Welcome to the new season, and we hope that you will represent our Club with pride and that you have a great time playing football.
We’ve set up information for you on the website so that we can communicate to you what’s happening and when.
We’ve also published the ‘Players Pledge’ so that you’re aware of the behaviour expected of being part of the Hurlo Community.
There is information on registration, for our wonderful group of Small Sided Footballers, on wet weather, on where you are playing and when.
Once again, remember who you play for, that it’s grassroots, and that officials, like players, make mistakes. Have a great season!
Click on the links below see what age groups and sessions are currently on offer.
U11 Mixed, U13-U19 (Mixed, Girls and Boys)
We are running sessions at Ewen Park according to the following schedule:
Tuesday 21st November 2023
5:30pm to 6:45pm – U13 Girls & U14 Girls
7pm to 8:15pm – U16 Boys & U16 Girls
Wednesday 22nd November 2023
5:30pm to 6:45pm – U13 Mixed & U15 Girls
7pm to 8:15pm – U17 & U18 Boys & U17-U19 Girls
Thursday 23rd November 2023
5:30pm to 6:45pm – U14 & U15 Boys
7pm to 8:15pm – U11 Mixed
Team Formation/Grading at Hurlstone Park Wanderers is not only aimed at building the most competitive Division One teams, but also on maintaining viable and competitive teams in all divisions. The club values all of its teams and players.
The emphasis is on building, promoting and maintaining participation from our MiniCubs (u6) all the way through to adulthood. The team formation process aims to form teams with players of comparable skills. The club acknowledges that teams also form through school and friendship groups, and this will be encouraged and supported.
In 2025, we will be conducting Team Formation sessions for the following age groups:
The Team Formation sessions are organised by the HPW Grading Sub-Committee, which oversees the entire process. The actual sessions are run by independent assessors. Results of the Team Formation process will be advised by your Age Coordinator. It is anticipated that team formation will be finalised at the latest by early March, but notification may occur a lot sooner.
For FAQs about Team Formation, please visit our FAQs page.
Enquiries
For any enquiries, please contact the relevant Age Coordinator.
Session Dates
All team formation sessions are held at Ewen Park in Hurlstone Park.
U8 – 11 & 18 Feb 5:30pm – 6:30pm
U9 – 11 & 18 Feb 6:30pm – 7:30pm
U10 – 13 & 20 Feb 5:30pm – 6:30pm
U11 – 13 & 20 Feb 6:30pm – 7:30pm
U12 – 11 & 18 Feb 7:30pm – 8:30pm
U13 – 11 & 18 Feb 7:30pm – 8:30pm
BOYS/MEN
U14 – 13 Feb 7:30pm – 8:30pm
U15 – 13 Feb 7:30pm – 8:30pm
U16 – 20 Feb 7:30pm – 8:30pm
U18 Divisions 1 & 2 only – 13 Feb 6:30pm to 7:30pm
U18 all Divisions – 20 Feb 6:30pm to 7:30pm
U21 – 20 Feb 7:30pm – 8:30pm
AAM/BBC – 20 Feb 7:30pm – 8:30pm
GIRLS/WOMEN
U8 – 12 Feb 5:30pm – 6:30pm
U9 – 12 Feb 5:30pm – 6:30pm
U10 – 19 Feb 5:30pm – 6:30pm
U11 – 19 Feb 5:30pm – 6:30pm
U12 – 12 Feb 6:30pm – 7:30pm
U13 – 12 Feb 6:30pm – 7:30pm
U14 – 19 Feb 6:30pm – 7:30pm
U15 – 19 Feb 6:30pm – 7:30pm
U16 – 12 Feb 7:30pm – 8:30pm
U19 – 12 Feb 7:30pm – 8:30pm
AAW/GMT – 19 Feb 7:30pm – 8:30pm
O35W – 19 Feb 7:30pm – 8:30pm
We changed the terminology to more accurately reflect what we are trying to achieve with this pre-season activity; which is to form teams that have players of comparable skill, are complementary to each other and will provide the most enjoyable playing experience in the competition.
We are looking to achieve this for all of our teams irrespective of the division they play in.
If you are a team that is in Division 3 or lower, you don’t need to attend team formation sessions. Simply communicate your plan with your Age Coordinator.
If it is a Division 1 or 2 team, you will need to attend Team Formation.
U8 note – given there is no historical competition teams, it is strongly encouraged that all players attend these sessions
Participation is not compulsory however it is strongly recommended to allow for them to be placed in an appropriate team.
For U8/9, it is strongly encouraged that all players attend these sessions.
For U10-13 Mixed, U14-16 Boys and U11-14 Girls, attendance is strongly encouraged for those wishing to play in higher division teams.
If your age group specifies 2 sessions, it is strongly advised that you attend both sessions.
U8/9 note – attendance at both grading sessions is strongly advised. If you can only make 1 session, the first session is preferable.
Please notify the Coaching Coordinator at coaching@hurlstoneparkwanderers.com.au and your relevant Age Coordinator if you wish to attend a session but are unable.
Hurlstone Park Wanderers is all about providing the opportunity for all to play football. If you do not wish to be considered for higher division teams, you can do the following:
Check our Events Calendar for sessions
We may not have Division 1 teams in every age group. HPW will identify its highest graded team in each age group, but the final grading of the team is determined by the Football Canterbury grading committees, based on the playing history of all the teams submitted by all clubs. Contact the relevant Age Coordinator for more information.
HPW’s team formation process is designed to identify players of similar ability and place them in suitable teams.
In each age group, we will form one or more teams, and we will submit the teams to Football Canterbury.
The Football Canterbury Grading Committees then determine the number and size of divisions in each age group based on the playing history of all teams submitted by all clubs.
As a result, even an existing team may be placed in a higher or lower division than they played last year.
Contact the relevant Age Coordinator for more information.
Results are typically communicated by your Age Coordinator, up to 2-3 weeks after the final session, if not earlier.
For U8 -13 (Mixed/Boys) and Girls (U11-14), we use an independent body to run the sessions. For the Mixed/Boys (U13-16) the HPW Grading Sub-Committee will run the sessions in association with coaches and experienced players within the Club.
A session typically consists of a skills-based activity plus a series of small-sided games.
We realise that performance at a session does not always indicative of player ability. For that reason, all information available including player history and coach feedback is taken into consideration.
Many of our adult teams are established teams. We welcome new players to the club, but your Age Coordinator will need to assign you to a team that suits your age and ability. Please contact the Age Coordinator to confirm we have a suitable team. Where we have sufficient players or players looking to move between teams, we will form new teams.
We do not usually grade for teams apart from Division 1 (BBC and GMT) for seniors, but we do hold informal trial sessions to help you find a suitable team.
The Football Australia Member Protection Framework applies to all clubs, associations and participants in football and outlines the policy regulations regarding harassment, discrimination, bullying, child protection, child abuse and handling complaints in relation to these matters.
The “FIFA 11+” is a complete warm-up programme to reduce injuries among male and female football players aged 14 years and older.
The programme was developed by an international group of experts, and its effectiveness has been proven in a scientific study. Teams that performed the “FIFA 11+” at least twice a week had 30-50% fewer injured players.
The programme should be performed, as a standard warm-up, at the start of each training session at least twice a week, and it takes around 20 minutes to complete. Prior to matches, only the running exercises (parts 1 and 3) should be performed.
For all exercises, correct performance is of great importance. Therefore, the coach should supervise the programme and correct the players if necessary.
The Football Australia Member Protection Framework applies to all clubs, associations and participants in football and outlines the policy regulations regarding harassment, discrimination, bullying, child protection, child abuse and handling complaints in relation to these matters.
The “FIFA 11+” is a complete warm-up programme to reduce injuries among male and female football players aged 14 years and older.
The programme was developed by an international group of experts, and its effectiveness has been proven in a scientific study. Teams that performed the “FIFA 11+” at least twice a week had 30-50% fewer injured players.
The programme should be performed, as a standard warm-up, at the start of each training session at least twice a week, and it takes around 20 minutes to complete. Prior to matches, only the running exercises (parts 1 and 3) should be performed.
For all exercises, correct performance is of great importance. Therefore, the coach should supervise the programme and correct the players if necessary.
Hurlstone Park Wanderers supports the Small Sided Football format for our younger players. The format allows children to develop their skills and confidence in the sport without the competitive pressure of inter-club games. The children are organised into “houses” of up to 20 players, and each house trains as a single squad.
On game day, each house is divided into teams to play against teams from other houses. The house teams will vary each week, so your child will not always play with the same players, but will always play with others from their house. The houses play against each other on a rotating roster.
As the games are played in-house between fellow Hurlstone Park teams, we are better able to track and support the progress of players and teams through the season, and to assist Coaches, parents and players. The format also discourages specialisation (for instance, there is no goalkeeper for U6 and U7 teams), so players develop a sense of the game overall and of the different roles and responsibilities that are required in a team.
The format of small sided football relies on us having house Managers and Coaches who are willing to assist with coaching on weeknights and organising teams on Saturdays.
We need parents to volunteer for these roles, which are very rewarding, and give you a chance to get involved in your child’s sport.
Even if you have never played football or watched football before, your skills and experience as a parent will be perfect for this role. We provide Coach support and training for the house Managers.
Houses and team formation
The Age Coordinator will be responsible for the initial allocation of children to houses, keeping in mind the information that you have given us about your training preferences and friends in the club. Within the club, the houses are identified by the night that they train and by the colour of their match shirts. e.g. Thursday Red or Wednesday Purple. If your house wants to be Slytherin (or anything else), that’s fine, but let us know.
Under 6s and 7s play in 4-a-side teams with no goalkeeper.
At Hurlstone Park Wanderers we embrace Small Sided Football for U8 to U12, and have aligned ourselves to the national MiniRoos football, which is designed to introduce football to children, where games are fun, they learn new skills and find new friends.
The rules of MiniRoos are adjusted to make it easier for children to discover football.
As a member of Hurlstone Park Wanderers Football Club (player, volunteer, team official, parent or supporter), I pledge that I will uphold the values of the club in all my conduct related to football to promote playing football in a fun, inclusive and safe environment with respect for all involved in the game.
As a member or supporter of a Hurlstone Park Wanderers team I will abide by all the laws of the game and of the Football Canterbury Association.
I understand that any breach of this pledge or any misconduct will be sanctioned by one or more of the following:
Disciplinary Committee
The Disciplinary Committee is comprised of at least 4 members of the Club, one of whom is chair. The Club’s Member Protection Officer is also a member of the Disciplinary Committee.
The Disciplinary Committee’s role is:
Typical situations where the Disciplinary Committee would become involved is where a complaint about behaviour has been received by the Club from a ground official or from another team or Club.
The Disciplinary Committee does not issue penalties for red card sanctions (as this is a Football Canterbury sanction) but does require a report from the member, and may recommend sanctions for players with repeat offences.
Incident Reports
When an incident is referred to the Disciplinary Committee (by the Club President or MPIO), the Chair of the Disciplinary Committee asks all the relevant participants to supply a report.
As a rule, the more reports received the clearer the facts of the incident become, allowing the deliberations of the Disciplinary Committee to have a higher level of fairness.
After all the reports have been received by the Disciplinary Committee, the Disciplinary Committee will discuss the situation, by meeting or electronically, and a position will be agreed upon by consensus and a report will be supplied to the Club President for action (either through the Club Committee or for communication to Football Canterbury and/or other Clubs). This report may include a recommendation of sanctions.
A meeting with the relevant members and the Disciplinary Committee is often a valuable tool to allow clarity of a situation, and the Disciplinary Committee has the authority to stand down members until such a meeting has taken place.
The sooner that the Disciplinary Committee can prepare a report, the better the outcome.
Team Managers, Coaches and Age Coordinators should notify the Club Committee as soon as possible of any situation, be it referee sanction, an incident at a ground, or an unofficial complaint. This allows the Disciplinary Committee to be proactive in its response.
NOTE: When a red card is issued, the player, Coach or Manager issued the infringement is required to supply a report on the issue and pay the fine imposed.
A player will be considered suspended by HPWFC until the incident report has been received and the red card fine has been paid by card or cash at the Ewen Park canteen. This must be done by the weekend before the completion of the suspension. If the suspension is 1 week, the fine must be paid on the weekend the suspension is being served. A copy of the receipt must be sent to dc@hpwfc.com.au for the suspension to be considered complete. If a player takes to the field before this has occurred, a further sanction will be imposed, typically 2 weeks.
Hurlstone Park Wanderers Football Club is a community-based soccer club run entirely by volunteers. We welcome players of all ages and from all walks of life. Find us at Ewen Park and Beaman Park, Inner West Sydney, NSW.
For fixtures, results and
ladders – find us on
Terms & Conditions
Website by Wild Honey Creative
Photos marked ©photographedwithlove supplied by Photographed with Love
Hurlstone Park Wanderers Football Club is a community-based soccer club run entirely by volunteers. We welcome players of all ages and from all walks of life. Find us at Ewen Park and Beaman Park, Inner West Sydney, NSW.
Terms & Conditions
Website by Wild Honey Creative
Photos marked ©photographedwithlove supplied by Photographed with Love
Hurlstone Park Wanderers Football Club acknowledges that our games and all operations of our Club are carried out on Aboriginal land. We acknowledge and pay our respect to the traditional owners and elders (past, present and emerging) who have cared for the lands and waterways for thousands of years based on deep knowledge of culture and Country.