Juniors learn from TAC stars

The chance to take part in a Murray Bushrangers training session awaits juniors during the school holidays.

The TAC Cup side will run a holiday program on October 5 at Kialla Reserve for players aged 6 to 15.

Footballers from 6 to 12 will be grouped together and those aged 12 to 15 form part of the youth category, and Bushrangers talent manager Mick Wilson said the drills would be catered to their ages.

‘‘The main thing we’re doing with them is exposing them to a little bit of high performance stuff and some testing,’’ he said.

‘‘The youth group will do a lot of skill development and with the lower age group we’ll do some game sense and activities and just getting them to be aware of how to go about improving their skills.’’

Senior coach Leon Higgins will run the training, helped by Murray Bushranger players, and Wilson said they enjoyed passing on their knowledge.

‘‘The players quite often take some of the activities and they enjoy that, it’s all part of their development especially if they’re interested in a career working with kids and teaching or in sports coaching,’’ he said.

A particular focus will be on putting children through their paces in testing similar to what AFL hopefuls complete at the draft combine, including vertical leaps and timed sprints.

‘‘Each kid gets an individual report which highlights the benchmarks the Bushrangers have achieved and they get a comparison,’’ Wilson said. ● The October 5 program costs $80 and registrations will be taken until the night before the event; those interested should visit the website at www.trybooking.com/ SBBV