Sharks Head Coach Shane Flanagan kicked off his junior league coaching sessions with local Sutherland Shire clubs with a visit to the Aquinas Colts at Blaxland Oval in Illawong earlier this week.
Flanagan met with coaches and players from Aquinas under 13's and 14's teams, running through some skills, drills and basic coaching methods with around 60 youngsters and eight coaches.
His efforts are an attempt at upskilling the coaches and players and increasing the enjoyment in the game for the junior players, while aiming to improve the ability and knowledge of the coaches involved.
Flanagan rotated between the three teams, focusing on catch pass and tackling technique, along with defensive structures.
"I'm keen to spend some time with kids and coaches in the 13's, 14's and 15's," Flanagan said. "We tend to lose a few players at this age but in looking to improve their skills, their enjoyment of the game and to encourage them to keep playing the game in future years, I thought helping the kids in these age groups was important."
The initial coaching session was part of an initiative instigated by Flanagan which will see him visit each Junior Rugby League Club in the Sutherland Shire over the next few months, where he will spend an evening coaching the junior teams and mentoring the coaches.
This special initiative was facilitated through the Sharks and the Cronulla-Sutherland JRL, with Flanagan committing to get to every junior club requesting his input.
Over the coming weeks he has further sessions arranged at Engadine, Kurnell, Cronulla Caringbah, Gymea, Como, St John Bosco, St Joseph's, the Taren Point Titans and at De La Salle.
