Football West’s new Community Participation Officer in the Great Southern is a familiar face to most in the local game.
Ben Harris moved to Albany when he was 12. He switched from athletics to football two years later and, six months out from turning 40, is still involved as a player-coach at his long-time club Albany Caledonians.
Now his focus is on spreading that love for the round-ball game and the wider benefits that can bring.
“I’m a big fan of developing young people and football for me is a vehicle to develop life skills, such as resilience, physical and mental health, building friendships and increasing social skills,” he said.
“I love football but bigger than that is building community and building a positive culture. So this opportunity is a bit of a dream.”
Ben returned to Albany in 2020 after more than a decade away which included playing and coaching in the UK and Perth.
He says there is great potential for football to thrive on the south coast but player retention is a challenge.
“Everybody knows me in football down here, which is really helpful,” he said. “I was on the Junior Executive with Albany Junior Soccer Association last year and previously I ran an academy and at its peak, we had 200 kids.
“Youth football is my passion and there is a lot of potential down here, in Albany and in Denmark and Mt Barker too. The junior base is really strong, and Albany has more registered football players than any other code.
“When they get to 14, 15, or 16, the ones that are really talented stay in the game. And we’ll always lose kids who turn 17 and go to Perth for uni. It’s the others who play for fun or with their mates, it’s about ensuring they have the core skills and stay involved.
“Coach development is a big part of that. But they must have fun to come back.”
Two of the programs Ben will be running are the Talent Support Program (TSP) for boys and girls aged 13-16, which offers players specialised training in addition to what they do with their clubs, and the Skill Acquisition Program (SAP), which is open to 9-12-year-olds.
“Down the line, I’m also keen to set up a starter program for three-to-five-year-olds, plus getting an indoor five-a-side or futsal competition off the ground. I recognise the more we can offer players, the more engaged they are.
“You only had to look at the recent Regional Festival of Football to see how much people here support the game. There were two really good quality NPL games and the youngsters loved it, they mobbed the Perth Glory players at the end, while the feedback we got from the schools and other stakeholders on the clinics and workshops was very positive. It bodes well.”
Football West General Manager - Football Perry Ielati said: “It is exciting to have somebody of Ben’s talents and local knowledge to run our football programs in the Great Southern.
“He is a great asset, not only for the football community in the region but also for football West. It is great to have him on board.”