The Greater Bank-sponsored Central Coast Academy of Sport Netball squad was among more than 300 of the state’s best young athletes that descended on Wagga Wagga on 8 April for the 2022 Your Local Club Academy Games.
Now in its fourth year, the Academy Games is a great opportunity for young athletes to develop their skills and experience under the guidance and mentorship of more experienced athletes and coaches.
While both the Division 1 and Division 2 teams performed exceptionally well across the weekend, the focus of the tournament was around player development rather than overall team performance.
It also provided the opportunity for the athletes to showcase their skills in front of the many Netball NSW coaching and recruitment personal who were in attendance to shortlist athletes for state selection later in the year.
Jayda Grant and Ella Flaus were standouts across the tournament being named the Division 1 and Division 2 MVPs for the weekend.
Greater Bank also supported the squad through a number of initiatives to help get them to the Games and beat the boredom of the long bus trip to the Riverina capital of Wagga Wagga.
A budget challenge aimed to improve the athletes’ finance skills and increase understanding of what it takes off the court to be a professional athlete. Each member was asked to prepare a full budget of all the expenses associated with the Games, plus any income they could contribute to offset the expenses. Three winners from each squad received a $100 Rebel voucher.
As well as having their bus emblazoned with team branding, there was activities to help them get to know their new teammates, coaches and supporting staff better, including a netball trivia quiz and a game of ‘Ask Me Anything’.
The squads also received a pep talk from Sam Poolman in the lead up to the weekend on what it takes to perform at the highest level. From all reports the sessions were extremely valuable and very well received by the athletes.
Central Coast Academy of Sport Netball program will now take a short pause as the athletes return to their club and representative teams for the winter competitions, and will reassemble in late August to prepare for the Academy Challenge that will take place in Port Macquarie in September.