Frequently Asked
Questions

How it works…

Open four days per week, Monday to Thursday, from 9:AM – 2:30PM. This is what a typical day looks like:

1. Football

We do approximately 90 minutes of football skills every day.

2. Strength & Conditioning

We do 30-45 minutes in the gym each day. You will have your own personalised strength and conditioning program.

3. Recovery

After hitting the gym, you will undergo a recovery session which includes things like stretching and swimming.

4. Lunch Break

You will shower, change, and have a lunch break.

5. University Lecture

You will have an hour lecture on the subjects you are studying in your current trimester.

6. University Tutorial

The academy employs full-time tutors, and like all universities, students find the extra assistance from tutors on top of their lectures to be very important.

7. Day Complete

Our tutors and coaches finish up with students at around 2:30pm each day.

Please note that the above is subject to change depending on which academy you attend and other factors and serves only as a guide of what a day at the Simon Black Academy may look like.

General

What are the entry requirements?

No ATAR required to join the Simon Black Academy.

Potential students will be assessed on an individual basis. The enrolment process consists of:

1-on-1 meeting to assess personality type and athletic ability
Online enrolment process with our education partner
Review of application from our education partner

We highly encourage students to come and join us for a day at the Australian Rules Academy before they formally enrol.

Once a student has been accepted in to the program, they will be run through fitness testing to establish physical baseline and undergo a goal setting session.

What age do I need to be to join?

The Simon Black Australian Rules Academy is NOT a replacement for school. Students will be studying at a University Level
The Simon Black Academy is for men and women who have finished secondary School.
Students must be 17 years old.

When does it run?

The Academy runs Monday – Thursday, 9.30am – 3pm approx.
The Academy requires a commitment to the 4-day a week, 10-month commitment.
The education aspect of the Simon Black Academy will require students to complete some study away from the Academy

What does the training consist of?

The Academy adopts a holistic approach to training. This consists of skills training, game education, recovery, weights, strength training, conditioning training and sprint training as well as an elite nutrition program.

Athletes are also given personalised programs to aid recovery and preparation to help achieve personal fitness goals.

What’s the balance between education and training?

In our eyes, the education aspect of our program is equally as important as the football side. Each day is split 50-50 between the two pillars of the program (training and study).
Football doesn’t last forever! We set our athletes up to fulfil their full potential both on and off the field

What do I graduate with upon successful completion of the academy?

At the end of the 3 years students graduate with a Bachelor of Business (Sports Management)
Students study a Diploma of Sports Development (Elite) in the first year. The Diploma of Sports Development (Elite) is a Higher Education qualification delivered by Torrens University Australia
Students also complete Umpiring & Coaching Courses (AFL Level 1 Accreditation)

Is there an upfront cost to the academy?

FEE-HELP Available – there is no upfront cost to eligible students if they select FEE-HELP.
FEE-HELP is a loan scheme that assists eligible fee-paying students to pay their tuition fees.
Eligible persons may borrow up to the FEE-HELP limit to pay tuition fees over their lifetime.
If you want to access FEE-HELP assistance to defer payment of some, or all, of your tuition fees, you will need to quote your tax file number or provide a Certificate of Application for a Tax File Number (TFN).
The form must be returned to Torrens University Australia before the commencement of your course.
FEE HELP can assist you in paying for all, or part of, your course fees. Repayments commence via the tax system once your income rises above a minimum threshold ($54,869 in 2016-17). Just like with any other debt, a FEE-HELP debt is a real debt that impacts your credit rating.
For more information http://www.torrens.edu.au/apply-online/fee-assistance

Does the academy provide pathways to university?

You are effectively attending university at the Simon Black Academy
You study under Torrens University Australia who are our education partners
All courses are government recognised

Are athletes still able to play for their local clubs?

Yes, the Academy is designed to complement your commitments with your local clubs with the results being showcased on game day.

Coaches will make sure that athletes are not being overloaded between our program and the local club football.

How much individual attention will each athlete get?

Our athletes will not be lost in the crowd. There are limited places available for the Australian Rules Academy for this exact reason. Each athlete’s development is crucial to us.

Course Components

Australian Rules ‘Skill Development’ Components

The Academy football program has been developed by Simon Black in conjunction with elite AFL players. Academy students will be exposed to the same professional, full-time training as the professional Australian Rules players.

The Academy Skills Program will focus on the following core elements:

Group and Individual coaching by leading AFL coaches and players, both past and present
Player profiling and performance monitoring
Dedicated focus on coaching of individual skills
Customised coaching for Forwards, Midfielders & Backline
Strategy and game knowledge
Practical game application sessions
Weekly game review sessions
Understanding through action what it takes to be an elite Australian Rules player

Australian Rules Academy Specialty Topics

Dedicated Strength and Conditioning Program
Nutrition Program
Sprint Training
Stretching and Mindfulness Program
Player Welfare Management
Personal Development and Mentoring Program
Professional Presentation Skills
Job Preparation Skills
Financial Management Skills

Education, Qualifications And Accreditations

Year 1 – Diploma of Sports Development (Elite) delivered by our education partner Torrens University Australia
At the completion of Year 3 you will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Sports Management (Elite) delivered by our education partner Torrens University Australia
Level 1 Coaching Course
Level 1 Umpiring Course

Outcomes

The Simon Black Australian Rules Academy is designed to make our student-athletes job-ready upon graduation from the Academy.

Studying at the Academy gives you the opportunity to turn your passion into a career.

Professional/semi-professional coach
Professional/semi-professional umpire
Event management
Sports program coordinator
Sports Management
Sports Development Officer
Facility Manager
Strength & Conditioning Coach
Performance Manager

These are just some of the career opportunities that being a part of the Academy can provide you throughout the 12 months.

Work experience, guest speakers and careers counselors will also be provided to you to give you a clear career path upon graduation.

Information For Parents

Simon Black Academy students will be enrolled and treated as students of Torrens University Australia. This means they will have access to all Torrens’ campuses around Australia.

These campuses provide access to:

Libraries
Apple Laptops and Desktops
Breakout and study zones
Free Wi-Fi
Student services and support teams

On top of this, the Simon Black Academy will bring in industry professionals as ‘Study Coaches’ to make sure your child isn’t left behind in the study component of the course

Nationally Recognised Courses

In addition, the Academy also offers participants the opportunity to undertake the following Nationally Recognised courses:

Level 1 Coaching Course
Level 1 Umpiring Course

Employment Opportunities during the Academy Program

Paid work as a Coach or Umpire
Introduction to Employment Partners
Career Pathway Support through Job Services Agency – presentations will take place over the course of the year
Work experience in elite sporting environments

Information For Students

The Simon Black Australian Rules Academy is designed to simulate an AFL environment while also giving you qualifications and accreditations to turn your experience and passion into a career.

Expert coaching
Simulated AFL football program
Elite facilities
Key partnerships
Team environment
Job opportunites
Four days a week, 9am – 3pm

Simon Black is the brain behind our elite football program. You will have the opportunity to experience the most important aspects of an AFL program. This includes: strength and conditioning, fitness testing, game sense and strategy, AFL training drills and much more.

The Academy’s education program is not like high school. You will be part of a team both on and off the field. As with a football club, all the players are in it together and you won’t be left behind during training or study. You will be provided with expert business and fitness coaches that will be with you every step of the way to make sure you are getting the most out of the program.

Partners – Torrens University

Torrens University Australia offers a range of career-focused undergraduate and postgraduate programs In Business, Sports Development and Sports Management for study on-campus, online or a hybrid of both. Torrens University’s campuses can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane, and is led by a team of research- and career-oriented academic staff who, combined with a carefully selected group of global industry partners, help students to bridge the gap between study and work.

Torrens University Australia is part of the global Laureate International Universities network, with more than 1,000,000+ students at 70 institutions in 25 countries.

Together, the Simon Black Academy and Torrens University Australia are changing the sports-education game!