The South West Sydney Academy of Sport netball squad heads to Wollondilly this weekend as part of its final preparation for its assault on the regional academy games in Wagga Wagga next month.
SWSAS head coach Van Nguyen is looking to finalise her squad for what will be a weekend full of intense action.
“The program has enjoyed the challenge of a change in age bracket, and also navigating a reduced squad as a result of many factors,” says Nguyen.
Netball NSW decision to narrow the focus of the regional academy program to the 15 and 16 year age group allowed the Academy to select more athletes from within our region, with 10 new and 14 returning athletes selected.
“We are looking forward to guiding a number of athletes through their first academy games, whilst supporting returning athletes who will take on the challenge of leadership, of this fantastic group of players,’’ Nguyen said.
“We have placed a lot of time and emphasis throughout the program into mastering the one-percenters.’’
The academy netball program recently completed an intensive two day camp at Olympic Park’s Netball Central, with 10 fellow regional academy of sport programs.
The camp, hosted by Netball NSW, provided athletes and coaches not only a chance to get an idea of the competition, but share ideas, training drills and the expected standards of academy level competition.
The camp featured visits from both NSW Swifts and GWS Giants stars ahead of their own season openers this weekend.
The SWSAS netball squad will compete in Wagga Wagga during April 8-10, before a short mid-program break to allow athletes to firmly focus on their own local representative program commitments.
