JUNIOR TEAMS & PROGRAMS
Football to enjoy. A team to belong to. Opportunities to grow.
ARETE provides junior football for U8–U13 players in the Southern Highlands, combining the way we believe children should be coached with meaningful opportunities to train, compete and play.
Competitive football through JPL Australia
ARETE teams compete in JPL Australia, giving players regular competitive football as well as opportunities to participate in selected tournaments, events and experiences through the wider JPL network.
We want our teams to be competitive. We want players to care about the result and experience the excitement that comes with playing to win. But winning and development don't have to compete with each other.
Junior football should challenge players while still giving them the opportunity to make decisions, make mistakes, learn and keep growing.
Compete with purpose. Play with passion. Grow together.
Child-centred environment
We prioritise the individual growth and well-being of each player, ensuring a supportive and encouraging atmosphere.
Quality development
Our programs are designed to enhance football skills, tactical understanding, and overall athletic development.
Competitive pathways
Players gain access to competitive fixtures, tournaments, international opportunities and pathways through JPL Australia.
U8–U13 Teams
ARETE focuses on providing the right challenge for every young player, recognising that development is a unique journey for each child.
ARETE initially provides teams from Under 8 through to Under 13.
We don't believe children fit neatly into labels such as beginner, intermediate and advanced. Players develop at different speeds, and the player you see today isn't necessarily the player they will become.
ARETE teams are selected, but we don't believe selection should simply be about identifying the best players today. We consider where a player is now, but also their attitude, willingness to learn and, importantly, the potential we believe is there to grow.
Our aim is to place children in an environment that challenges them without taking away the confidence and enjoyment they need to develop.
The ARETE Kit
Being part of a team should feel like being part of something.
Every ARETE team player receives our playing and training kit for the season + more
Home Kit · Away Kit · Training Kit
What will my child experience?
We want joining ARETE to feel like joining a team, not entering a programme.
Players should get to know their coaches and teammates, understand what is expected of them and quickly feel that they belong.
Training is active and game-focused, with plenty of football. Players will be encouraged to think, make decisions, compete, try things and learn when they don't work.
On game day, we want ARETE teams to become recognisable for two things:
Passion and togetherness.
We'll compete to win, but a result will never tell us everything we need to know about whether a team — or an individual player — is developing.
Most importantly, every child should know that their coach is interested in them, not simply what they can contribute to the score line.
