After growing up in regional Queensland, Josh Rose knows firsthand the limited opportunities on offer for young sport lovers.
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That's why the Central Coast Mariners legend and A-League champion started the Rose Football Academy, and why this week he has brought the academy to Dubbo for the first time.
"I grew up in Rockhampton ... so I know how hard it is to get things done in regional centres," he said.
"We wanted to come out and just put on a fantastic clinic for the kids out here.
"I know the limited opportunities that people get from [regional areas], so hopefully we can come back out here more often than not."
Wednesday was just the first of the RFA's three-day clinics, and saw 61 kids aged 5 to 12 flock to Hans Claven Oval for the morning session.
A further 23 players aged 13 to 16 were expected at the afternoon session at John McGrath Oval.
It's a dramatic increase from last year, which saw 53 juniors take part in clinics run by fellow former Mariner Adam Kwasnik.
Kwasnik, along with the SASS Strikers Soccer Club, facilitated this year's camps, with SASS club president Shane Fee very pleased with the turnout.
Rose said the clinic focused on teaching values like "being active" and "having fun", not just ball skills and tactics.
"We want them to stay in the game for as long as possible - that's the main point," he said.
"Secondly, we just try and instil that we can only spend three days with them.
"What they learn here, they've got to have that motivation to go and practice at home.
"Having the brothers and sisters at home to kick with, or kicking against a wall ... if you want to make the most out of the game, little things like that can help you along the way."
Rose has already been impressed by some of the talent on show, and hopes this week's camp will be the first of many.
"Obviously you don't know at this age and you hope that they'll take what we teach them here and go and build on that, but there's a few good little girls that I noticed early on as well which is fantastic to see," he said.
"Women's football is growing, and growing very big, with the Australian Matildas with some massive names, so to see the girls out here showing some of the boys up, it's good to see."
