SSP NEWS

Netball

Over the past fortnight, we started with a court focus on defence. We have been working hard on a number of aspects within defence, including: one on one, blocking/dictating/recovering, intercepting through line of the ball and progressing our defensive skills into match play where we can stop play and assist the student athletes with feedback and adjustments to improve on. 

This week we moved our focus from defence to systems and structures on court. Teaching Systems and Structures gives the students awareness of their court space, along with where their fellow students are moving and what space they are using. We were able to implement systems and structures through end line throw ins, moving the ball from one end to the other and back again, followed by adding defence, to match play simulation.  

Throughout the past two weeks, we have also been busy completing our first cycle of assessment. During our education sessions, the student athletes completed their General Assessment Task which was a knowledge assessment based on the content within our education sessions, on court sessions, excursions, general netball knowledge within the community, Netball Victoria High Performance Pathways and elite competitions. 

A friendly reminder of some important upcoming dates: 

Learning Conferences: Wednesday 5 April & Thursday 6 April (which can be booked through Compass) 

SSP Information Night: Wednesday 3 May, 6-8pm (for any new potential student athletes for Year 7 2024 and Year 8-12 2024). For more information please see the poster above.

Stacey Dodds

Soccer

The last week has seen the SSP Soccer enter into our second cycle of the program, focussing on ‘First touch’ and ‘Running with the Ball’. It’s crucial we master these two vital components as they are necessary skills that need to be executed perfectly to play high level, elite soccer.

Last week, we focussed on the execution of the first touch in the various forms: inside foot, outside foot, left foot, right foot, with a fake, on the run, first touch setting up a shot, preparing for a pass. 

This week our focus is mastering ‘running with the ball’. Here, students are taught how to run with the ball correctly to ensure the ball is always under full control. Students are taught the differences in the different stages of the skill. When the student is entering the dribble phase, the running with the ball is different to when running with the ball into space. These various forms of ‘running with the ball’ are trained in differing contexts.

Not only are the students taught the execution of the skills, the student is also educated on why we use different techniques in different game scenarios. 

The end of every session is used for the students to play a game which is designed around the weekly themes but still contains all the variables and complexity of a normal game.

Joey Didulica

AFL

Congratulations to the following SSP AFL students selected in the 2023 Geelong Falcons Squad. We are excited for all of you and look forward to tracking your progress throughout the season. The girls’ season kicked off last weekend with a win to both U18 & U16 teams. The boys’ season commences this Sunday against Dandenong Stingrays in Colac. Good luck to everyone.

Zac McInnes

Edan Ibbetson

Noah Tullio

Cooper Ward

Ben Pennisi

Caitlin Charles

Rhianan Woods

Kiara Woods

Kirra Robinson

Amber Towart

Meg Alsop

Dani Rhodes U16

Belle Fletcher U16

Georgia Tyrrell U16 (captain)

Susie Robinson

Basketball 

This week, the basketball program has been lucky enough to have SSP Basketball ambassador, Australian Opal and WNBA draft pick Jade Melbourne join us as a coach and training partner. 

Jade has just finished her third season with the Canberra Capitals in the WNBL and is using her time before she heads over to the Seattle Storm coaching, training and using the facilities at WHC. This has been great for our students to see how one of the best players in the country trains, prepares and looks after her body while preparing for a pre-season camp. 

Kaleb Sclater

Year 7 Jordan Knight participated in the VACSAL Statewide Basketball Classic last weekend in Shepparton. The tournament was for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to come together and compete for the basketball title of State Champions. Jordan's U14 team was undefeated and won their grand final for Wadawurrung. 

Georgia Pike, First Nations Inclusion Coordinator