Sport
13 October, 2024
Stuart Farr awarded Coach of the year 2024 for his work with youth
Wimmera Coach receives recognition for his contribution to sport
Horsham's Stuart Farr has been awarded the AFL Victoria's Stan Alves Youth Coach of the Year for 2024 in recognition of his tireless volunteering with the AFL Wimmera Mallee Youth Development Program.
With a love of football and a stellar coaching career behind him it was a natural fit to transition these skills and passion into coaching the promising under 15 squad.
This was his second year coaching the Wimmera District League football and netball teams.
But it is more than a job for Farr who said he gained so much satisfaction from seeing many of the members enjoy the game, develop friendships and learn new life skills.
"In addition to the game, they learn so much more," he said referring to the members. "They learn life skills, discipline, confidence, respect and they learn to take pride in being the best self they can be," he said.
"Parents tell me that their teenager has become more respectful, more willing to cooperate and are a more productive member of the family in everything they do.
"That to me is as much the success of the team as the game on the field."
Seeing lives turned around has been one of the more satisfying parts of his role but he is keen to acknowledge the volunteer team of six or seven, with out them it would not be possible.
"They help spread the load."
"The volunteers are so generous and they are as much a part of the squad as the players," he said.
He believes the inclusive environment they have created provides a space that confidence can build and this contributes to the overall success of the team and to individuals on and off the field.
"We make sure the members appreciate their parents who bring them to training and drive them to games because the parents commitment to our success is equally as important as the members."
"We expect them to show a genuine appreciation to their parents so they learn appreciation is more than words. It encourages them when they see how much it means to their parents to receive that acknowledgement,:" he said.
Currently the squad consists of about 50 members with plans to extend the Academy to a full program next year.
Mr Farr attended the gala function in Melbourne with his wife last week Casey.
"I knew I was a finalist but it was a surprise to win," he said. " I am very proud of the achievements of the squad."