Future champions

Nominations are now closed

Register Your Interest

The SSA Future Champions program supports emerging athletes who aren’t eligible for existing Academy squads, helping them progress toward state and national representation. 

The program exists to complement the athlete’s ongoing individual skill development and performance opportunities currently provided within their chosen sporting field, and with their individual coach or club. 

Selected athletes receive:

  • Targeted Future Champions program integrated with athletes’ home training and coaching environment
  • Sports education, strength & conditioning, plus selective one-on-one and small group development sessions
  • Access to Academy testing, Functional Movement Screening, supervised gym education and sport‑specific S&C programs
  • Skill acquisition clinics and individual athlete management coaching support
  • Performance Wellbeing education including psychology, nutrition, media and sponsorship, sport integrity, financial fitness and resilience pathways

 

Additional SSA benefits:

  • Access to Lumin (Academy athlete performance and management platform)
  • Support for award and scholarship nominations
  • Community engagement and corporate partner exposure
  • Promotion through SSA media channels

Program Eligibility Criteria

Athletes must:

  • Aged 12 – 25 years in 2027 
  • Not be eligible to apply for a SSA squad based program in the same year
  • Be committed to progressing to higher representation within your chosen sport
  • Be a registered member of a local club or association within the Southern region.
  • Reside in one of the following LGAs: Albury, Balranald, Berrigan, Carrathool, Coolamon, Cootamundra-Gundagai, Edward River, Federation, Greater Hume, Griffith, Hay, Hilltops, Junee, Leeton, Lockhart, Murray River, Murrumbidgee, Narrandera, Snowy Valleys, Temora, Wagga Wagga, Wentworth

An Athlete Scholarship Levy of $0 applies to athletes selected in the top-tier Future Champion category, with levies applying to athletes in the lower tiers. This levy covers the program benefits outlined above, as well as a range of additional athlete development opportunities throughout the season.

Uniform costs are additional, with SSA items to be purchased through the official supplier.

Additional event costs may also apply throughout the season.

The athlete levy contributes towards the overall cost of delivering the Academy programs. Within our high performance programs are items including: 
 
  • Coaching*
  • Access to training facilities*
  • Strength & Conditioning assessments and programming*
  • Sports science testing*
  • Access to Academy Games* (relevant sports/age groups only)
  • Insurance
* Please note, Items marked with an Asterix are components supported through NSW Government grant funding. The grant contribution from the NSW government is limited to costs and activities identified in the approved Project Plan. The remaining portion of the athlete levy contributes towards costs associated with delivering and administering the Academy that are not covered by the NSW Government grant funding.

Program Delivery Period

September 2026 – June 2027

TIER ONE
Ben Devries
Toby Gould
Jacob McLachlan
Eden O’Connell

TIER ONE
Lexie Phillips
Laylah Murray
Millie Elphick