By Levi Sushames
The North Melbourne Next Generation Academy is an eight-week program that aims to further develop the skills of young Tasmanian football players. In addition the program also introduces the 11-15 year old participants concepts such strengthening and conditioning as well as nutrition.
168 young athletes were selected in the Academy’s three regional programs based on open tryout sessions held across the state.
The Academy has heavily focused on the development of basic skills says sixteen-year-old Charlotte Kenny. “We’re actually nutting out skills, rather than practicing them. We’ve actually got down to the basics, what motions you need to go through to get a good kick and all the little things that make a good kick.”
When asked if he had noticed any improvement in the participants NMFC Regional Co-ordinator for Tasmania Trent Baumeler said he has seen many improvement in basic skills over the duration of the program.
“It’s been a lot more targeted so there’s a lot more skill development. We separate them into their age groups and target them – skill based training for some and game sense training for others depending on where they’re at. So it’s targeted to the level of ability.”
Aside from the Academy’s focus on skill development, participants have also been learning about nutrition. One parent believed this had had a strong impact on his son, “They went down and watched a video last week about nutrition. Now he’s getting protein into him and then he’ll go and do weights, just now he’s starting to bulk up. The Academy is about not just how to play football but learning about correct diet and hydration as opposed to just turning up at the club and playing a game of footy.”
Another parent pointed out that being part of the Academy allowed his children the chance to practice for an extra few weeks even though their season is over. “These kids have four additional weeks opportunity to keep their hands on the ball and improve that bit more in four weeks.”
All parents seemed to agree that the new Academy program was great for Tasmanian football. Former Adelaide Crows player Ian Callinan whose son Jack is in the Academy said, “We’re tucked away down here and we’ve sort of been forgotten about the last twenty years so it’s a good opportunity for some young kids and hopefully they can develop and kick on for an AFL career.”
Many of the kids participating in the Academy said they have a desire to play at AFL level. Fifteen year old Will Hodgman said, “I think this is the best help you can get in terms of a young player so it’s good to have it here.”