Academy hockey trials to begin - 29 October 2008
Hockey is close to getting underway at the South West Academy of Sport, with trials to select members for the development squad being held this week.
Newly appointed head coach Matt Mellor said up-and-coming hockey players from around the region had registered for the trials being held at Bunbury’s Hay Park over Thursday and Friday.
“From there, with the help of representatives from the Western Australian Institute of Sport, we will select 20 boys and 20 girls for the academy squad,” he said.
The athletes will begin training soon after the trials and Mellor said he was looking forward to nurturing the squad from day one.
SWAS chief executive Bernice Butlion said Mellor was well equipped to coach the academy’s hockey squad.
“Matt brings to the role a love of the game and a passion for developing young hockey talents,” she said.
“We look forward to seeing him equip members of our hockey squad with the skills they require to compete at the next level of competition.”
Mellor spent 12 years playing hockey for the South West Strikers at classic league level and toured overseas with the Hotspurs Invitational Hockey Team in 2002 and 2005.
In the past couple of years he has taken on coaching roles which have included assistant coach for the South West Strikers in 2006 and head coach for the South West Strikers in 2007.
He was a trainer at development coaching sessions at the Western Australian Institute of Sport this year and a coach for the WA U/16 women’s team bound for the 2008 FHE Cup.
The appointment of a hockey coach is the latest milestone for the academy.
Recent developments include the donation of a car to the academy and the filming of a television commercial in Perth.
Work is now being done in preparation for the official opening of the South West Academy of Sport’s administration centre at the South West Sports Centre in Bunbury.
…ENDS
Media contact:
Teneille Watson
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