The RISE Academy program introducing young footballers to the regime of a Rugby League player is about to undergo an explosion in numbers in 2023.
NSWRL’s RISE Academy Manager, former Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs premiership-winning hooker Adam Perry, said registrations would open in May at clubs around the state.
“We had 520 kids last year – which was a pretty good start – but I think we’re a real chance of doubling that this year,” Perry told nswrl.com.au.
“The program is obviously footy-dominated but there’s a life-fit emphasis too - our well-being component - some of which is online as well.
“We are one of the only sports that has that embedded in a program, to get that physical and mental fitness balance right.”
Last weekend at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence at Sydney Olympic Park, almost 40 head coaches and football managers attended a two-day conference to brief them on how best to deliver the different messages and sessions.
“We send these coaches back to club land better prepared and upskilled, so they pass on those experiences and skills to not only the kids in the RISE program but those in their own club teams,” Perry said.
His confidence in numbers doubling for 2023 comes from the fact the NSWRL is keen to expand the current 18 locations in the state, and have girls registered as well.
“We are definitely taking on more age groups and will have both males and females,” Perry said.
“Last year we had predominantly 13-year-olds and boys only. But a lot of the programs are stepping up this year with 14s as well as 13s, for both boys and girls.”
They will do many sessions together as one group before separating to do more detailed skills in areas like tackle.
Among the speakers last weekend was Junior Kangaroos coach and former NRL head coach Neil Henry, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) skill acquisition coaching senior lecturer Dr Adam Gorman, and 2021 Jillaroos World Cup assistant coach Jess Skinner.
