This study aims to develop a profile of teams in the Youth Development Phase at a Category One football academy, with the purpose of finding comparisons and examining the differences in performance indicators. The sample included the U13, U14 and U16 teams at a Category One Football Club during the 2019/20 season. All 60 games played by the teams were included in the study, including twenty U13 matches, twenty U14 matches and twenty U16 matches. These matches were filmed and, using lapsed time analysis, were coded on Hudl SportsCode, before the data was input into Microsoft Excel for analysis. The data were split into 3 categories, for ease of analysis, and these categories included “in possession”, “out of possession” and “in transition”. The chi square test of association found, for in possession, playing out area (p<0.001) was significant, indicating the U16 play long more often (39), compared to U13 (5) and U14 (21) age groups. End product (p = 0.030) also showed a significant association with the U16 age group having less shots off target (83) compared to the U13 (110) and U14 age
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group (96). For in transition, both attacking (p<0.001) and defensive transitions (p<0.001) showed significant associations. The U13 age group lost possession in the midfield third (65.4%) more often than the U14 (56%) and U16 (43%) age groups. The U16 age group regained possession less in the midfield third (50%) compared to the U13 (61%) and U14 (59%) age groups. Out of possession showed pressing area (p<0.001) had a significant association, with the U14 age group pressing higher up the pitch, specifically in the box (40%) compared to the U13 (32%) and U16 (17%) age groups. Practical implications of profiling academy footballers are discussed and future performance-based research recommendations are suggested