04 December 2008
While the senior club enjoys a welcome break over the summer, the next generation of first grade players is hard at work in the club's Academy under the expert tutelage of club coach John 'JT' Taylor.
The bulk of the academy is from the Under 16 team, along with seven of the Under 15 team and a couple of Under 18 players. They train twice a week in two hour sessions, starting with timed runs and going on to targeted skills training. The course concentrates on run-catch-pass-and-tackle combined with contact work.
"We work very hard on their tactical skills, especially passing," JT says.
"The aim is to get a production line of players coming up to first grade. By the time they get there hopefully we won't have to still be coaching basics and we can work on extensive game plans instead."
"The boys are getting a pretty extensive rugby curriculum," JT said.
"They'll have something like 78 sessions before the next season starts, getting exposed to senior coaches. We're developing a Perth-Bayswater way of playing with a huge accent on fitness and basic skills."
Western Force fullback Cameron Shepherd will be lecturing on professional rugby goals and JT is backed up by a comprehensive team of coaches, managers and physios with valuable sponsorship from Andrew Hine and the Nag's Head Tavern. Resource coaches such as Rugby WA's Dwayne Nestor and Matt Tink and specialists Peter Roberts and Peter Simpkins have been brought in for specific skills.
But there's more to the academy than playing skills.
"We've done a nutritional seminar, a goals and aims seminar, a physiotherapy-strapping seminary, and life skills," JT said.
"We set definite boundaries and we're strict on discipline. If they get their self-discipline right now, it'll help them in every area of their life."
The Academy is already reaping rewards after just a couple of years, with eleven graduates playing for first grade in premiership and finals years, and premierships in Under 16 and Under 18 this year.
Places in the academy have become highly sought after by the club's junior players as an elite value is placed on Academy achievements. Players are accepted into the Academy only after an interview and evaluation process.
