Young Sharks given pathway boost through new football academy

ARMSTRONG Creek’s newest football program is empowering young athletes to take meaningful steps towards their athletic goals.

The Armstrong Creek football academy launched last fortnight with 17 young players undertaking a six-week pre-pathway program.

Designed to educate young footballers in on and off-field behaviours that can improve performance, the opt-in program is led by James Belcher, Daniel Wirken and James McNamara.

Belcher, who has experience coaching across AFL talent pathways, the VFL and AFL, said asking players to apply rather than be invited was central to the academy’s philosophy.

“In pathways, you’re more often than not invited to the thing and if you can miss out, it can sometimes feel like that’s the end of it for you,” Belcher said.

“We wanted to provide a very simplified version of a talent pathway to kids that want it, where they have to apply for it.

“We’re not going to come out and give you a tap on the shoulder; we want you guys to want to be here.”

As talent pathways continue to evolve, Belcher said it was important young footballers understood there were many different routes to achieving their goals.

Players participating in the academy will receive football education as well as attend sessions on fitness, nutrition and psychology.

The initiative also aligns with the Armstrong Creek club’s long-term plans to establish a senior football team, with the academy designed to help retain talented juniors within the Sharks program.

“The idea was to provide opportunities to those in the club that have the want to play at the highest possible level of football they can,” Belcher said.

“We also wanted to create something that allowed us to be a little bit enviable to other clubs.”

Club president Chad Dusncombe said he was excited by the academy’s potential to benefit young footballers and strengthen the club’s future.

The club has previously indicated it intends to expand to senior football in the coming years.