Lockleys Demons Academy

About the Demon’s Pathways Academy

The Demons Pathway Academy was established in 2022 season and is an initiative that demonstrates the value of investing in people first.

The Academy is unique to the Lockleys Football Club.

Lockleys Football Club partnered with NEXA Sports Performance and The Adaptability Movement to deliver this academy with the goal to go beyond just improving the players physical capabilities to teach them adaptable tools that they could utilise to perform better in their relationships, study and overall wellbeing. With mental health being such an important priority in modern society, this feedback from participants of the academy was that it positively impacted their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

Sessions were led by an experienced coaching team with extensive background in high level sport across AFL, SANFL, golf and athletics. Over the season, the players in the under 16 and under 17.5 girls and boys teams were exposed to a range of topics such as:

Physical

• AFL/AFLW style draft camp physical performance testing
• Running technique, speed & agility workshop
• Strength & conditioning

Mental / Emotional

• Adaptability
• Self Care
• Mental / physical recover methods
• Nutrition
• Mindfulness
• Communication
• Habit Building

The sessions took place from January through to August and were scheduled to match the SANFL season – from strength and conditioning at the early stages through to self care as the season progressed.

Results of the Program

The feedback from coaches, players and parents to this academy program was profound. The players spoke above being more present during games after the mindfulness session, as well as being more capable of coping with the stress of life. Parents spoke about the difference in their children’s attitudes towards healthy eating and an improvement in helpful habits. This program has allowed these players to explore experiences, activities and learnings often only accessible to elite sporting teams. While not all of these players are going to become elite level athletes, there is still value in teaching them tools which they can take away and use in their education, careers, relationships or families and in pursuing sport at whatever level they choose.

The success of the Demon’s Pathway Academy exceeded all expectations – particularly those of the participants and will run again in 2023, starting in late January.

The Academy is offered at no extra charge to all registered Lockleys U17.5 players and the Club’s goal is to extend the program to included players from U15 upwards.

To learn more, take a moment to view this video and here from those involved firsthand.