Female Talent Pathway
The Club launched its Female Talent Pathway at the start of the 2020/21 season.
The new player development structure enables us to work with local grassroots clubs to identify talented female players and provide them with a progressive series of footballing programmes to develop their game, nurturing their skills using our renowned coaching methods to help them play at the highest level possible.
The new pathway is comprised of six programmes, each tailored to provide a different level of support to players of certain age groups and abilities, with participants able to enter at different stages of the system based on their abilities and personal circumstances. Using a holistic approach to player development, the pathway will provide each individual with the appropriate playing opportunities and support they need to enable them to reach their full potential.
Jump to...
Women's Academy
Under-19 Football Development Programmes (ages 16-19)
Emerging Talent Centre (ages 8-13)
Player Development Programmes (ages 8-12)
Case Study: Olga Ocran
In May 2021, Olga Ocran was offered a place within our WSL Academy for the 2021/22 season.
Previously being a player on the Club's Under-19 Football Development College Programmes in assosciation with Barnet and Southgate College, find out more about Olga's journey through our player development pathway.
Launching initially across our local boroughs in north London and areas of Hertfordshire, the Club will seek to engage with as many players, grassroots clubs and educational establishments as possible, exploring increased offerings in further locations in due course.
The diagram below demonstrates the pathway of a footballer from grassroots level up to the Tottenham Hotspur Women first team…
Head of Women's Football, Heather Cowan, said: "We are really excited about the launch of our new female player pathway at Tottenham Hotspur this season. The structure gives girls from across north London a clear pathway to fulfil their potential with a view right to the very top of the women’s game in this country. We are looking forward to seeing local girls progress through our pathway and eventually into our first team – we will support players with technical coaching, games programme, sport science, medical provision, and lifestyle guidance. In addition, as part of our work we are committed to supporting and connecting local grassroots clubs who are vital to the growth and development of girls football in this country."
Girls-Only Player Development Programmes
Our Player Development Programmes are available to girls aged eight to 14 and take place across north London and Hertfordshire. Girls attending these sessions will benefit from the tutelage of our Global Football Development coaches, who will apply the Club’s coaching methods and provide the optimum environment for learning and progression. Players attending these sessions are encouraged to play locally for grassroots teams and/or take part in other sporting activities while progressing through the programmes.
Emerging Talent Centre
Our Emerging Talent Centre is a brand new programme for girls aged eight to 14 who have been identified as having ‘emerging talent’, either from our girls-only Player Development Programmes, our Open Trials or via our Talent ID programme. This is a free coaching programme and players who attend are also encouraged to play locally for grassroots teams and/or take part in other sporting activities. Players will represent Tottenham Hotspur Women at an appropriate age level during school holidays in fixture programmes that include futsal, tournaments and festivals against local and national clubs.
Women's Academy
Our Women’s Academy programme is for girls in school years 8 -13 and provides a full player development curriculum, incorporating technical and tactical coaching, games, medical access, sports science/strength and conditioning, analysis and lifestyle support whilst maintaining a dual career approach and philosophy.
Under-19 Football Development College Programmes
Our Under-19 Football Development College Programmes will be delivered in association with Barnet and Southgate College and New City College, Epping Forest campus. Players will receive a full-time football programme delivered by our Global Football Development coaches while continuing their education at college, where they can choose to study a wide range of courses including A-levels and BTECs. The programmes will link directly with our Women's Academy, with the strategy of graduating players into this environment when appropriate.
