This guest episode is proudly brought to you by Gymaware. Our guest is unparalleled in his accomplishments in elite sport. Having worked with the best athletes around the globe and for some of the biggest franchises to go with it Darren Burgess knows what it takes to make it in professional sport.
Having held head roles in major clubs such as Liverpool FC, Arsenal FC, Melbourne Football Club, and currently Adelaide Football Club Darren shares insights into what separates elite performers from those who seldom achieve their true potential.
Parents and coaches this episode is for you. A glimpse from the inside.
Takeaways from this episode:
-Young athletes are nominated for the AFL draft after state tournaments. The draft includes physical tests and interviews.
- Agility and speed tests are crucial for career success prediction in AFL.
- Managing training loads is key for transitioning athletes. Start with reduced load, and gradually increase over several seasons.
- Coaches may need help to restrain early successful players.
- Some clubs invest significantly in player development. Overall, there needs to be more investment.
- Recognising the financial potential of developing young talent is growing.
- The lack of comprehensive development pathways is delaying player development in Australian sports like AFL and soccer.
- Movement capacity, developed through exposure to multiple sports and free play, is crucial for athletic success.
- Players with diverse movement experiences tend to perform better across different sports.
- Over the years, there's been a noticeable decline in movement capacity among younger athletes, possibly due to decreased opportunities for unstructured play and increased reliance on technology.
- Concern about athletes being ill-equipped outside their specific sport due to early specialisation and lack of exposure to other activities.
- Is key to emphasise diverse methods for strength development beyond traditional gym exercises, such as body resistance and skill-based activities.
If you share my passion for youth athletic development, don't forget to hit that subscribe button to stay tuned for every episode!
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X- @darrenburgess25
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