The Magpies Crusaders United pre academy is an U6 – U8 group that is a feeder system to our Skills Acquisition Program (SAP).  Using the discovery phase model we introduce these young players to the game to develop their basic motor functions and ball manipulation skills.  Using hidden learning through warm ups, fun games and shooting activities we help them to develop a love for the game in our pre academy preparing them to enter SAP.

SAP stands for Skills Acquisition Program which is the development phase for U/9 – U/12 players.  This program was created by Football Federation Australia (FFA) and is used around the whole of Australia.  SAP is a skills training program targeted to improve players decision making, technical skills and love for the game. Games are arranged as a measurement of learning rather than trying to develop a team or win.

Commonly referred to as T1, Team 1 or Tier 1, this is the U/9 – U/12 SAP teams that we were sanctioned to by Football Queensland upon being granted our NPL Licence.  This team is graded, and will travel to away games as a family to play against other SAP NPL/QPL entities similar to the rep system.  Any players that are unavailable for games or that drop of this program can be substituted with a player promoted from T2.

Magpies Crusaders United have a full time youth academy for U/13 – U/16 teams.  Our aim in the youth academy is to start developing players tactical understanding of the game and continue refining their technical skills for tactical advantage.  Youth program coaches follow the FFA curriculum with the long term aim of producing players for state, national and A-League selection.  Our Youth academy plays regular fixtures against other NPL entities around the state as well as enter carnivals and tournaments whenever possible.

Our NPL Academy is the U18 – U/20 teams.  Players in this academy are being developed under our first team model in preperationn for first team selection.  These teams compete in Mackay Regional Football Zone (MFRZ) Reserve Mens and MRFZ Premier Mens competitions but also travel to play other senior youth teams around the state whenever possible.

Magpies Crusaders represent the Mackay & Whitsundays region in the Queensland National Premier League (NPL).