AFL Queensland has appointed Richard Crosling as the Head Coach for the Female Football Academy for 2010.
Married with two children, Richard is a sport and fitness enthusiast, He was a passionate footballer and runner growing up in inner Melbourne.
Knee pain curtailed those activities so he took up golf. Thousands of hours practice and three years later, Richard embarked on a traineeship with PGA Victoria. He has a great practice swing helped by playing so many shots!
From here he joined the Army. One of the many interesting experiences he encountered was being involved in the early stages of the bicentenary climb on Mt Everest in Nepal.
Richard now works for the Dulux Group.
With a Diploma of Exercise Science and Fitness Management and a Level 2 AFL Coach Accreditation, Richard will be a great asset to the Academy in preparing some of our most talented young female footballers into representative quality players.
“Maybe it was my experiences with golf and its emphasis on technique and skill development that switched on a light when I took my youngest son to a NAB Auskick clinic some eleven years ago,” Richard commented.
One of his most admired people is Nancy Wake. “If the girls can show the same passion, commitment and enthusiasm as Nancy did, we could well beat those Victorians!”
Background Information
The Female Football Academy was established in 2008. Since then the Academy has evolved into a vital link for players between 15-21 year olds girls who have shown potential in leadership and skill development at club, school or representative level.
It has been noted in the past that Youth Girls lose a lot of players after the age of 15 when previously the girls no longer had a competition to play in other than going directly into the Women’s League. In 2010 AFL Qld has established a four team 16-a-side Under 18 Competition to try and combat this deficit in the football pathway for girls.
To encourage girls of this age group to continue with their football, the Academy will provide girls with the opportunity to further their football development on and off the field through regular trainings and lectures. These trainings are designed to teach the girls more position specific skills which then can be taken back to their clubs and incorporated in their general club training. Lectures will provide the girls with important information on nutrition and diet, fitness and other life skills.
If you would like to be considered for a position with the Female Football Academy in 2010, please contact your club or Julia Price at jprice@aflq.com.au or (07) 3394 2433 before 5 February 2010.
The Academy is also offering six positions for “Academy Coaches” who will be able to observe and learn from the Academy Head Coach and assist with the progress of the Academy players in various identified areas. All coaches will also have access to Coaching Accreditation courses and resources. Again if you are interested in nominating yourself for the Academy as a Coach please contact Julia Price at jprice@aflq.com.au or (07) 3394 2433 before 5 February 2010.
