We’ve been asked on numerous occasions what purpose does the Centre of Excellence program serve in Ballarat. Well here goes;

The National Centre of Excellence program was introduced to Ballarat in February 2004. The then National Technical Director (Ray Janes) was placed in charge of the program. The criteria to be a member of the Stallions and Saints Centre of Excellence has always been criticised as the program has been designed for the dedicated futsal player, and not to train part time futsal players who prefer playing outdoor football. The program itself has been extremely successful and has, amongst many things, produced 4 men’s national team players and one reserve over the past 3 years. Stallions and Saints won the National League for 2006, and on the local scene Wednesday nights Super League side Dodgers finished 5th in the League in 2005 and won it in 2006 along with the Super League Cup. All coaching for the National Centre of Excellence program has been designed and prepared by Ray Janes.

The training groups of the Centre of Excellence are Junior, Intermediate and National League. The Centre of Excellence has been asked why it does not provide junior teams for the local Primary School or Secondary School competitions. The reasons for that should be very obvious. If the senior coach was to enter in the secondary schools competition Sean Keem, Michael Ferguson, Jack McIver, Ricky Maher, James Costigan, William Cousens, Adam Anticaglia and goal keepers Blair Keys and Brett O’Hagan, they would be far too strong for any other teams to compete with. Likewise, in the junior section, if they used Zach Olsen, Harry Cousens, Chris Van Oirschot, Mitchell Miles, Sam Harrison, and Mitchell Martin, again they would be far too strong and would defeat the objective of having a Centre of Excellence training program, which is to benefit ALL teams in the centre. When it comes to senior competition, it becomes a different program.

The senior National League program is for and on behalf of Ballarat City Stallions and Ballarat City Saints. The only players allowed in the current training program are members of these teams.

The current training list for the Stallions includes: Owen de Koning, Sean Keem, Michael Ferguson, Jack McIver, Ricky Maher and Ben Dow.

City Saints includes: Raylene Knowles, Jackie Brown, Emma Janes, Jo Lardner, Cherie Borg, Jess Hodder, Rebecca Van Oirschot , who all play for Wednesday night Super League team Belles.

The Intermediate Centre of Excellence is designed for 25 players and currently has 16 players in training with several invitations issued to prospective members. Players listed below started their Futsal training with the Centre of Excellence:

Blair Keys, William Cousens, Adam Anticaglia, Brett O’Hagan, Brad McCaw, all currently with Wednesday nights Super League team Sprats, and Mitchell Martin, Tyler Cameron and Andrew O’Hagan. The following players have been invited to the Centre of Excellence but originated from City United: Connor Burke (current Wednesday nights Super League team Sprats), George Ludbrooke, Jack Blackburn and Eamon Nuttal.

The Junior Centre of Excellence is also designed for 25 players and currently we are waiting for responses from several players re this year’s intake as spaces have become available due to players moving up to the Intermediate and Senior National League level. Listed below, with the amount of years in the Centre of Excellence, are the current players in training:

Harry Cousens 3rd year, Zach Olsen 3rd year, Chris Van Oirschot 3rd year, Mitchell Miles 2nd year, Josh O’Brien 2nd year, Scott Alison 2nd year, Josh Peters 2nd year, Fred Emary 1st year, Sam Hayden 1st year, Wesley Strange 1st year, Sam Harrison 1st year, Dominic Cousens 1st year.

What has never been recognized is that the Centre of Excellence is the only training and coaching program conducted in the centre. This program has been responsible for teaching the players most of their skills and game sense. Those players who have been and are fortunate enough to be included in Senior teams in Wednesdays Super League are being coached to play at this level by Women’s Assistant National Coach Raylene Knowles and Men’s National Coach Ray Janes.

During the past 3 years the Junior Centre of Excellence have been very privileged to have Darren Marsden as Assistant coach. Darren has been great inspiration thru his enthusiasm and his willingness to help all juniors. Last year the Intermediate section were also encouraged by the appearance of Paul Mcaw as the Assistant coach. Paul and Darren both passed their Australian Sports Commission Coaches qualification and hopefully they will hang in with the coaching as they are definitely making a difference to many youngsters in the program.