About

The Premier Academy League is Australia's premier competition for Academy players, offering structured, year-round leagues and tournaments for players to develop their football, whilst cultivating their love for the game in a safe and nurturing environment.

Our goal is to support the development of young footballers and provide them with the best possible environment to pursue their passion for the game.

Our focus on player development and enjoyment is at the heart of the design and execution of all our competitions.

We work closely with our academies and their coaches to ensure that our competitions align with their training programs and objectives.

We also work with academies to share best practices, provide support and guidance, and collaborate on initiatives that benefit the entire community.

This approach helps to create a positive and supportive environment where academies and their players can thrive and reach their full potential.

The community of independent academies, coaches, players and families is an important part of what makes the Premier Academy League so unique and has contributed greatly to its success thus far.

We are proud to be a part of this journey and to support the growth of the game in Australia.

Academies

The Premier Academy League is designed by and for private academies.

Prior to the formation of the Premier Academy League, there was limited scope for academies to compete in a professional and high-quality competition. Our league was created to fill this gap and provide academies and their coaches, players and families with regular, competitive matches.

Currently, there are over 50 academies competing in the Premier Academy League, with over 350 teams and 4500 players registered on an annual basis. We welcome applications from new academies who are interested in joining the league, however, there are strict criteria that must be met and approval is subject to availability.

Seasons

The Premier Academy League operates year-round in three distinct seasons.

  • Pre-Season (February - March) - 6 Rounds

  • Winter Season (May - September) - 12 Rounds

  • Summer Season (October - December) - 6 Rounds

The Premier Academy League also runs regular ‘Cup’ competitions during School Holidays, including the National Cup (held annually in April).

Age Groups

There are currently five age group competitions.

The 2023 age group splits and years of birth are:

  • U7/8 (players born in 2015 and 2016)

  • U9/10 (players born in 2013 and 2014)

  • U11/12 (players born in 2011 and 2012)

  • U13/14 (players born in 2009 and 2010)

  • U15/16 (players born in 2007 and 2008)

Divisions are created within age groups for an even distribution of teams based on ability levels.

Competition Formats

Click here for the Competition Website to see the competition formats, results and standings for current and past seasons.

Each season and competition have varied formats to suit the number of teams and the preferences of the academies in each city.

Each season commences with round-robin matches (group stage). Teams then play Finals matches on the last day of the season based on the standings.

The match formats are generally consistent across the country:

  • U7/8, U9/10 and U11/12 play 7-a-side football.

  • U13/14 and U15/16 play 9-a-side football.

Our Team

One of the key strengths of the Premier Academy League is our extensive experience in running highly organised and professional events. We have developed a proven track record of successfully managing large-scale competitions and tournaments.

Our team of experienced professionals is dedicated to ensuring that all aspects of our competitions are well-planned and executed, from scheduling and officiating to logistics and event management. We take pride in our ability to run high-quality events that meet the highest standards of the game.

We understand that our reputation is something that we must earn and maintain through our continued commitment to quality and professionalism. We are grateful for the trust that academies and families have placed in us, and we will continue to work hard to live up to that trust and the expectations.

Management Team

  • Alasdair Gyngell

    OWNER & MANAGING DIRECTOR

  • Hunter Dent-McClean

    GENERAL MANAGER

  • Connor Dent-McClean

    NATIONAL OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

League Coordinators

  • Connor Dent-McClean

    SYDNEY COORDINATOR

  • Sebastian Nilo

    MELBOURNE COORDINATOR

  • Roger Williamson

    ADELAIDE COORDINATOR

  • Mauricio Marino

    BRISBANE COORDINATOR

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where we work, play and live, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.