The RISE junior development program continues to grow with close to 30 locations across NSW preparing to deliver the sessions, which are designed to create better players on and off the field.
Last year RISE programs operated in 20 locations in the state for boys 13-15 years and girls 13-16 years. A total of 1,700 took part and that figure is expected to be higher again in 2025.
The program is overseen for NSWRL by former Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs premiership-winning forward Adam Perry.
RISE for the Australian Kangaroos stands for Respect, Inspire, Selfless, Excellence, but for the RISE juniors it stands for Routine, Identity, Socialise and Evolve.
Preparation for what is expected to be RISE’s biggest year yet is already underway with 80 participants – head coaches, program managers, lifestyle and well-being coaches – holding a two-day conference last weekend (5-6 April) at NSWRL’s Centre of Excellence at Sydney Olympic Park.
“It was to prepare the lead staff in all our programs to roll out the five sessions,” Perry said.
“They are designed to equip our young footballers with playing skills, training tips, strength and conditioning components, nutrition and wellbeing advice.
“It is also designed so that our lead staff can go back to their regions and upskill the local coaches so everyone benefits from the modern contemporary coaching methods.
“The weekend seminar was partly revision work to reiterate what we’ve learned over the past four years of RISE,” he said.
“But we intend to focus on a few different areas this year, the main one being the coaching of players who are at different skill levels in the same program.
“We want to ensure everyone is challenged appropriately,” Perry said. “So if you’re the best kid in the team we want you challenged, but if you’re still to reach your peak we want to challenge you as well.
“Coaching these two different levels in the same environment is the goal.”
RISE primarily started as a regionally-based program in 2022 but last year it extended into metropolitan areas of Sydney like Penrith, Parramatta and Revesby after a successful trial program in 2023 for 13 year-old boys in the Parramatta district.
This year there will be new programs starting in North Sydney, Manly, and South Sydney districts, Balmain, Group 6, Macarthur, St George and Cronulla.
The 2025 programs will start in three weeks and continue to be rolled out until the five sessions are completed.
Click here for information on RISE.
