Albany, NY – BWP Football Academy is set to launch the BWP FA Girls Pre-Academy for players in the following age categories: 
U10/11s and U12s. Trials for the BWP FA Girls Pre-Academy will begin June 15, 2026. The BWP FA Girls Pre-Academy will have a weekly training periodization of 3x a week with a focus on teaching the game through 4v4, 7v7 and 9v9 playing formats. “We are super pleased with the relaunch of our girls programming this past year,” stated Academy Director & Head Coach Steve Freeman. “We believe in our girls in our market and are excited that more girls want to invest in their play more. There are no shortcuts in any of this work.”
More information to come on the BWP FA Girls Pre-Academy’s technical staff and location for training.
What is the BWP FA Girls Pre-Academy?
- This new Girls Pre-Academy targets early development ages (U10–U12) which is a critical stage where players build technical skills and confidence with the ball coupled with small-sided game understanding
- It acts as a feeder pathway into higher-level teams in our Academy, aligning with the Club’s broader player development structure
- The program reflects BWP FA’s growing investment in girls soccer, following the recent relaunch and expansion of its girls academy system – BWP Football Academy
Why does it matter?
- Pre-academy programs are designed to bridge grassroots soccer and elite competition, helping players transition into more structured, high-performance environments
- For girls specifically, this creates earlier access to professional coaching and a clear pathway—something that has been expanding rapidly in U.S. youth soccer.
Bigger picture at BWP Football Academy
- The Club has been actively building its youth pipeline, including: ○ Pre-ECNL and ECNL RL academy-level teams on the boys side of the Club
○ Talent ID centers for both girls and boys with structured development pathways
- Their philosophy emphasizes technical training, creativity, and long-term player growth
- Continued community partnerships with other local community-based organizations like Capital Region United (CRU) FC & Fifty FC, an affiliate club of CRU FC
Register for BWP FA Girls Pre-Academy Trials:
https://bwpalbany.leagueapps.com/events/1500604-202627-bwp-fa-trials www.blackwatchpremier.com
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