Rugby Borough Female Talent Pathway
Your game.
Your pathway.
A performance-level programme for talented female players in Rugby and the surrounding areas. Compete in the JPL Warriors national league. Develop alongside the senior women’s team.
JPL
2
u12s
u16s
u18s
18+
from grassroots to the women's national league
Built for girls who want more
The Female Talent Pathway (FTP) is a club-led performance programme developed in partnership between Rugby Borough Women & Girls FC and Rugby Borough Women FC. It gives talented young players a structured, higher-level environment to grow in, with a clear route toward the senior game.
This is where your game changes.
What it is
Who it's for
The connection to the first team
What's included
Everything you need to develop
Multiple sessions weekly
Individual development plans
Senior player coaches
Physio access
National league competition
One membership fee
2026/27 season
Current age groups for FTP
u12s
A brand-new team, formed through open trials and a selection process. Trials will evaluate technical ability, attitude, coachability and potential.
Training: 2 x 60-minute sessions per week
Venue: Training & home games at Kilsby Lane, Rugby, CV21 4PN
League: JPL Warriors national league
u16s
An established group stepping up from U15 level, bringing existing team cohesion and JPL Warriors experience. A number of squad places are open to new applicants.
Training: 2 x 90-minute sessions per week
Venue: Training & home games at Kilsby Lane, Rugby, CV21 4PN
League: JPL Warriors national league
u18s
An established group stepping up from u16s level, bringing existing team cohesion and JPL Warriors experience. A number of squad places are open to new applicants.
Training: 2 x 90-minute sessions per week
Venue: Training & home games at Kilsby Lane, Rugby, CV21 4PN
League: JPL Warriors national league
Open-age
An established group stepping up from u18s in the JPL Warriors to open-age women’s football. A number of squad places are open to new applicants.
Training: 2 x 90-minute sessions per week
Venue: Training & home games at Kilsby Lane, Rugby, CV21 4PN
League: TBC
Looking ahead
The pathway grows with you
Our ambition is to build age groups through the programme organically, so players who join at U12 have a clear route forward in each subsequent season.
Coaching and development
Built around the player
Coaching structure
- Level C qualified lead coach as minimum for each team
- Senior women's players supporting coaching
- Supporting assistant coaches
- Programme direction from Sian Osmond, Pathway Director
- Full DBS clearance and FA Safeguarding certification for all staff
Player development
- Individual Development Plan for every player
- Technical and tactical frameworks aligned with the senior team
- Consistent team culture expectations from u12 through to first team
- Physio support for injury assessment and treatment
- Social programme including end-of-season events
Your questions answered
What you need to know
Playing in the female talent pathway
Is this a PGA or ETC?
No. The programme does not currently hold FA ETC or PGA status. It is a club-led development programme built to the coaching standards and philosophy of Rugby Borough Women FC, with ambitions to pursue formal status in the coming seasons.
How is the Female Talent Pathway different from a grassroots team?
The short answer is that the pathway is a performance programme, not a participation one. Both have real value, and they are designed to sit alongside each other rather than replace one another, but they are quite different environments.
In grassroots football, the priority is enjoyment, development and participation. Every player gets game time, training is fun and accessible, and the focus is on building a love of the game. In the pathway, the environment is more demanding. Training is more frequent and more intense, the coaching is structured around our first team principles and individual development plans, as well as the level of competition - the JPL Warriors national league.
What is the JPL Warriors league?
The JPL Warriors is a national girls football league operating from U12 through to U18, widely regarded as the highest-level girls league in the country.
Why are you only starting with u12s, u16s and u18s teams?
This is a deliberate decision, not a limitation. We want to build the Female Talent Pathway properly, with the right coaches, the right structures, and the right environment for every player in it. Starting with three age groups allows us to do that without cutting corners.
The u12s represent the natural entry point into the pathway, formed through open trials so any eligible player has a fair chance to be assessed. The U16s and u18s bring an established group with existing JPL Warriors experience, giving the pathway an immediate senior anchor and allowing us to learn from a group who already know what high-level girls football looks like week to week.
What if my daughter is in an age group that isn't available yet?
She is absolutely welcome to continue playing grassroots football with Rugby Borough Women & Girls FC in the meantime, and there is no reason that should change. When a relevant age group opens up, we will announce trials through club channels with plenty of notice. Recommendations from grassroots coaches may also be considered when the time comes, so the best thing to do is stay involved and keep developing.
Will there be open trials for future age groups?
Where open trials are held, details will be published through our club channels with reasonable notice. We are committed to giving every eligible player a fair opportunity to be assessed.
Can my daughter still play for her Sunday team?
Yes. Pathway training and JPL fixtures run separately from Sunday grassroots football. Players are actively encouraged to continue playing for their grassroots team alongside the pathway.
The practical stuff
Which club is my daughter actually registered with?
Your daughter will be registered with Rugby Borough Women & Girls FC. All pathway teams are formally affiliated through the Women & Girls section, which holds the team registrations and manages the league affiliations. This is the same club affiliation your daughter would have in grassroots football with us.
As the pathway develops, and subject to Rugby Borough Women FC progressing into higher tiers of the women's game, registrations may in future move across to the senior women's section. If that happens, we will give families clear advance notice well ahead of any change.
How does registration work?
We use TeamFeePay as our registration system, which is where your daughter's details will be held. Once registered through TeamFeePay, we will complete her FA registration and league registration via the FA Club Portal. You do not need to do anything separately for the FA or league registration - we handle that on your behalf.
Will my daughter's details be shared with Rugby Borough Women FC?
Yes, and we want to be upfront about that. Because this programme is a genuine collaboration with Rugby Borough Women FC, with their staff directly contributing to player and team development, it is necessary for relevant player information to be shared between officials of both clubs. This is handled carefully, between named club officials only, and in full compliance with GDPR. We will not share your daughter's information more widely, and you are welcome to ask us at any time what information is held and who has access to it.
How much does it cost?
Fees are higher than grassroots to reflect the additional training. A full fee schedule is provided on joining. Monthly payment plans are available, and we will always speak confidentially with families where cost is a concern.
How is welfare managed?
All staff hold current DBS clearance and FA Safeguarding in Football certification. Our dedicated Club Welfare Officer is Sharon Smyth. Any concern can also be raised with Sian Osmond or directly with Birmingham County FA.
Is the pathway more expensive than grassroots football?
Yes. The higher costs reflect what the programme involves; two training sessions a week, national league registration, match fees, access to physio support, individual development plans and programme administration. Fees are paid via an initial registration fee and then a monthly payment plan spread across the season to make it as manageable as possible.
Coaching in the Female Talent Pathway
What qualifications do I need to coach in the pathway?
Lead coaches must hold, or be due to qualify before the playing season starts, a minimum FA Level C licence, this is a JPL Warriors league requirement, not just our own preference. You will also need a current DBS check and FA Safeguarding in Football certification.
If you hold a Level C and are interested in being considered for a lead coaching role, please apply through the coach application form.
Do you need assistant coaches?
Yes, we are also looking for assistant coaches for the new u12s team.
Assistant coach roles are open to volunteers who do not have a UEFA C qualification, but they do need to hold level 1 coaching, introduction to first aid, safeguarding and a valid DBS.
The cost of DBS checks and safeguarding qualifications are covered by the Women & Girls club as standard for all of our coaches.
Will i be paid as a coach?
All coaching roles in the pathway are voluntary, just as they are across Rugby Borough Women & Girls FC. We know that volunteering at this level is a significant commitment of time and energy, and we genuinely appreciate it. To recognise that contribution, coaches with a daughter in the pathway receive a discount on her fees. The discount is subject to maintaining your qualifications, a current DBS, and meeting the conduct standards expected of all coaches at the club.
What is the time commitment?
This is a higher-commitment coaching environment than grassroots. Lead coaches are expected to be present for all training sessions and all fixtures. For the U12s that means two 60-minute sessions per week; for the U16s, two 90-minute sessions per week. Fixtures are at national level so some travel to away games should be expected.
Who else will I be working alongside?
Each pathway team has a lead coach supported by an assistant coach (volunteer) and players from Rugby Borough Women FC's first team who are working towards their coaching qualifications as part of their senior team commitments. The Women FC players will typically be involved in at least one training session per week and will contribute to player development reports. They may also attend some fixtures.
This is a genuinely collaborative environment and a real opportunity to work alongside experienced women's footballers.
What coaching philosophy am I expected to follow?
The pathway is built around the coaching principles of Rugby Borough Women FC. Sessions and match preparation follow the same tactical and technical frameworks used by the senior team, adapted appropriately for the age group. The focus is on developing technically capable, tactically aware, and mentally resilient young players, not just winning games. You will be working within that framework rather than bringing an entirely independent coaching approach.
What are my responsibilities around player development?
Every pathway player has an Individual Development Plan (IDP). As lead coach, you are responsible for setting and reviewing targets within that plan and conducting formal mid-season and end-of-season review meetings with each player and their parent or guardian. You will also contribute to decisions about player renewal or release at the end of each season. Full guidance on the IDP process is provided by the programme.
Who selects and oversees the pathway coaches?
Sian Osmond, Director of the Female Pathway, has overall responsibility for coaching quality and programme direction. Sian is the main point of contact for all pathway coaches and provides the connection between the Women FC coaching approach and the pathway teams.
Ready to take the next step?
Applications are open for players and coaches. Get in touch with the right person for your enquiry and we will come back to you promptly.
