A group of Mount Maunganui's future footballers are eagerly preparing themselves to wing their way across the Tasman in a chance to test their skills against the best Australia has to offer.

Today, the AllStars Football Academy players will fly to Gosford for an eight-day training and match-intensive schedule with the International Football Academy – following an invitation from the highly regarded academy.

AllStars Football Academy director Martin Collins with some of his academy players during a school holiday programme. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

Founded by director Martin Collins, the private Mount Maunganui academy is specifically designed to encourage children's individual learning and development through football.

Sessions include drills and games helping to develop technical skills, speed, agility, balance, coordination, as well as promoting physical and social development.

Martin says this is a very exciting opportunity for the young players, aged eight to 10, who currently training with the private academy year-round alongside their school sporting commitments.

The invitation allows Martin to hand-pick 21 players – broken into two squads – for the eight-day footballing experience against some of Australia's best footballing prospects.

Based at the Central Coast Mariners Football Academy, the group will train and play against the International Football Academy each of the eight days – giving both academies a chance to showcase their skills and teamwork.

'This is a first for the academy and it's a huge experience for these players. Especially in developing their skills and also gaining an awareness of the higher levels of skills that are out there,” says Martin.

'It's one of the first football schools in Australia and they [the International Football Academy] have joined forces with the Central Coast Mariners one of the leading A-League sides in Australia. Where we are going it's a full-time for the students.”

Leading up to the trans-Tasman opportunity, Martin says the player's excitement and enthusiasm levels have been rising, as they continued training during the first week of the school holidays.

'There has been a lot of positive feedback from parents and players who are really excited; everyone is just buzzing about it.”