THE SHARKS ACADEMY

It ALL Starts With Grassroots

The same football philosophy is used from the bottom tier all the way to the top, ensuring that players are shown the same skills, techniques, and style of football from the very beginning of their playing career. This is a critical step in the early stages to prepare our grassroots players to move through the programs.

Creating the Best Environment

The future of football is about creating the best environment possible for any member of the club. This is achieved through facilities, curriculum, attitude, and staff.

The Sutherland Sharks pride themselves on the club facilities, featuring a state-of-the-art field and stadium. We have benefited from synthetic grass for almost 12 years, allowing us to train and play in any weather. This is supported by a curriculum designed by the coaching staff in line with the requirements from FNSW and the FFA. It is vital that this program outlines and enforces key areas at the basic level and is updated as football evolves.

Staff and Coaching Excellence

For any program to succeed, it must be backed by dedicated coaches and staff. Significant time is invested in creating the program, schedules, and selecting coaches to guide players in the Academies. It is imperative that our youth are taught basic skills early to maximize their potential and give them a competitive edge.

All coaching staff are fully qualified with the required certifications. It is crucial not only to have coaching ability but also to select coaches who suit the age group they will be managing. Each coach has specific goals to strive for and is reviewed throughout the year.

Player Selection and Attitude

All of this would not be possible without the players. The Sharks run a strict trial process for selecting participants for our SDS, JDL, and Youth programs. A large portion of what is passed on is about attitude and behaviour expected by the club, the team, and the player themselves. Often, wanting to be there and wanting to improve is half the challenge.

The Sutherland Shire and football community is a large demographic. While there is high demand for coaching it is important that any Football Program, Camp or Coaching received is by a qualified supported program. The Sutherland Sharks do not affiliate themselves with any other programs run within the Shire and do not give any priority to players coming from outside programs