RSA Sports Report

September 2011 Issue 8
RSA Sports Report
Netball Victoria Zone Academy Assessment Day |
Interview with Jacquelyn Carroll by Micaela Addie
What is Zone Academy?
With the player pathway, most players start at a club
level which is a domestic team, then you have
representative level which is playing for your
association. Above that is regional level, which
includes teams such as Henderson and Dandenong
Valley. Zone academy is the next step above that.
There is a screening day where players must try out
to get accepted into the academy for the following
year. After this trial day the selectors will choose up
to a group of 40 players to represent the Central
East Zone Academy in 2012. The Victorian 17 and
under 2013 team is selected from all players within
the 2012 6 Zone academies throughout Victoria.
How do you get chosen to trial for Zone
Academy?
There is a tournament held at an association where
coaches and selectors watch players. If they believe
certain players have talent and they believe they will
be successful, they talent identify them. The players
that have been talent identified on this day receive a
letter and application to try out for Zone Academy.
What do selectors look for on the day?
Before the trials began the coaches briefed the
players and explained what they would be looking
for throughout the day. They told us that they were
looking for:
The ability to listen to instruction, take on
any advice and put it into practice and onto
the court.
Intensity through doing every drill and
playing the hardest you can play.
Execution of every pass and the knowledge
of where to pass and receive the ball and
court sense.
What are the key things for doing well at trials
& what advice would you give?
Just play as you normally would play. You
have got nothing to lose, just to gain.
Listen to your coaches and instructors so
you can execute the drill in the best way
possible.
Think positive and always stay focussed.
Do everything with intensity. There is no
point of being there if you do not perform
the best you can
Remember to enjoy yourself and have a
good time. You are there because someone
believes you have talent
Congratulations to Jacquelyn Carroll, Jordan
Reynolds, Cara Shelley and Brittany Pym who were
all invited to this year’s Zone Academy Assessment
Day.
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