Macarthur District boast two youngsters in Scholarship Program
The pair will be part of an elite squad of 18 players made up of U/7 to U/9 girls and U/7 boys required to train twice a week. The program is free for those selected, with FNSW looking to film, document and report the player?s progress in order to provide clubs and associations accurate coaching plans for each year of development.
With over 20 females trailing, Emily, 9, and Sheridan, 7, were two of only seven girls chosen for the prestigious scholarship.
?I was a little nervous because I didn?t know anybody but it was easier once we started. It was good that my friend Sheridan was there,? said Emily.
The girls, who are good friends, find themselves at different clubs for the first time in their short careers. Sheridan, who enjoys playing in the centre of midfield, is playing up an age group for the U/8 girls at Narellan Rangers Soccer Club, while Emily stars for the Harrington Park Hornets U/9 girls Division One squad for the first time this year.
Sheridan, began playing for her brother?s U/6s at the tender age of four and has since been part of the Macarthur Rams Academy, which saw her training twice a week with the academy and once with her team at Narellan Rangers. Emily began playing when she was five for Narellan?s U/6s. The young gun, who says her goal ?is to one day be a Matilda? was graded as Narellan?s fifth best player for her age group last year.
Their selection, according to former coach Greg Clarkson, was due to their commitment, hard work and lack of fear in competition.
?I have coached Emily and Sheridan for over two years and both are fantastic young girls and excellent players.
?Emily has good commitment and always listens to instructions, while Sheridan, who also shares these attributes, is very fast for a little player and never scared to have a go,? said Clarkson, who has over 15 years of coaching experience and is the current U/11 boys Macarthur Rams boss.
The Macarthur District is proud of its two young stars and believes such selections will give local based players motivation to achieve similar feats. Narellan Rangers Soccer Club Secretary, Darren Wray, explains that such initiatives provide young players the opportunity to see that the football world is much bigger than that of club level and hard work can open doors.
?The girls have made the Macarthur District very proud and it goes to show that hard work goes a long way.
?Emily and Sheridan are definitely two of our most competitive girls,? said Wray.
The Mighty Mites Scholarship Program will be coached by former Fulham Ladies and Australian School Girls representative Hayley Todd. With over six years of coaching experience to her name, Todd was responsible for the girl?s selection, noting their talent right away.
?Emily has a good work rate and is always looking to get involved, while Sheridan has a good basic technique and was able to respond well to different instructions during the trials,? said Todd.
The program kicks off at Valentines Sports Park on 29th of April and will run through to October.
Emily and Sheridan will surely be there, laces tied and ready to go.
-By Caetano Lima
