Academy Updates

 Senior Cricket Academy Update 

The senior cricket academy students have been busying working on the basics of cricket the past term. Students have had the opportunities to work on the fundamentals of their bowling, batting and fielding. 

The batting focus for students has been routine. Continually setting up the same way, watching the ball and hitting underneath their eyes. I am very impressed with the attitude and willingness to learn these basic skills despite the range of expertise in the group. 

Our bowling focus has so far this term has our technique and which ‘window’ to look through at our release point. All students can tell me which ‘window’ they look when bowling. Some have progressed already into full run ups and are working on the consistency of the length and line. The best bit has been the students being able to correct themselves and tell me what they are needing to improve on. 

Our fielding focus has been on the different positioning on a cricket field, what they can be doing when they are fielding. The different types of catching and when each of them is needed, where and who to throw the ball too. Again, the improvement to these basic skills has blown me away.  

As we move into term 2, clearly the weather is starting to move into winter conditions. Which means there is likely to be less time to utilise the facilities that Lara Cricket Club have allowed us to use. The students will start the process of gaining their umpiring accreditation. This can allow them to umpire matches of cricket in Victoria. Another focus of term 2 will be strength and conditioning, as students are starting to understand about being stronger and flexible can allow for better results. 

Ty Norman 

Junior Cricket Academy Update

Students involved in our NEW Cricket Academy elective program have been making the most of the fine autumn weather of late, with weekly outdoor training sessions over at Lara Sporting Club practice facility occurring well into Term 2. Here, students have worked towards improving fundamental batting skills, including grip, set-up (stance and head-position) and playing a forward defensive stroke to a fuller-length ball pitching inline or just outside off-stump. We’ve also discussed the importance of repeating a regular routine before facing up for each delivery. More recently, students have been refining their pull shot to combat and score from a shorter-pitched delivery. 

One of the highlights to date was our first field trip excursion into City Power Centre (Junction Oval) to observe a high-performance elite training facility, as well as the Men’s Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and South Australia. The opportunity to engage with players, watch both the Men’s and Women’s state teams play and/or practice, and hear from guest speaker and current Domestic Player of the Year, Fergus O’Neill, during the lunchbreak upstairs in the corporate viewing area was a real novelty and an inspiring experience for all students. Later in the year, we’ll be returning to City Power Centre to utilise the elite indoor practice facility. 

Looking ahead, we’re in the process of finalising a local indoor training schedule over the winter months, including visits to the Barwon Regional Cricket Centre and Nimble Hits Sports Stadium. Further details will be made available via Compass shortly. 

Brent Hodges

Rugby Academy Update 

The Rugby Academy has had a very busy and productive start to Term 2. Highlights to date include the girls’ team being treated with a visit from the inspiring Melanie Kawa. A massive thanks to Melanie and Academy Movement for taking the time to invest in women's sports and our students. 

The boys Under 16’ and Under 18’s played Hampton Park Secondary College last week and came away with two well-earned wins. By the time this article comes out we will also have had all teams play Melton Secondary College.

Finally, we are excited to announce that we are only 2 weeks away from having our Rugby Pitch up and running in time for our first home game at LSC on May 23rd against Sunshine Secondary College. 

Aaron Hassett