Junior Academy

At all levels of football, it is critical to develop a strong foundation for the Fundamentals of football.

The techniques for the fundamental skills of the game, and also the basic understanding of ‘game sense’ have been identified as key foundation pieces for your journey as a footballer. This section of the curriculum will be built-on throughout each player's Rookie Me Academy journey.

Breaking down the layers of each skill technique, allows players to see first-hand how their skill can be improved. Key elements include high repetition, and the balance of speed and accuracy to support development of each skill.

Skill

Each year players will be set up to excel at the key fundamental skills of the game, which include:

• Kicking.
• Hand-Balling.
• Ball Handling.
• Combat safety.

Strategy

Each year, players will be exposed to the initial concepts of reading the play. Understanding the THREE phases of the game, and piecing together the basic questions of game sense:

• Where am I?
• Where is the football?
• What is happening?

Australian rules football is diverse and forever evolving. The development of a player's Game Sense is to identify a moment in a game and react accordingly to have an impact.

Working from the Rookie Me Curriculum, and using the ‘THREE Phases of the Game’, attacking, defending and contesting, the Junior Academy, athletes will be exposed to Level 1 education on topics such as:

• Defending an opponent and space.
• Pressure defence.
• Using an outnumber.
• Ball Movement.
• Supporting the ball carrier.
• Scoring.
• Positional craft.

In 2024, the focus of the Game Sense Football modules will give players a greater understanding of how to move the football from a contest, or a specific part of the field and ultimately work together to score. These topics include:

• Ball Movement.
• Scoring.

Australian rules football is a physical contest and it is encouraged to embrace combat and welcome the battle during a game. Combat skills are important and can be used in every position and in every situation in a game.

In 2024, the focus of the Combat modules will explore the need for combat when in attack. This teaches the footballer to physically create space between themself and their opponent, protection of the drop zone in a marking contest, or controlling your opponent in a 1v1 combat, to gain an advantage.

Across the Junior Academy, athletes will be exposed to Level 1 education on topics such as:

• Tackling from all angles.
• Protect the drop zone.
• Falling safely.
• 1 v 1 combat.
• Creating space.
• Corralling to control space.
• Bumping and shepherding.
• Ball winning under pressure.
• Gaining an advantage in a contest.

*The combat education will mirror the football ‘Game Sense’ education at each school holiday event. So whatever the football module being taught, the combat program will be used to enhance the education.

At the Junior level, it is critical to develop a strong foundation for the Fundamentals of High Performance and how you are able to best set up your physical journey both on-and-off the field.

Performance preparation and assessing your physical characteristics, are key foundation pieces for your journey as an athlete.

This area of the curriculum will be built upon throughout the Rookie Me Academy player journey.

Combine Testing

Players will be exposed to ONE verified combine testing event throughout the 2024 Rookie Me Academy. These events introduce players to the techniques of each testing metric, which allows them to create a profile for monitoring progress and improvement and connecting players to talent pathways throughout their Rookie Me Academy journey.

Warming Up

The importance of warming up your body and being prepared to attempt physical activity is a key foundation of getting the most out of your body and your training. Learning the keys to warming up properly, sets you up to hit the ground running when you start training, and prevents you from getting any unnecessary injuries.

Strength and conditioning is a massive piece of the footballer’s puzzle. Developing yourself as an athlete is as valuable as kicking and handballing skills; and by learning adequate techniques and concepts allows players to consistently progress on their physical development journey. Across the Junior Academy, athletes will be exposed to Level 1 education on topics such as:

• Physical literacy.
• Mastering basic sports skills like catching, kicking, bouncing, coordination.
• Physical competency.
• Mastering basic physical movements like changing direction, jumping, controlling your own body weight.
• Strength training.

In 2024, the focus of the Strength & Conditioning modules will expose young players to introductory strength training and physical competency and amplify the importance to set up a foundation to build upon in the future. These topics include:

• Strength training.
• Physical competency.

Preparation is an important element for every footballer. Both physical and mental preparation impacts a players ability to develop, stay focused, be consistent and ultimately perform on the field. Across the Junior Academy, athletes will be exposed to Level 1 education on topics such as:

• Healthy choices for a balanced diet.
• Pre-game and post-game nutrition.
• Routines.
• Emotional control.
• Dealing with conflict.

In 2024, the focus of the Preparation module is the first step to understanding nutrition, it is to identify the types of food, which can assist with performance. The Junior Academy works on building positive relationships and habits around food choices. The module topic is:

• Healthy choices for a balanced diet.

At the Junior level, we actively promote the need to develop a strong foundation for the Fundamentals of leadership, and what is involved in creating an impact as an individual and a teammate.

Setting up structures to ensure a higher rate of success and the required commitment to action this, are identified as key foundation pieces for your journey as a leader. This section of the curriculum will be built on throughout each Rookie Me Academy player journey.

GOAL SETTING

The use of S.M.A.R.T criteria for goal setting has been set up to identify the intentions of our players, and to put the correct steps in place for them to chase these goals.

TRADEMARKING

This area is dedicated to exposing players to the idea of identifying personal trademarks, and looking at ways to actively take ownership/responsibility of our actions to improve leadership. The progression of this process includes team trademarking, where the collective group works together to help group success.

As each player is different, and our impact as a leader can vary, the development of your own individual leadership is a powerful addition to any team. Across the Junior Academy, athletes will be exposed to Level 1 education on topics such as:

• Identifying support networks.
• Dealing with adversity.
• Choices and consequences.
• Showing gratitude.
• Building motivation.
• Developing Individuality.

In 2024, the focus of the Personal Leadership module will help players gain an understanding of the ‘now’ and actively reflect on the people and efforts going into your development. The module topic is:

• Showing gratitude.

Australian rules football is a team sport and requires faith and trust in others to achieve success. Across the Junior Academy, athletes will be exposed to Level 1 education on topics such as:

• Effective communication.
• Growth mindset.
• Teamwork makes the dream work.

In 2024, the focus of the Team Leadership module will allow players to be proactive in maximising their potential and searching for ways to always improve through effort and learning. Hard work beats talent. The module topic is:

• Growth mindset.

Each camp is held at a high quality facility, with the program hosted at a variety of venues, where the facilities rival the standards of some AFL/VFL club environments. Each year we aim to have our camps spread across Melbourne to help accommodate the fact that everyone has to travel.

Past venues include:

• Camberwell Grammar, Camberwell.
• Penleigh and Essendon Grammar (PEGS), Keilor East.
• Wesley College, Glen Waverley.
• Geelong College, Geelong.
• Assumption College, Kilmore.
• Knox School, Wantirna South.
• La Trobe University, Bundoora.
• Casey Fields, Cranbourne.
• Point Cook FC, Point Cook.
• Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn.

VFL venues:

• Williamstown FC.
• Essendon FC.
• Frankston FC.
• Box Hill FC.
• Sandringham FC.
• Collingwood FC.

Past and current AFL/W players

In alignment with what our focus education is for Football, Leadership and High Performance, the Junior Academy players hear from special guests, including past and current AFL/W players. These guests share their stories and insights, and importantly what they were doing at the same age in order to reach their goals.

The carnival is the finale to the program. *The Rookie Me Junior Academy players are divided into teams, allowing players/teammates to compete against one another in an elite venue. This is an opportunity for players to apply their knowledge and the skills learned throughout the 2024 program, in a match environment.

Please note: Rookie Me intends on having this event at a high quality venue such as a VFL venue. Also, we intend to invite a group of players to come into this event and compete against our players, these are yet to be confirmed.

Each player will have access to our coaches for advice and mentoring, throughout the year. We are committed to impact every player, both on-and-off the field with constant communication and to engage in ‘footy chat’ via Rookie Me Connect.

Rookie Me Connect is the online Rookie Me system.

Each player will create a player profile, which holds his or her comparable data.

The system allows Rookie Me Academy players to ascertain real-life benchmarks in elite performance. It is the foundation of creating goals to work towards. As players develop, they have the ability to compare their stats against fellow players of the same age, position and gender.

Compare yourself against AFL stars like Pendles (Scott Pendlebury), Stephen Hill, Matty Kreuzer; and recent No.1 Draft Pick Andrew McGrath, whose stats are already on the system!