YOUNG BLOODS ACADEMY

12 Nov 2018 by Benjamin Charles

YOUNG BLOODS ACADMEY – Amazing news about the club we love…!

The Lalor Football Club will be embarking on a brand new development program designed to introduce new families and player to Sydney Crescent oval.

Aligning with AFL VIC and leading development training organisation DYNAMIC FOOTBALL SKILLS, the BLOODS are investing into the future of the club, striving to become a destination venue that is both organically sustainable and inclusive of the community immediately surrounding us.

Both boys and girls aged between 4 through to 12 will be encouraged to participate in the development program scheduled through March and will receive reduced registrations costs if they play for Lalor in season 2019.

$40 will include;

- 1 x size 4 Sherrin football,
- 1 x Drink Bottle,
- 1 x YOUNG BLOODS training tee
- 8 x Expert Coaching session through March on Wednesday Nights (prior to senior training) and Match Simulations on Sunday Mornings
- $25 voucher towards 2019 junior registration (Valid until March 31)

Identifying the gap between the junior and senior pathway was a major focus for season 2018.

AFL VIC has been extremely proactive in their support towards our efforts to better understand the opportunities available to us and have shared some interesting data that has helped shape the direction for our future.

We have focused on the 3 surrounding suburbs in Thomastown, Epping and Mill Park to base our planning and focus.

- Lalor is the fast growing area for ages between 0-14 according to the Cenus reports of both 2011 and 2016 (development and sub-division would indicate that these figures would be more in our favour in 2019)

o Lalor is up +607 residents aged in this bracket with 4163 (2011 – 3556)
- Epping is down -41 with 2759.
- Thomastown is down -32 with 3346.
- Mill Park is down a staggering -740 with 5072, only 18% higher than Lalor as an entire suburb.

o There is 123 registered AUSKICKERS that reside in Lalor with less than 15% aligned to Sydney Crescent (i.e. they are registered to other Ausklick clubs despite living in Lalor) – This is an area we can greatly improve.
- There are 5 primary schools within 2Kms of the ground – 1802 enrolments combined.
- Lalor Primary School has 105 registered AUSKICKERS (more than double any primary school with 10Kms) and is less that 500Mts from our oval.

The data above shows that the popular theory of “IT’S JUST AN AGING AREA” is really not a factor…!

This newly established YOUNG BLOODS development division is striving to find a point of difference for the 4000+ kids residing in Lalor to encourage a wave of fresh faces and families at the club across the next decade.

Primary school ages will be our focused targeted area due to the “method to market” being simpler to define and a reduced chance of already established club involvement being present between 13-17 year olds.

This can allow for us to be the first club of a players career and potentially build a stronger emotional attachment to the club for player & family.

Understanding this as a focus was the first step but, we also needed to establish a program that would both assist our current club volunteers/coaches and provide kids in the area with a point of difference to choose our club above us others as a first choice – Doing this in a financially responsible manner was also a factor for consideration and the following has been secured;

o Over $9000 in Government Funded grants have been applied for and recently secured to help us develop the following;
- A junior pathway plan and club structure
- Marketing support for growth
- Printing and promotional support
- A 5 week, 12 hour training program with expert coaches and match simulation Sundays
- $2000 towards GIRLS FOOTY development and on-field funding
- AUSKICK alignment with AFL VIC and marketing support for multicultural development
- AFL VIC to host parent information sessions at Sydney Crescent in conjunction with the development program

AFL VIC has been so impressed with the direction the club has undertaken that the suggestion of aligning their multicultural programs for parents and students with the Lalor Football Club gives us an overwhelming advantage across our neighbouring suburbs that we have embraced as a competitive edge.

We are also in discussion with St.Monica’s Secondary Collage (and others will follow) to build alignments with the female students that may want to play local footy at an inclusive club culture.

The Goals for 2019 are fairly simplistic and modest in terms of surrounding super clubs but underpin the entire organisations agenda to be a sustainable Division 1 club by 2025.

- AUSKICK
- U10
- U12
- U14
- U16G
- U19
- RESERVES
- SENIORS

1. 200 participants in 2019.
2. Highest Digital Audience in the League by the end of 2019.
3. More wins than losses across the entire club in 2019.

The understanding of what we are trying to achieve has been a deliberate effort towards how the foundation of our club will underpin the future of the BLOODS.

Plan 2025 is also being formalised in conjunction with Terry Dillion Consulting, ex CFO/CEO of Collingwood FC (1999-2005) and Hawthorn FC (2005-2011) building the blueprint for our club that will be available before the end of 2018.

This is the strategic plan that will be the driver behind the entire clubs continued growth for the next 6 years and levels of support will be inclusive all throughout the process.

Execution is the next phase and we have a number of people that have committed to the development is 2019, we still need more… Our ONE CLUB approach is still in the early stages and the more support we have in any form will ensure the plans can be put in place. Please contact me if you’re interested in any capacity.

Further updates will be available in the coming weeks and months – Stay up to date with the BLOODS at Facebook, on-line or at the club. In the interim, please spread the word to friends & families that Lalor Football club is the club of choice for any new & aspiring young footballers.



Location

24 Sydney Cres Lalor

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