Every young athlete reaches a plateau at some stage.
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It’s point where they get a bit tired of training and feel like quitting. That’s when a bit of motivation is required to rejuvenate interest and enthusiasm. One such opportunity was provided at Varley Oval on Monday afternoon as Callum Mills and Daniel Robinson from the Sydney Swans taught local talent in Inverell the secrets of the game.
It’s not that they did more than the local coaches do as far as teaching technique is concerned. What they did was inspire the star-struck footy fans to keep at it and hopefully – someday – get to the point of playing professional sports.
They worked with local coaches so that the training session could have the best possible results.
“I got a lot out of it actually,” said young local boy Jared Martin, who has been playing footy for as long as he could remember. “I learnt how to kick properly. I tend to kick using the edge on my foot.”
Young Montana from Glen Innes agrees. “It was great for us to develop our skills,” she said.
Swans player Robinson said the regional program was more than just about technique. It was about passion. “My tip is for the kids to just enjoy footy and keep active,” he said. “They should just focus on skills.”
Later at the Q&A session that was held during a dinner at the RSM Club, he told kids that he was also studying at university and was all too aware that the life of a professional footballer has an expiration date. “When the day comes when I can’t play AFL, I have that option to go somewhere else,” he said, adding that players are encouraged to think of life after the game and are offered numerous programs run by the AFL, such as coaching courses and lessons to develop their business writing skills.
Both players, no strangers to the regional program that has taken them to schools around NSW, say that Inverell is a beautiful town and that they enjoyed playing at Varley Oval. They were impressed by the local talent. “There are quite a few good young players here,” said Mills. “They are talented, keen and enthusiastic.”
The young athletes learnt a lot from their role models about the sport but also about the persistence required. Mills told a young one about why he chose AFL over rugby because he didn’t want 120kg players running at him, and the young one seemed to relate.
Best of all, they got to meet the men behind the football stars and realised that sport isn’t just about talent and technique but also about tactical skills, a little bit of luck and enjoying the game itself.
The Sydney Swans are touring the North West as a part of the Swans AFL Community Camps and the visit coincides with NIAS AFL Squads Regional Training.
