Youth Development Pathway

Ellerslie's Youth Development Pathway centres around the TDP accreditation from New Zealand Football

About TDP Accreditation 

The Talent Development Programme (TDP) is a programme overseen by NZ Football and administered by Northern Region Football that enforces criteria for the youth grades of competition (U13-U17). The intent of TDP is to raise the level of delivery by the clubs and subsequently improve the quality of New Zealand’s youth players. Only clubs that are TDP accredited are able to play in the highest level of competition in their respective grades. To attain accreditation, clubs must meet a set of criteria covering such things as coach qualifications, training sessions per week, match filming, access to goalkeeper coaching, facilities etc.

Ellerslie AFC has gained accreditation for TDP and will be included in the NZ Football Talent Development Programme for the 2026 season.

Gaining TDP accreditation is an endorsement by NZ Football and the Federation of the player development work that Ellerslie AFC is doing in the talent space. It means Ellerslie is accredited to the highest levels of youth football in the country.

Ellerslie AFC players now have access to play in the ‘top’ competitions in the youth leagues from U13-U17 for both boys and girls. It means that players can achieve their development goals while remaining with Ellerslie through their junior and youth playing years.

The Club are hugely excited to achieve TDP status. It will mean a step up in the way the Club operates at youth level. However, the Club will continue to strive to provide an enjoyable football experience for all our players, regardless of ability.

Youth Talent Fee

Players in the Club’s Red and Black Youth Teams, the highest teams in each of the  Youth grades  will be charged a one-off Talent Fee at the commencement of each season.

The Talent Fee covers a number of items that either provide benefits for players in the Red teams or incur additional cost for the club. These include:

• A paid qualified coach for the season
• 30 week Talent Development Programme through term 1-3, with three sessions per week.
• Access to recorded Games and Player workshops
• Training apparel
• Access to the turf for training 
• Increased player levies and competition fees by Northern Region Football

The Youth Talent  Fee for 2026 will be as follows:

Grades (U13 – U17 Boys) - $575
Grades (U14 - U16 Girls) - $575

For any Enquiries please contact

Boys - fdm@ellersliefootball.org.nz (Ben Fletcher)
Girls - girlsfdm@ellersliefootball.org.nz (Hollie Leona)