Football Academy

Convenient Links:

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2025 PROGRAM
OPEN START OF TERM 1 AND CLOSE END OF TERM 2

The Underdale High School Football (Soccer) program develops student’s ability and understanding of the modern game, providing opportunities for students to pursue their sporting goals and/or vocational pathways.

This highly successful program caters for students in Years 7 to 12 and has attracted student interest from across South Australia and internationally. Several current and graduate students have recently secured senior and international playing positions, including Asad Kasumovic, Amlani Tatu and Malual Nichola in the A-League, Al Hassan Toure at Ajaccio, France, Hosine Bility for the Olyroos and at Brisbane Roar, Musa Toure at  Clermont, France and Mohamed Toure debuting for the Socceroos at Wembley and playing with Randers FC, Denmark. Alumni have also obtained employment within the sporting industry as officials, coaches and sports scientists, 

The Football Academy are excited to extend their football partnership with Fulham United FC for the 2023/24 season.

The focus of the partnerships is to develop and expose young players to elite standards through shared resources, programs and knowledge. The aim is to provide participation opportunities for our students in the western suburbs and delivering a high standard partnership both on and off the pitch.

The Academy prides itself on competing at the highest level, with recent achievements, see below, evidence of its success.

UHS ALL-TIME STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS:  (*Academy established in 2003)

FOOTBALL

1971
2011
2012
2012
2015
2015
2017
2017
2018
2019
2019
2022

Open Boys
Year 8/9 Boys
Year 8/9 Boys
Year 10 Boys
Year 8/9 Boys
Open Boys
Year 8/9 Girls
Open Boys
Year 8/9 Boys
Year 10 Boys
Open Boys
Year 9/10 Boys

FUTSAL

2004
2007
2010
2015
2015
2015

2017
2019
2019
2020
2021
2021
2022
20232024

Year 8/9 Girls
Open Girls
Open Boys
Open Girls
Open Boys
Year 8/9 Boys (Interstate
Challenge Futsal Champions)

Open Boys
Open Boys
Year 10 Boys
Open Boys
Open Boys
Year 8/9 Boys
Year 7/8 Boys
Year 9/10 Boys.                                         
Year 9/10 Boys

OUTDOOR 5-A-SIDE FOOTBALL

2009
2009
2011
2011
2012
2014
2014
2015
2018
2019
2019

Year 8/9 Girls
Open Boys
Year 8/9 Girls
Open Girls
Open Boys
Year 8/9 Boys
Open Boys
Open Boys
Year 8/9 Girls
Open Girls
Year 8/9 Girls

OTHER RECENT FOOTBALL ACADEMY ACHIEVEMENTS

2022
Open Girls State Knockout Semi-Finalists                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Open Girls Academy Cup Champion

2021
Open Boys State Knockout Runner Up
Year 8/9 Girls State Futsal Runner Up

2020
Open Mixed Pre-Season Cup Champions (Tri-tournament with Henley and Roma Mitchell HS)                                                                                                                                    Open Academy Cup Champions

2019
Open Girls State Knockout Semi finalists
Year 8/9 Girls State Knockout Runner Up
Year 8/9 Boys State Knockout Semi Finalists
Year 8/9 Boys Western Zone 5-A-Side Winners

The Underdale High School Football Academy Program is fully endorsed by Football South Australia and has close links with the NTC and Adelaide United FC. It also has links with the State Development squads and follows the Football Australia National Curriculum Guidelines.

Students from Year 7 – Year 12 receive a formal, structured and holistic program where a high level of commitment takes place in a safe, happy and caring environment.

UHS FOOTBALL ACADEMY MISSION STATEMENT & PHILOSOPHY

We aspire to achieve the highest standards in the development of Underdale High School students to be the best that they can be both on and off the field, through diligence, commitment, respect, discipline, collaboration, resilience, optimism, courage and persistence.

Program Aims
We aim to make the student the focal point of the Academy and all of our efforts will be directed at improving the student’s ability and welfare by:

  • Setting high football and social standards

  • Providing a disciplined setting where players work together taking pride in themselves and their environment

  • Ensuring all aims and set tasks on and off the field are implemented efficiently

  • Promoting and supporting positive outcomes in terms of health, development and educational achievement

  • Providing good models of behaviour, being honest and compassionate

  • Celebrating student’s success and recognising outstanding achievement, effort and behaviour.

In essence, our aim is to produce intelligent and technically solid players who achieve their full potential and are equipped to cope with the demands of the modern game on and off the field.

THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM (Year 7 to 9)

The Academy technical program is the focal point of the players’ football education in all year levels. For the Year 7, 8 and 9 students, the course is designed to prepare the player with the knowledge and competency of the technical fundamentals of the game of football. It offers both boys and girls an opportunity to pursue a comprehensive study of football by imparting a high level of expertise in theoretical knowledge, technique and skills, fitness and game awareness.
The program also contains a theoretical component where the Australian Curriculum will be covered through a series of assessment tasks. The Academy wants to produce low maintenance players who have an understanding of factors that affect football players such as sport science, injury prevention, nutrition, fitness and the important role that mental preparation now plays in the life of a footballer.

THE SENIOR SCHOOL PROGRAM (Year 10 to 12)

This course aims to provide a pathway and accreditation to fulfill a professional football (soccer) playing career or employment in the community by providing:

  • A high level of technical, physical, social and psychological player development whilst completing the SA Certificate of Education and maximizing the ATAR
  • A practical link to a career or part time employment pathway to the Sport and Recreation Industry and the attainment of associated certificates and accreditation
  • Specific practical strategies to support leadership roles such as player, coach, referee, administrator, trainer or mentor in the school system or the community
  • The course allows students to attain a Football Federation of Australia Level 4 Referee’s Certificate and a Grassroots Coaching Certificate and Level 1 Sports Medicine Certificate and Senior First Aid Certificate.

Students also complete work placements at Adelaide United, Football SA, SSSSA and various Primary Schools.

ENTRY TO OUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM

Students may apply to come to Underdale High School as a member of the Football Academy. All students wishing to participate in this program need to:

  • Submit a written application (Football Academy Application Form) by the deadline

  • Provide previous school reports (and samples of school work to support the application)

  • Evidence of their sporting commitment, which may include a reference from a Football (Soccer) coach.

  • Applicants are then invited to participate in a trial at Underdale High School.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2025 PROGRAM
OPEN 
START OF TERM 1 AND CLOSE END OF TERM 2

Call us on 8301 8000 to receive a Football Academy Information Package and/or arrange to join a tour of the school.