Western Region Academy of Sport » 2008

WRAS Wramblings 7 November 2008

Flick — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:21:29 +0000

Please download the 1st edition of the WRAS Wramblings

WRAS Wramblings #1 2009

Festival of Sport

Flick — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:10:57 +0000

Nancy is still overseas for two more weeks and has been having a great time seeing glaciers in Alaska, visiting friends in America and cruising around Canada. While back here in Australia everyone else is working hard preparing for our end of year festivities. Doesn�t quite seem fair.

The squad programs are being finalised for the 2008/2009 Athletes Festival of Sport in Bathurst. We look forward to meeting up with out new and existing coaches, managers, TASS team and interns who will be working with our 2009 athletes.

The dinner plans for the WRAS �lympics are underway. They will be organised by our Professional Practice student Laura Schwab. We are really looking forward to the night to honour our 2008 WRAS athletes for a very successful and rewarding year of sporting achievements.
View the names of the athletes who have been selected in the 2009 squads

Don�t forget that the forms for 2009 Athletes and the R.S.V.P�s for the 2008 Graduation Dinner are due on the 10th October. Look forward to seeing you all.

WRAS set to RACE around the western region – 4 June 2008

Flick — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:55:36 +0000

WRAS is once again set to �RACE� around the region with the Regional Athlete and Coach Education program. RACE lectures will provide an overview of some of the latest strategies to enhance athletic performance and will be presented in towns throughout the western region. This year�s RACE will consist of four 20 minute lectures on Recovery, Acute Injury Management, Speed and Power and Self Massage. These lectures are a fantastic opportunity for local people involved with sport as an athlete, coach, parent, teacher, student or enthusiast to brush up on current developments in the world of sports science. Lectures will be presented in Bathurst, Blayney, Condobolin, Cowra, Dubbo, Forbes, Gilgandra, Grenfell, Lithgow, Molong, Mudgee, Narromine, Oberon, Orange, Parkes, Wellington, West Wyalong and Young. Attendees will leave with the skills to implement these easy, innovative ideas into regular training sessions and work towards athletic improvements where it counts most � on the field, court or pitch. This year�s RACE lectures have been created and will be presented in towns throughout the region by CSU�s Dr Stephen Bird, experienced Masseur and athletics coach Paul Unsworth and WRAS Strength and Conditioning Interns Nathan Carroll and Ashleigh Dunleavy. Dr Stephen Bird. Dr Bird is a lecturer specialising in Exercise Rehabilitation in the School of Human Movement Studies, Charles Sturt University. Dr. Bird was recipient of the 2005 National Strength & Conditioning Association Graduate Research Award in the USA and currently consults for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League competition, Jakarta International School, the Indonesian Olympic team and is the head of Strength and Conditioning at WRAS. Nathan Carroll. Nathan is in his final year of a Human Movement, Exercise Rehabilitation degree at Charles Sturt University and is one of two Strength and Conditioning Interns selected to work with WRAS athletes in 2008. He also has experience working as a research assistant on sports science research projects and as a Strength and Conditioning coach for junior elite Rugby League players. Ashleigh Dunleavy. Ashleigh is in her final year of a Human Movement, Exercise Rehabilitation degree at Charles Sturt University and is one of two Strength and Conditioning Interns selected to work with WRAS athletes in 2008. She has extensive experience working with junior pre elite athletes and has further professional practice experience in rehabilitation. Paul Unsworth. Paul is a level 5 Athletics coach and accredited in a number of different massage techniques. He has his own massage therapy business which includes high profile clients such as V8 race car driver Mark Skaife. Paul is a regular consultant in massage and running techniques for WRAS athletes and coaches. WRAS Executive Officer Nancy Haslop believes the lectures are a great opportunity for anyone with an interest in sport as an athlete, coach, parent, teacher, student or even an enthusiast to get up to date with the latest trends in the industry. �This is the seventh year the Academy has run the RACE lectures and we are very proud to be able to deliver useful, specialist information to the sporting community. The caliber of this year�s presenters is outstanding and I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity and come along.�All WRAS athletes and squad staff will attend the RACE lectures which are an important component of their WRAS program. Members of the community are encouraged to attend the lectures which the Academy provides free of charge, as a service to the sporting community. For more information contact the WRAS office on 6338 4821 or visit the website at www.wras.org.au END

Academy tennis squad lobs into Bathurst – 9 May 2008

Flick — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:21:15 +0000

Athletes in the Western Region Academy of Sport Tennis squad will converge in Bathurst this weekend for the Open Teams Tournament. Bathurst Tennis Centre is hosting the event and players from clubs around the state including Springwood and Tumut will attend. The tournament begins on Saturday morning, 10 May and will be played as is a round robin doubles competition. There is one ladies division and both an A and B grade division for men. This event is a great opportunity for the young WRAS athletes to get some experience playing against adults. The Academy will be represented by a team in every division and all are expected to perform well. WRAS Tennis Head coach and tournament coordinator Andrew Mitton said �the tournament is a great opportunity for the athletes to put into practice the skills they have been working on at their local TDCs (Tennis Development Centrea) and at other Academy events. We have some really promising athletes in WRAS and I�m expecting some great results.� It�s set to be a big weekend for the junior players as they will also have a session on Friday night with newly appointed NSW Institute of Sport Regional Coach Nicholas Burns. Local athletes, coaches and spectators are welcome and encouraged watch this session which at the Bathurst Tennis Centre from 7-9pm.END

Survival Guide for Beginner Coaches – 14 May 2008

Flick — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:20:00 +0000

This Sunday 18 May, The Western Region Academy of Sport is holding their valuable Coach the Coach Survival Guide for Mum and Dad Coaches at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst. This program was a great success last year and combines both theory and practical components to provide attendees with the skills to effectively coach their team. The Survival Guide will include a beneficial information session run by the NSW Sport and Recreation�s Coordinator of Sport Education, Simon Woinarski that includes information on how to structure a great training session, establishing positive goals and objectives, how to correctly handle athletes and their parents, how to become a greater coach for your team and many more relevant issues for the coaches. Following this information session, there will be three practical sessions with specific skills and drills run by highly experienced local coaches Katrina Ferris, Cate Gardner, Wayne Gaynor in either basketball, hockey or netball. Those who attend the Survival Guide will receive a CD resource to take home with them containing important information and ideas from the theory session. The morning tea break will be a great opportunity to network with fellow beginner coaches. Twenty two people have already applied for this exciting program and there are still a few positions available for parents to apply. Nancy Haslop, Executive Officer of the Western Region Academy of Sport, believes this opportunity for coaches must not be missed. �This program will provide those who attend with invaluable experience and expertise in their new coaching role, enabling them to become more effective coaches and therefore enabling their squad to become better players�. For further information or to register for the remaining positions call the Western Region Academy of Sport on 63384821.END

WRAS set to RACE

Flick — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:03:00 +0000

* Recovery

* Acute Injury Management

* Speed and Power

* Self Massage

These lectures are a fantastic opportunity for local people involved with sport as an athlete, coach, parent, teacher, student or enthusiast to brush up on current developments in the world of sports science. Please see link below for more information or call the WRAS office on 6338 4821.

Dates, venues and times for 2008 RACE lectures

BCiB sponsors WRAS Lawn Bowls Rookie Camp

Flick — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:10:13 +0000

WRAS is pleased to announce a new sponsor. BCiB has once again shown it�s support for the sport of Lawn Bowls by sponsoring the 2008 WRAS Lawn Bowls Rookie Camp. BCiB previously sponsored the WRAS Lawn Bowls squad and it is great to have them back! This sponsorship decreases the direct costs for athletes who attend the camp and we thank Ian Hopper and his team for their contribution. WRAS is always looking for new sponsors to help decrease the costs for athletes and parents and increase the opportunities available for western region sportspeople. For more information about sponsorship opportunities at the Academy, please phone 6338 4821.

Softballers pitch into Orange – 29 April 2008

Flick — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:46:32 +0000

Softball skills will be on show in Orange this weekend for the NSW Regional Academies of Sport Softball Inter Academy Games. The Western Region Academy of Sport is hosting this year�s event and teams will come from Academies all over the state to compete. Athletes from Hunter Academy, Southern Sports Academy, North Coast Academy and Western Region Academy of Sport will converge at Orange High School for the two day tournament on 3 and 4 May. The Inter Academy Games event is based on a philosophy of opportunity and participation rather than purely on competition. Athletes will play five games in their Academy side on Saturday before being split into lottery league teams for games on Sunday. This structure provides a great development opportunity for the players, allowing them to play with athletes from their own squad and also learn from and interact with softballers from other Academies. One of the major highlights of the weekend is always the Red Faces entertainment night for the athletes and families of all Academies. Many athletes have been preparing and rehearsing their performances for weeks and this year�s Red Faces is shaping up to be a great night. WRAS softballers participating in the games are Emily Bennett (Orange), Matthew Death (Blayney), Simon Ewin (Blayney), Rachel Gentles (Orange), Andre Jewell (Mudgee), Alex Little (Orange), Chloe Lowry (Orange), Ashlee Lowry (Orange), Jane Partridge (Orange), Hanna Rath (Orange), Jayden Smith (Blayney) and Stephanie Wilson (Orange). The benefits of the Academy Games extend beyond the softball pitch. According to Nancy Haslop, Executive Officer of the Western Region Academy of Sport, �these games are an excellent chance for WRAS softballers to put into practice the skills they have been developing over the past 6 months. All athletes have worked extremely hard at improving their game skills at Academy training sessions and this weekend will allow players and their families to see just how much they have developed.�

WRAS Netballers take to the court in Young – 29 April 2008

Flick — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:44:22 +0000

Young will play host to the Western Region Academy of Sport Netball squad this Sunday for the second time in 2008. Due to the overwhelming success of the training day held in Young in January the WRAS squad, led by Head Coach Cate Gardner will return to the Young Shire on 4 May to further develop their netball skills. Training will commence at 10am with athletes traveling from around the region (Bathurst, Cowra, Cudal, Dubbo, Forbes, Gulargambone, Gulgong, Mudgee, Orange, Parkes, and West Wyalong) to attend. Young will be represented by two of the town�s brightest netball talents, Tori Pope and Lauren Sheridan. Athletes will work on developing all aspects of their game, with a specific focus on court performance and fitness using new and specialist techniques. Cate believes that the squad is training well and she is looking forward to the upcoming 2008 State League Competition. �The girls have been training hard and I�m predicting that they will be a force to contend with in the State League competition. This training day in Young will be a fantastic opportunity for the girls to concentrate on their fitness, mental toughness and game play situations�. The WRAS training day is a great opportunity for local netball players, coaches and spectators to see some of region�s most talented athletes train under the direction of the Academies highly qualified and experienced coaches.

Netballers take to the court in Dubbo – 6 April 2008

Flick — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 05:19:38 +0000

Dubbo will play host to the Western Region Academy of Sport Netball Squad this Sunday for an intense training day commencing at 10am, under the watchful eye of head coach Cate Gardner. The 2008 Netball Squad which consists of talented athletes from all around the western region will head to St John�s College to develop all aspects of their game, with a focus on court performance and fitness using new and specialist techniques. Cate believes that the squad is training well and she is looking forward to the upcoming 2008 State League Competition. �The girls have been training hard and I�m predicting that they will be a force to contend with in the State League competition. This training day at Dubbo will be a fantastic opportunity for the girls to concentrate on their fitness, mental toughness and game play situations�. Local netball players, coaches and spectators are welcome to attend the training session which will provide a great opportunity to witness the latest training techniques and drills. END