Could you be the next star? Looking for an authentic AFL experience? Want to improve yourself, on and off the field?
The Tim Watson Scholarship – what’s that?
The Tim Watson Scholarship includes a 12-month DraftStar Academy placement for 20 young athletes, valued at $1480.
“I’m delighted to be involved and to enable aspiring young athletes who might not otherwise get the chance, the opportunity to be involved in an elite AFL training experience,” Tim Watson said.
“I’m looking forward to being involved with DraftStar, especially as my son, Jobe, is a DraftStar ambassador, and will watch with great interest the progress of the Tim Watson scholars.”
The DraftStar Academy sounds good, tell me more.
DraftStar Academy is a holistic junior football development program designed to help aspiring footballers improve themselves on and off the field, and is the only coaching group authorised by the AFL. DraftStar Academy runs over a 12-month period and incorporates a structured, personalised development plan that gives each participant a clear understanding of their fitness and skill levels and a pathway to reach their potential.
DraftStar Academy includes four DraftStar Camps throughout 2013 offering leadership and teamwork activities, football skills training and assessment, AFL 60 fitness testing as conducted by AFL clubs, match simulation activities, recovery sessions, and special presentations on topics such as fitness, nutrition, hydration, motivation, and goal setting, as well as tips on getting recruited.
“The beauty of our program is that every level of junior football can attend and it is designed to iron out any deficiencies in their game early in their development,” said Ben Dixon, former Hawthorn forward and founder of DraftStar.
“We also believe that training the mind is just as important as training the body, and the skills we teach will benefit the kids in all aspects of their lives, both on and off the field.”
Selection process – what do I need to do?
1. Book into a Selection Trial session
2. Pay the application fee
3. Get references from a coach and a teacher
4. Attend the selection trials on December 9 at Melbourne’s Xavier College and bring the references with you
5. Wait for Monday, December 17 and the announcement of scholarship winners.
Who is involved in the selection process?
A panel of judges that includes former AFL greats Danny Frawley, Jason Dunstall, Ben Dixon and Robbie Campbell will use the results of the selection trials along with an assessment of the written application (including the references supplied by a coach and teacher) to assess skill, athletic ability, game sense, leadership qualities and attitude before awarding the best young athletes entry into the exclusive 2013 Tim Watson Scholarship Program.
So, what are you waiting for? Sign up now!
What happens at the selection trials for the Tim Watson Scholarship?
The Tim Watson Scholarship Selection Trials will be held at Xavier College in Kew on December 9. Attendance at the selection trials will cost participants $45 which includes skills testing and match simulation activities as well sessions on leadership, nutrition and recovery. It’s also a great chance for you to experience a real AFL environment and to rub shoulders with past and present AFL stars.
