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Thursday, 21 February 2008 |
WAFL Development Programs
The main aims of the development squad programs is to provide talented players and developing coaches the experience of being involved at a higher level whilst providing them with an insight into their WAFL Club.
Also to give all players the opportunity to be involved in a quality learning environment and have the chance to be viewed playing against their own age group from other districts.
The WAFL 14's and 15's programs begin in August / September culminating in a carnival during the October school holidays. Players, who are residentially bound to a WAFL club are divided into 2 groups and play against other WAFL club squads. i.e. 14 year olds at all clubs are divided into 1 team made up of players who are born from January to June and the other from July to Dec. Approximately 35 players per team (140 overall between 14's and 15's) participate in the carnival. Team only play against the equivalent age group at other clubs
The WAFL 16's Development squad program is an extension of the 15's carnival and is played in March/ April period. Players from the 15's carnival begin an extended program running from December up until the carnival in March/ April. Players are exposed to a WAFL Colts like pre-season program with the main focus on skill development. Each WAFL club has 1 team that participated in the WAFL 16's carnival. This carnival's purpose is to further develop players and to provide an opportunity to select a state 16's squad to compete in the AFL NAB National Championships in July.
The WAFL also has Country development squad carnivals which cater for the country players. Each WAFL District has a country squad which targets the 14 and 15 year olds. There are 4 separate country carnivals that take place throughout the year. In July country squads from East Fremantle, South Fremantle, Claremont and Perth participate in a carnival. West Perth hosts their 3 country squads at the Arena in Joondalup. Subiaco conducts a carnival for their squads in Kalgoorlile/ Esperence while Peel Thunder, Swan Districts and East Perth FC conduct a country carnival for their respective squads in Bunbury each year in August.
WAFL State Programs
State 16's
Head Coach - Trevor Williams
As the initial introduction to a state based elite football program, the WA State 16's program will aim to provide an environment which will offer the selected athletes with the opportunity to maximize their development as a person and as a player.
The program endeavours to provide an environment that is enjoyable, positive and fosters individual learning styles. The program is part of the NAB Rising Stars program and includes the NAB National 16's Championships to be held on the Gold Coast from 24 July - 3 August 2008.
These championships conclude with the top two ranked teams from each division playing the two curtain raisers at the 2008 AFL Grand Final at the MCG. This is a wonderful opportunity for the participants and a terrific enhancement to the NAB Rising Stars Program.
The WA State 16's program is also an important aspect of the WA coaching pathway. It provides aspiring coaches with the opportunity to be exposed to an elite environment and enhance their skills in dealing with talented athletes.
State 18's
Head Coach - Andrew Lockyer
As the pinnacle opportunity in the WA talent pathway, the WA State 18's will aim to provide an elite training and playing experience that will offer the selected athletes the best possible environment to maximize their opportunity to progress to WAFL and AFL football.
The program is a more intense and detailed progression from the 16's and involves a ten week training and playing program. The program is part of the NAB Rising Stars program and includes a 5 game program with 2 games played in Perth, one in Adelaide and two in Melbourne.
The NAB National 18's Championships provide a wonderful opportunity for players to showcase their potential on the national stage. The opportunity to replicate the life of an AFL player via elite styled training programs and preparation, traveling to interstate venues and playing on un familiar grounds is a unique experience for most of the players and one that will hold them in good stead with their future aspirations.
Like the WA State 16's, the WA State 18's is an important aspect of the WA Coaching pathway. Similar to the WA State 16's, the WAFC encourages a regular rotation of coaches through the key coaching positions as a means of developing coaching experience at the elite level.
State 20's
Head Coach - TBC
The purpose of the WA State 20's is to provide 19 and 20 year olds participating in the WAFL competition with the opportunity to play elite state level football. It will hopefully provide these players with an extra motivation to continue their development and allow them to be showcased to AFL recruiting staff.
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