Sharelle McMahon leads first session of Indigenous Academy

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

On Monday July 9^th, the North Melbourne Football Club held their first session of The Huddle’s Indigenous Academy. Thirty indigenous boys and girls aged 11-14 were invited to take part in the academy, which focuses on sports skills, positive education, goal setting, leadership, nutrition & fitness and cultural identity.

The program included netball, football and basketball, with each child having the opportunity to select which sport they’d most like to participate in. Various activities and skill development sessions took place which were headed by some of Melbourne’s greatest sporting superstars .

Sharelle McMahon from the Melbourne Vixens worked with the young girls and ran numerous netball drills and activities. Each netballer received a Melbourne Vixens t-shirt for their participation and enthusiasm.

Lindsay Thomas from the North Melbourne Football Club took the children through a number of football drills and shared personal stories about his cultural identity and his passion for football, while Warrick Gidley from the Melbourne Tigers assisted the children in developing their basketball skills.

A range of off-court and off-field activities also took place, including a tour of Aegis Park, Cultural Identity sessions as well as personal goal setting and ‘getting to know you’ activities.

Participants and their families have also been invited to attend the North Melbourne v Melbourne football match at Etihad Stadium on July 28.

The first of two sessions of The Huddle’s 2012 Indigenous Academy proved to be highly successful, with participants thoroughly enjoying interacting with and learning valuable skills and advice from their sporting idols, discussing their cultural identity, developing their knowledge about nutrition and fitness and enhancing their leadership skills.

The next session takes place on October 1^st.