The Western Region Academy of Sport (WRAS) golf squad will wrap up its 2010/11 season this weekend (Saturday 16-Sunday 17 July) with two days of training at the Wellington Golf Club.

WRAS Head Golf Coach Bruce McLean of Orange will put the WRAS squad, as well as members of the Central West District Golf Association (CWDGA) golf squad through their paces.  

Sharon Nott, the Jack Newton Junior Golf Country Development Officer will also be present to conduct a community golf coaching course.

Areas to be covered over the weekend will include skills testing and match-play events.   Training will commence at 10am on both Saturday and Sunday.

The annual Western Region Academy of Sport Rookie Camps kick off tonight (Friday 1 July) at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst, with basketball being the first sport to showcase their skills.

All athletes and coaches will stay on campus at CSU, Bathurst. The residential camps are run under the guidance of highly accredited coaches, who are assisted by special guest coaches, coaches from the local region, and association/club coaches. The camps provide ‘rookie’ athletes with the opportunity to enhance their skills and knowledge in a fun learning environment. The camps also act as a pre selection trial for the WRAS 2012 squads.

Dates for all camps are; Basketball: 1-3 July 2011, Golf 3-5 July 2011, Hockey: 3-5 July 2011, Lawn Bowls: 4-5 July 2011 and Netball: 8-10 July 2011.

WRAS Executive Officer Nancy Haslop said “these Rookie Camps are a great development opportunity for western region sports people with some of the state’s best coaches heading up the training sessions. They are also a good way for athletes to become involved with the Academy and develop a better understanding of what WRAS does”.

Nominations to attend the camps have now closed, with over 150 athletes and coaches registered to attend.

Expressions of interest are sought for the positions of Head Coach and Assistant Coach for the Academy’s netball squad for the 2011/12 season.

An official application is not required.  Applicants need only supply name, contact details and qualifications.  Expressions of interest should be emailed to Brett Coxsedge at bcoxsedge@csu.edu.au.  Expressions close Wednesday 29 June 2011.  All coaches who lodge an EOI will be contacted after expressions close.

Download the netball coaching EOI information to find out more!

The Western Region Academy of Sport is presenting Regional Athlete and Coach Education lectures in local government areas throughout the western region. These lectures (include practical activities) provide valuable information to coaches, athletes, parents, students and community members. Interested persons are invited to attend these free presentations to pick up some new ideas.

Download the 2011 RACE schedule to find out more!

Members of the WRAS hockey program have again excelled in their sport with no less than 8 girls being selected in the NSW U16 Girls All Schools teams.  Casey Hunter (Lithgow) and Amelia Leard (Lithgow) were both selected in the NSW 1 team, while Rachel Divall (Orange), Andrea Gillard (Lithgow), Rene Hunter (Lithgow), Jessica Watterson (Bathurst), Emily Williams (Lithgow) and Kate Wilson (Orange) were selected in the NSW 2 team. Both teams will compete at the Sport Australia Girl’s U16 Hockey Championships to be held in Newcastle from 13-20 August.

Meanwhile, WRAS will also be well represented at the NSW Combined High School (CHS) girls’ hockey championships being held next week 7-9 June at Newcastle with 6 current athletes competing for the Western Region CHS team.  Current squad members Jessica and Sarah Watterson (Bathurst), Rachel Divall (Orange), Madison Boyce (Bathurst), Tamika Bostock (Lithgow), Beth McGrath (Lithgow) and graduate WRAS athlete Mahala Williams (Lithgow) will be looking to improve on the team’s fourth placing in 2010.

The above success of the WRAS hockey squad follows on from the selection in May of current squad members Jack Elliott (Parkes), Nick Kelly (Parkes) and graduate WRAS athlete Tim Eslick (Orange) who were selected in the 2011 NSW CHS boys hockey team that will play a tri-series against the NSW Combined Independent Schools and NSW Combined Catholic Colleges sides on 24 June.

Earlier in the year current squad members Darcy Davis (Bathurst), Michael Dillon (Orange) and graduate WRAS athlete Jack Eckford (Dubbo) were also selected in the NSW All Schools Hockey Secondary Hockey Boys 16 Years and Under Squad.

The Western Region Academy of Sport (WRAS), in conjunction with the Charles Sturt University School of Human Movement Studies (CSU SHMS) has won the prestigious Strength of America Award for their Strength and Conditioning Internship (SCI) program. CSU SHMS lecturer Dr Stephen Bird, who is the supervisor of the WRAS SCI program received confirmation this week of the award from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) in conjunction with the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition.

The Strength of America Award recognises high schools and sporting organisations that represent the gold standard in strength and conditioning programs. High schools and sporting organisations that earn this award have demonstrated excellence in their school’s or organisation’s athletic supervision, education, program and facilities.

The WRAS SCI Program is a joint initiative between the CSU SHMS and WRAS and offers SHMS students the opportunity of a twelve month placement in the WRAS SCI Program. The WRAS SCI Program aims to provide strength and conditioning interns with scientific knowledge and programming expertise that enables athletes to train systematically and safely to improve sports performance and reduce the risk of injury. The interns provide individualised strength and conditioning programs for WRAS squad athletes. Completion of the WRAS SCI Program provides successful candidates with proficiency skills and knowledge required as early career strength and conditioning professionals.

WRAS/CSU SHMS is the first Institution in Australia to receive this award in recognition of excellence in delivering strength and conditioning for high school athletes. Seven High Schools from throughout America were also recipients of the award.

Dr. Stephen Bird will receive the award on behalf of the WRAS and the CSU SHMS at the NSCA National Conference Award Ceremony banquet in Las Vegas, USA on 8 July.

The past week has seen WRAS athletes and coaches succeed at all levels. Below are a some of these fantastic achievements:

Sarah Cooper (West Wyalong) – selected in the ACT U21 State netball team.

Jack Elliott (Parkes), Tim Eslick (Orange), Nick Kelly (Parkes) – selected in the 2011 NSW Combined High School hockey team.

Charlotte Jasprizza (Orange) - selected in the NSW 15yrs All Schools netball team.

Olivia Patterson (Orange) – selected in the NSW Combined High School basketball team.

Grant Pickering (Orange) – Former WRAS softball coach who was named the head coach of the NSW All Schools softball team.

Rachel Staines (Bathurst) – Great results at the Multi Class Swim Meet at Homebush last weekend, swimming a State record in the 100m Breaststroke as well as two PB’s.

Congratulations to all!