Nearly every South West Sydney Academy of Sport program has returned to either the training or competition fields in recent weeks.
The highlights of this long anticipated return to sport for the athletes was the Academy Day, held at the beginning of last month.
More than 150 athletes, along with nearly fifty parents undertook a series of education sessions at the Western Sydney University Campbelltown campus.
“Covid has certainly thrown us some challenges in the past few years, and this event was no different,” says Daniel Currinckx, the academy’s sport program manager.
“Western Sydney University were able to accommodate us across a number of their key lecture theatres, which in turn allowed us to present to the athletes in a range of topics.’’
Education in nutrition, drugs in sport, self-value and potential, as well as the academy values, concussion management and aligning the coach and parent pathway were presented.
For the AFLW program the Academy Day experience was the culmination in a big weekend that saw the squad head to Queanbeyan for the second year in a row, where coaching staff and athletes of the Queanbeyan Tigers AFLW program hosted the squad in a series of training and professional development sessions.
The squad then headed to Newcastle last weekend for a series of competition games with the Hunter, North Coast and Central Coast Academies of Sport, as a part of the Swans AFLW Academy Carnival.
“On the back of a successful Women’s Summer Series between the Giants and Swans AFLW Academies, the regional academies of sport are looking forward to showcasing what our young up and coming female athletes have to offer,” Currinckx said.
Closer to home, the netball program undertook their “day in the life of a professional SWSAS athlete’’ as part of their preparation for the 2022 Regional Academy Games.
The day-camp included educational sessions in fitness, sprint training and team building, before on-court training and match-play amongst fellow squad athletes.
“Practical education in specialist running mechanics and accountability are key components of the academy netball program,’’ Currinckx said.
“Athletes are given practical tips and ideas to maintain and improve not only their physical attributes such as speed and acceleration, but their mental game as well, such as their self-confidence and self-worth.”
Currinckx says it is often this aspect of training and education that can prove the difference between a club and state level athlete.
The academy basketball program hosted nine hours of competitive action, along with strength and conditioning sessions for its 44-strong squads as they also prepare for the Regional Academy Games in April.
The highlight were the squad’s solid wins against visiting Illawarra junior boys teams.
Not to be outdone are the academy’s individual athletes, with triathlon well in the thick of competition, continuing to produce strong and improved results at each turn.
Then there’s Wests Future Stars baseball athlete Adam Bates, who made his debut for the Sydney Blue Sox up against the Canberra Calvary in the Australian Baseball League.
Having had the opportunity to tour to the USA in late 2021, Bates has his sights firmly set on an international career as a pitcher, with his call up to the Blue Sox side another step to the journey.
Last but not least, the softball and indoor volleyball programs have both trialled and been selected.
For further details on the South West Sydney Academy of Sport head to www.swsas.org.au or email sport@swsas.org.au
