The NSW Swifts will visit Taronga Western Plains Zoo next month as part of a regional tour headlined by a pre-season training sessions and development clinic at Orange.
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The Abby McCulloch-coached well head west prior to the new Suncorp Super Netball campaign, following on from the Train Like A Swift clinic last year, to inspire and develop country players.
On Tuesday the Swifts announced they’ll head west as part of the lead-up to their 2018 title bid.
The side will do some pre-season training of their own but, in a massive boost for regional netball, the Swifts squad will also host development clinics for the area’s up-and-comers.
“We can’t wait,” Swifts coach Abby McCulloch enthused.
“It’s a big trip, it’s been a while since someone from the Swifts was out in Orange and it’s a great chance for us to go and see everyone who makes the effort to come and support us, which is really important.
“I’m really excited, it’ll be a chance for me to maybe see some of the girls I saw last time I was out that way too.”
Some the Swifts’ best have come from rural NSW, and as a result head coach Briony Akle explained keeping strong ties with communities outside the metropolitan areas is a key focus for her and her players.
“While most of our games take place in Sydney each of our athletes know the three letters that come before Swifts – N.S.W,” she said.
“We’re the team that represents all of this state and it’s vital we maintain our connection with rural areas.
“By getting the opportunity to visit and train in places like Orange we get to reach out and connect with other fantastic people in the netball community we mightn’t necessarily get to meet every day, and that’s very important.
“Rural sport is the lifeblood of all codes and who knows, we may even come across some future Swifts in on our travels.”
The Swifts land in Orange on Thursday, November 9 and will host a clinic for six to 15-year-olds and another specialist clinic for Orange Netball Association’s (ONA) representative players, from 11 through to 17, before a meet and greet.
Details for how to put your name down for those clinics – ONA is asking all representative players to attend – can be found on the association’s Facebook page.
The Swifts missed the Super finals this year, finishing sixth, and McCulloch said they’re gunning to return to the post-season next year.
“That’s actually still a bit of a sore spot for me, missing the finals,” McCulloch said.
“I think in my time at the Swifts it was the first time we’ve missed the finals, so our preparation for next year’s competition is really important.
“It might not be as intense as a lot of people are saying it could be, not the regional tour anyway. I think this trip is more of a chance for us to bond as a group and enjoy ourselves in the country.
“The full squad and support staff are coming, and we’ve had a few changes so coming together well will be really important and this kind of thing is great for that.
“As I said before, we can’t wait.”
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
