Stronger Together SCORPIONS STING JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM –2016/2017 Background & Objectives • For branding and marketing purposes this program will be known as Scorpions STING Junior Development program. Due to the congestion of the football representative calendar, one of the important objectives of STING is to provide players and parents early information in regards to our 2017 NTL T-League & Junior Regional teams. • STING aims to up-skill and develop players and coaches both within Scorpions regional teams and additionally through this newly acquired knowledge being taken back to the local affiliates at grass roots level. • Ideally many players that represent Scorpions Junior Regional 16’s & 18’s division will also play in the T- League teams. This should be leveraged as an advantage and opportunity for success and where possible the same coaches should be involved with these teams and the overall program. • A historical challenge has been in regards to limited player availability during the December-January school holiday period and also justified concerns of player burnout and a limited off-season. As such careful planning and communication is vital for increased opportunities for success of this program. • Additionally our T-League teams will be promoted as a pathway for players to be developed and given the required experience so they are ready for Elite 8 representation in future years. • Our newly formed Scorpions High Performance Unit will ultimately have ownership of this program and partner closely with our committee and technical arm in order to leverage success. STING Program Timelines . Initial T-League squads published – July 2016 . Player TID via Vawdon Cup, State of Origin & State Cup + Scorps affiliate coaches engaged – July-December 2016 . STING 14/16’s development sessions, players & coaches invited to attend including Elite 8 mentors – September-November 2016 . Session 1 – Sunday 25 September at Narrabeen All Weather facility . Session 2 – Sunday 23 October at Narrabeen All Weather facility . T-League trial will take place on Sunday 25 September – Venue TBC . Initial Elite 8 draft takes place via NSW Touch (TBC) – 8 December 2016 . T-League teams potential warm-up tournament at Yass Touch Knockout Event – 21-22 January 2017 . 2017 Youth Trans Tasman Series Auckland, NZ – 20-22 January 2017 (some Scorpions in attendance) . Junior Regional 14/16/18‘s squad selections via NSW Touch Junior State Cup – 17-19 February 2017 . Junior Regional 18’s squad trials (24 players per squad) . Trial 1 – Friday 24 February, 2017 at Doyle Ground, North Parramatta . Trial 2 – Sunday 26 February, 2107 at TG Millner Field, Marsfield . Junior Regionals 14/16’s Trial (24 player squads) via Scorpions Junior Elite Camp – 4-5 March 2017 . T-League compete at , – 8-11 March 2017 . 14/16/18’s compete at Junior Regionals, date & venue TBC via NSW Touch – April 2017 . Request feedback and review lessons learnt and the overall success of the program – April 2017 Junior Elite Camp - Overview . Scorpions Junior Elite Camp will take place on Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 March 2017 at the Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen. The academy has first-class facilities including dorm like accommodation and a full serviced kitchen for main meals. The facility is also used by Touch Football for their national elite squad camps. . The primary objective of the Junior Elite Camp is to act as a final selection trial opportunity for players within our Boys & Girls 14/16’s squads. Size wise squads need to be manageable for coaches, therefore aiming for 24 players maximum for each division selected from JSC. At the camp there will be a number of practical sessions with the course content taken from the TFA Framework (Talent & Elite). . A huge advantage to coaches and selectors is that they will have a lot more time to TID the players in action over the duration of the camp as opposed to being limited to two trials that have occurred in the past. As such we are increasing our probability of selecting the strongest team possible. . The camp will include a Coach The Coaches session for our Junior Regional coaches as well as an open invitation to all affiliate coaches to attend. The intent is that all present are upskilled over this weekend, empowering attendees to take this knowledge back to their local affiliates at grass roots level. . There is an opportunity for an exhibition game/training session to be held on the Saturday evening involving our NSW Scorpions Elite 8 players – potentially even via a Scorpions All Star Mixed game or an open invitation to any international teams that may be touring locally in preparation for the upcoming National Touch League which is being held the following week in Coffs Harbour. . Scorpions Boys & Girls 10/12’s Merit team training session (squads also selected from JSC) will take place on the Sunday which is a skills development session once again open to all affiliate coaches. Sydney Academy of Sport - Narrabeen Thirty minutes from the Sydney CBD, Sydney Academy of Sport offers sporting clubs, schools, athletes and organisations access to premium fitness and training facilities and affordably priced accommodation. A range of programs can be tailored such as training, selection and staging camps as well as pre-tournaments and tournaments.

The state-of-the-art training facilities at Sydney Academy gives athletes, sporting groups and schools the chance to undertake intensive sports training. An Olympic standard athletics track, indoor pool with recovery centre and weights room support sports strength and conditioning. Multi-purpose ovals are in excellent condition ready to play host to a range of sporting games and team training.

Sporting facilities at Sydney Academy Sport & Recreation:

• 400-metre Olympic standard athletics track • 25-metre, six-lane heated indoor pool with recovery centre • Multi-purpose indoor sports gymnasium • Five multi-purpose ovals, three with lighting • Cricket nets with synthetic pitches • Weights room – for elite sports strength and conditioning • Six tennis courts with lighting • Synthetic multi-sports courts • Sports science, sports medicine and physiotherapy Sydney Academy of Sport - Narrabeen Sydney Academy of Sport - Narrabeen