OVER 100 athletes, including Mudgee's Max Hamson, Alesha Bennetts and Ella Murnane, attended the Western Region Academy of Sport (WRAS) orientation weekend, which saw the launch of a number of programs for next year.
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Orientation was held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) on Saturday, followed by team training for Australian rules, basketball and hockey on Sunday.
Head basketball coach Paul Masters said there are three different basketball squads for the upcoming year: a development squad, a senior squad and a graduate squad.
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"Because some of the kids missed out because of COVID-19, we've brought them back in and formed a boys and girls team, for the graduate squad," he explained.
"They'll go away and play in a tournament, with the development squad in February, while the senior squad will play in the academy games in March/April next year."
Masters said there's a lot for the players to work on.
"They're pretty raw," he said.
"We're looking at getting these kids to be future NSW and Australia players. We're working on developing their skills, from the start and working them the way through and building across the next two to three months.
"They'll go home and do a lot of individual work, working on their skills. Then we'll come back together to play in the next few months."
WRAS executive officer Candice Boggs said it was great to get the 2021 programs underway.
"The WRAS staff and coaches are looking forward to commencing the 2021 programs. Orientation is the day we witness everything coming together," she said.
"It's great for everyone involved to see the big picture of WRAS with athletes, coaches and parents coming together from all different sports.
"We're really proud of the intake of athletes who have been provided scholarships for 2021, there's a great depth of talent in the Western Region youth."
Athletes in the Lone Star program also attend - which is tailored for athletes who are ineligible for WRAS squad programs are where there is no program for their sport - as well as athletes in the Para Sports Program - which is designed for athletes who regularly compete at national events (such as representing NSW) and who are aspiring to represent Australia in para-sports competition in their chosen sport.
Approximately 110 athletes and coaches selected programs completed injury prevention screening, under the guidance Phyz-X physiotherapist Leigh Miller and CSU exercise science interns.
Athletes will also participated in team meetings, education sessions, fitness and skills testing as well as speed and agility training with coaches from the highly regarded Roger Fabri Academy Speed Academy.
