select from. Players will receive 1.5 hours of training per week, working in line with our ETC coaching syllabus to improve all aspects of the players’ game. Players will also receive fixtures during school holidays and two face-to-face development meetings across the season to discuss their development, with a retain/release process once a season (June).

If requesting a trial, please use the link above to register your child’s details on our waiting list. Please do not email directly if requesting a trial. Applications are reviewed every 4-6 weeks, with successful applicants contacted and invited into trial. Please note, submitting your child’s details on our waiting list DOES NOT guarantee your child a trial