Victoria’s brightest young male talent will descend on Darebin International Sports Centre this week to showcase their potential at the Regional Talent ID Camp, Metro Training Day and Boys Gala Day.
The July program follows on from the successful Victorian State Championships held during the April school holidays, where 450 players competed in 34 competitive games in front of Football Victoria’s (FV) technical team and talent identification scouts.
Kicking off July 6 and culminating in the Gala Day on Thursday July 7, boys from the Under-13 through to Under-18 age groups will attend.
The Talent ID Camps have been a resounding success in recent years and provide an additional pathway for elite youth players to earn recognition.
A major benefit for talent identification scouts is the attendance of regional-based players. A significant talent pipeline in the past, players from regional areas such as Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Mildura, Shepparton and Wodonga will travel to Melbourne to take part in the two-day camp.
Refereeing also gets a major boost during Talent ID events. Gala Day matches are treated as competitive fixtures and the FV Referees team are in attendance to provide coaching opportunities for referees.
FV Talent Development Manager Sean Gale expressed his excitement at the opportunity to see the young guns in action.
“The gala day is a fabulous opportunity for us to all to come together and see players enjoying what they love most – playing and expressing themselves creatively,” he said.
“We are looking for players that thrive, in an intensely competitive environment with high level opposition and games. We also want to see them apply the principles they have been taught in the Regional Camps and weekly Metro training sessions.”
With the Football Australia National Youth Championships returning this September, standout attendees from the Under-14 and Under-15 can earn selection for Victoria’s representative teams to compete on the national stage.
Taking place in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, teams from Football Australia’s nine State and Territory Member Federations will go head-to-head for the coveted title of national champions.
Football Australia’s technical staff and talent scouts will also be in attendance making the tournament a prime opportunity for Victorians to impress on our nation’s largest youth stage.