AFL RISING STARS PROGRAM

AFL RISING STARS PROGRAM AFL Rising Stars Program 13-18 years

The AFL talent identifi cation and development program AIS-AFL Academy is formalised in the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program. The The AIS-AFL Academy is a joint program of the development program operates from grass roots through Australian Sports Commission, the Australian Institute to the elite AFL level. It provides recognition and of Sport (AIS) and the AFL to enhance the sporting, a clearly identifi able direction for a player’s career. personal, educational and vocational opportunities for The program incorporates the: Australia’s best young footballers. Each year the AIS-AFL Academy offers 30 12-month NAB AFL Rising Star; scholarships to young athletes eligible to represent their NAB AFL Draft; state or territory at the NAB AFL Under-16 Championships NAB AFL Draft Camp; but ineligible for the draft in that year. AIS-AFL Academy; NAB AFL Under-18 Championships; and Scholarship holders remain in their home states but NAB AFL Under-16 Championships. gather together for 3 national camps and other training programs during the year. Squad members are also NAB AFL Draft given the opportunity to represent Australia at under-17 The NAB AFL Draft is the only process through which level in the International Rules Series against Ireland or a footballer can become an AFL player. It is the most on a tour of South Africa. equitable way of distributing the available talent to AFL clubs. Players gain access to clubs by nominating for NAB AFL Draft Camp the draft and can only move to other clubs through the The NAB AFL Draft Camp has become an integral draft process. The draft is critical to the AFL’s objective of part of the talent identifi cation process for AFL clubs. developing an even competition because: The process has been refi ned and improved and the AFL invites about 70 players to the annual camp at the it gives the lesser-performed clubs in a season fi rst AIS in Canberra and a further 100-plus prospects to choice of the available players; shorter testing programs in their home states. it gives clubs the option of exchanging draft choices, players or a combination of both; and Information is the AFL club recruiting managers’ greatest uncontracted players can change clubs by nominating tool and insights gained through the draft camp and for the NAB AFL Pre-season Draft. the AFL recruiting reports is invaluable to clubs as they consider which players to draft. Key elements of the Clubs can also maintain a rookie list of up to 6 draft camp include medical screening, physical and developing players between 18-23, although these psychomotor testing, formal and informal interviews with players are not eligible to play in the AFL premiership AFL clubs and skills sessions. competition except as an injury replacement. A separate Rookie Draft is conducted for this purpose. The following Players are organised into 7 positional groups for camp components of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program lead operations and testing – small midfi elders, medium directly to the Draft. midfi elders, medium forwards, medium defenders, tall forwards, tall defenders and ruckmen. NAB AFL U16 & U18 Championships The NAB AFL Under-16 and Under-18 Championships Some of the test protocols used for the draft camp, including are played annually between state and territory speed, agility, vertical jumps and endurance tests can be teams in 2 divisions, incorporating teams from South found in the AFL Youth Coaching Manual. Coaches who Australia, Western Australia, Victorian Country, Victorian wish to use formal testing with their youth players can obtain Metropolitan, New South Wales/ACT, Northern Territory, further information from AFL regional development offi ces. Queensland and Tasmania. 13-18 YEARS 13-18

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AFL RISING STARS PROGRAM

Talent development structures The talent development structure is being further developed to ensure the transfer of the philosophy and curriculum of the AIS-AFL Academy through AFL state academies, AFL centres of excellence and AFL sports schools. The curriculum is delivered through the following structures:

LEVELS/STAGE NO. OF CONTACT & PROVIDER PARTICIPANTS HOURS PER YEAR

L3 AFL clubs L3 350 1200 STAGE 6 MAINTENANCE L2 State league clubs L2 2000 240 23-30+ YRS STAGE L1 Community clubs L1 40,000 160

L3 AFL clubs L3 350 1200 STAGE 5 INVESTMENT L2 State league clubs L2 4000 240 19-22 YRS STAGE L1 Community clubs L1 40,000 160

L3 AIS-AFL Academy L3 30 325 STAGE 4 SPECIALISING L2 AFL state academy L2 320 200 17-18 YRS STAGE L1 AFL centre of excellence and state L1 2400 240 league clubs

L3 AFL state academy L3 320 100 STAGE 3 IDENTIFICATION L2 AFL centre of excellence and state L2 2400 240 15-16 YRS STAGE league clubs L1 25,000 100 L1 AFL sports school & reg dev squads

L3 AFL Lions/Swans academies L3 200 40 STAGE 2 SAMPLING L2 Rep league programs L2 2000 40 12-14 YRS STAGE L1 AFL Youth club & school competitions L1 80,000 180

STAGE 1 FUNDAMENTAL L1 AFL Auskick/AFL Junior club & L1 306,000 180 5-11 YRS STAGE school competitions 13-18 YEARS 13-18

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Minimum standards will apply within each level

AIS-AFL Academy Squad AFL State Academies AFL Centres of Excellence

Participants Participants Participants

30 AIS scholarship holders Up to 40 per age level in each state 4800 players participating in elite for a total of 640 players nationally state league competitions (under-16 and under-18) Staffi ng Staffi ng Level 3 coaches Staffi ng Level 2 coaches AFL-standard service providers Level 3 coaches Accredited support staff Adherence to AFL philosophies, State-league-standard service practices and code of conduct providers Adherence to AFL philosophies, practices and code of conduct Adherence to AFL philosophies, practices and code of conduct Facilities Facilities AFL-standard playing and training facilities Facilities State level playing and training facilities State-level playing and training facilities IT (Champion Data) standard practices Curriculum IT (Champion Data) standard 325 hours contact time practices

Best-practice curriculum Curriculum Documented game plan and Curriculum Contact time not less than 240 hours team rules Minimum face-to-face contact hours, Documented game plan and Personal development plans for 200 at the under-18 level and 100 at team rules all participants the under-16 level Development plans for all Delivered using AFL-standard IT Documented game plan and participants practices including video and other team rules Adherence to nationally established performance analysis techniques Personal development plans for development curriculum all participants Delivered using cutting-edge Adherence to nationally established educational and IT practices Competition development curriculum International tour Delivered using cutting-edge educational and IT practices Competition Participation in state league competition Competition State academy match program is the NAB AFL Under-16 and Under-18 National Championships 13-18 YEARS 13-18

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The curriculum will have 6 core components

Physical Skill Nutrition & Personal Athlete & Preparation Development Recovery Development Career AFL Policy Education

Medical General Psychological ASADA-AFL Learning style Computer skills screening education profi ling policy Kicking Mental Individualised Respect & Fitness testing Food diaries technique toughness assessments responsibility Running Individualised Stress Monitoring Race & religious Conditioning technique reviews & minimisation performance vilifi cation food plans Drafting & the Profi ling Game sense Goal-setting Study skills Losing/gaining AFL pathway weight Game Positive Time Prioritising knowledge Hydration self-image management Program Personal Educational Game balance assessment Recovery growth/life skills support practices Heat & training Decision-making Practical Public speaking Welfare issues sessions Reading your Team rules/ Media training body game plan Drugs & alcohol AFL player Immunisation Etiquette profi ling Basics of the Leadership game Competition Drugs & alcohol performance Performance Travel analysis

Enhancing the identification, Enhance the NAB AFL attraction and development of talent Under-16 Championships Major improvements to generate better talent Series extended by 3 days to allow for one cross-over outcomes include: match for Division 1 states to play against Division 2 states and for every participant to be screened. AFL to take more direct role in monitoring/managing Finals for Divisions 1 and 2 played on AFL Grand Final Day. second-tier issues: the objective now specifi cally encompasses state Enhance the NAB AFL leagues: “to develop the talented player pathway and Under-18 Championships enhance second-tier competitions to capture and develop Division 2 becomes a qualifying series to be played talented players.” separately in May. The top-two fi nishers qualify to enter the Division 1 draw Transfer the philosophy/curriculum of the AIS-AFL that follows later in the year. Academy through a structure of: Division 1 becomes a 6-team, 5-match championship. AFL state academies (e.g. AFL Tasmania Academy); AFL centres of excellence (pilot 2008);

13-18 YEARS 13-18 AFL sports schools (pilot 2009).

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