Innovative goal post apparatus looks to boost engagement and skills among young rugby players

A Sydney railway worker is promoting a new goal post apparatus which he has developed with the conviction that it can become a useful training product for rugby league, rugby union and related sports.

Train guard Milton Facaris developed CatchPoint having identified a lack of rugby ball skills and commitment among youngsters when his then seven-year-old Callum was playing rugby league more than a decade ago.

Facaris recalls “it was obvious to me that most of the children finished games somewhat unfulfilled.

“I noticed it week after week as well as that the same kids sat longer periods as reserves.”

Facaris remembered that as a child a favourite game was to place items such as empty drink cans or shoes either side of goal posts in his local park to form two square boundary zones. The aim was to kick or drop kick a rugby ball over the crossbar to land it onto the opponent’s goal square zone without him being able to catch it first.

Making use of this experience, in 2010, he adapted the discarded remnants of an old pop-up car port into what he says was a “private front yard mini goal post.”

He later added goal apertures underneath the crossbar to aid players improving kick and hand pass types and by the end of 2010, CatchPoint mark 1, made of PVC tubing had been completed.

Since that time, Facaris has perfected the design and is now offering the product to clubs, organisations and players.

Facaris advises “the highly portable, user-friendly and hardwearing apparatus as ideal for skill enhancement and engagement in ball sports, especially among the rugby and AFL fraternity.”

The CatchPoint device consists of two upright and three horizontal bars with multiple target areas through which balls can be thrown or kicked by two or more participants.

Facaris adds “the skills required in the lead up contestant action prior to a shot on goal in these sports has not previously been catered for.

“In this regard the CatchPoint goal post is superior to anything currently on the market.”

In May last year, Facaris filed an Australian provisional patent for CatchPoint as ‘A target apparatus for use as a centralised target in a bidirectional sports game”.

For more information, contact Milton Facaris on 0429 486 880, E: milton@catchpointsport.com, www.catchpointsport.com