After much planning, the Central Coast Academy of Sport is delighted to announce that AFL will be introducing a new and revamped program to the organisation’s sports programs, with a development program for junior boys. A girls program will follow early in the new year, and these two announcements are significant in terms of rebuilding the AFL programs that were hugely successful only a short time ago.
The Central Coast Academy of Sport AFL program is endorsed by AFL NSW/ACT and involves a development program for boys in the 9-12 years of age group. The age, while younger than other programs offered by the CCAS, is aimed to ‘underpin’ the highly successful Sydney Swans Academy, and provide local athletes with a stepping stone to higher representative honours.
The 2017-18 AFL Program will be coordinated by Samuel Shergold (in collaboration with the CCAS), a person with a strong background in AFL development, himself having been involved in the CCAS programs for a number of years.
The AFL Development Program is the first step in the AFL pathway and athletes eligible for entry are encouraged to apply for the program. It is planned that approx. 24 athletes will be identified in the first year. The 2017-18 program is a pilot program and it is expected that in a similar time frame next year the pilot program in this age group will include a girls program.
In February 2018, a new girls AFL program will be introduced for an age group that meets the AFL pathways structure. Girls in the U14 – U16 age group will be eligible to apply in January for entry to this program.
Ian Robilliard the CCAS Managing Director and person well versed in sport development due to his 30+ years of involvement said of the program; “It’s great that AFL NSW/ACT has seen how valuable the Regional Academies are in providing localised and specialised training in sport; the proposed pathway is certainly a lot less complicated and the central Coast Academy of Sport is delighted to be able to offer this program to our up and coming AFL players.”
Samuel Shergold, program coordinator from AFL NSW/ACT said of the program: “The CCAS program is an important step for young players who want to receive a performance advantage. I anticipate that this program will be an important step for the Central Coast building a much stronger representative squad and I’m looking forward to making this program happen. We will be announcing a high class coaching line up in the coming week, so from the AFL’s perspective this announcement is one really important one for our region. I would like to thank the CCAS for continuing to support AFL development in a local setting.”
For more information and to apply head to thinksport.com.au/programs/afl.
The Central Coast Academy of Sport AFL Program is proudly supported by: AFL NSW/ACT, Mingara One, Gatorade and Hills St Sports Medicine.
The Central Coast Academy of Sports would like to thank and acknowledge the support received from the following Business Partners:
NSW Government, The University of Newcastle, Mingara Recreation Club, Greater Bank, NBN Television, Oddball Marketing, Southern Cross Austereo (101.3 Sea FM and 107.7 2GO), Central Coast Council.
