The Swans Academy is an exciting, ground-breaking initiative that aims to nurture the sporting talents of young boys and shape them into future Swans players.? ?Boys attending the junior trials took part in kicking and handballing drills, speed and agility testing, as well as skills sessions using soccer and tennis balls as well as Sherrins.
The session, conducted under the watchful eyes of Elite Talent Identification Coordinator Chris Smith and a team of Sydney Swans scouts and coaches, assessed the boys’ athleticism and footballing potential.??
“The Academy trials offer an opportunity for boys who love sport, and that means any sport, to come and try out. The trials involve a range of fun, athletic activities, so anyone can give it a go," Smith said.
“Going forward the aim of the program is for it to become a key part of future recruiting for the Sydney Swans. Hopefully in a few years we will see some of these boys running around on the SCG wearing the red and white.’’?
Nat Murarotto said her son Jarred had learned a number of qualities from football which have also improved his social skills, such as the importance of being a team player.
“Jarred came home with the flyer and said ‘Mum, I’d like to do this’. He plays basketball and does swimming. He likes to try a lot of sports but he’s been playing AFL since he was four. It’s structured and we like that the quality of being a team player is valued.”
“I love the idea of the different stations, it keeps the kids really engaged. You can see that the Academy is really trying to target a wide variety of different kids’ skills, with balance, throwing and catching and hand-eye coordination,” she said.
Nicci Jones, the mother of one young participant and a former Melburnian, said it was a great opportunity for young boys in Sydney to get a better understanding of AFL football.?
“There’s not as much footy around up here as there is in Melbourne, so it’s a good opportunity for Lachlan to gain a few more skills and enjoy the chance to play more footy.”
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