Central Coast Mariners Academy teams are continuing to prepare for what is going to be a busy season ahead for all involved.

With training for all teams boosted to three nights per week and trial games already well underway, all teams will be hoping to emulate the successes of the Coast’s Hyundai A-League and National Youth League teams.

With a focus on development for all players, the Academy’s coaches have been undertaking various practical sessions with Academy Head Coach, Tony Walmsley, to further their personal development and the development of their players.

The Mariners Academy goalkeeper training has been strengthened with the inclusion of training sessions with John Crawley, Mathew Ryan and Justin Pasfield all passing on their knowledge and skills to the Coast’s young custodians.

This week sees the commencement of the first tournament for Season 2012 for the Academy. The Manchester Premier Cup starts this week with the Mariners Grade 15 Boys invited to compete after the 2011 Grade 14 Boys team won last year’s NSW Super Youth League Premiership. The Mariners Academy boys will play Manly United, Blacktown Spartans and Rockdale City from Friday 24 to Saturday 25 February. All games are being played at Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood.

All Central Coast Mariners Academy Girls Teams – 12s, 14s and 16s – are busily preparing for the Proctor Park Challenge held over the first weekend of March at Bathurst. Last year saw the Coast’s 12 girls team bring home the title. A full weekend of games for all the girls teams will have them fully prepared for Round 1 of Season 2012 that kicks off on March 18 when they travel to Wollongong to play the Illawarra Stingrays.

Sunday 26 February will see the Boys 13, 14, 16 and 18s teams travel to Sydney to play Bankstown City in a day of trial matches. The Mariners Academy girls and Womens teams will host Blacktown at Pluim Park on Sunday while the boys 11 and 12 teams welcome Kuringai in some friendly pre-season matches.