Academy trials begin
The next generation of talent will begin their volleyball journey tonight when Volleyball Horsham conducts its first trial for positions in the 2023 academy program.
After a three-year hiatus, the program was successfully reinstated last year, with 26 athletes from four different Wimmera schools grabbing the chance to take their game to a higher level and receive quality training in an elite environment.
Of those athletes, 14 have been invited back to continue their development, with a mixture of under-17 players, who will have Junior Country Championships later in the year as their goal, and an older group, who will have the goal of getting into Volleyball Horsham teams for Senior Country Championships.
The program exceeded expectations last year, with the girls winning gold at the Junior Country Championships as well as silver medals at Bendigo’s Junior Dragon City event, while the boys won silver at the country championships.
As a bonus, Murtoa College’s Paige Hemley made the state under-15 White team and attended ‘Oz Camp’ at the end of the year.
Academy girls’ coach Tamikah Dockrill said the bar had been set pretty high for this year’s program after such a great year.
“We can only hope we can emulate that success again with this year’s intake,” she said.
The trials are open to boys and girls from all Wimmera schools who are keen to progress their game.
Participants should be at least in years seven to 11.
Ideally, they will already have experience in playing either with their school team or in the Volleyball Horsham domestic competition.
“To help with the athlete’s development we enter them as teams into the Volleyball Horsham domestic competition, which gives them the chance to develop their game, at the same time giving coaches the chance to see athletes under match conditions,” Dockrill said.
“This arrangement worked successfully last year and we wish to continue this for the next intake.”
Tonight’s trial starts at 6pm, until 7.30pm, with a second trial planned for the same time next week.
Interested athletes should attend at least one trial to be considered for selection.
Members are reminded the association’s annual general meeting will follow the academy trial at 7.30pm.