Program Summary

Program Season: October - July
Age Group: 14-17 Years of Age
Gender: Male and Female

Current Program Status:
2023-2024 Program has now concluded.
Nominations for the 2024-2025 Program Open during August 2024.

The South West Sydney Academy of Sport implements high performance programs for talented young athletes from South West Sydney across a number of sports. The Academy implements a Volleyball program in association with the local associations and Volleyball NSW, and is provided by high performance coaching staff.

The Volleyball program is a high-performance, athlete-focused program targeted for athletes who are participating within their respective association representative teams, competing in the Sydney Junior Volleyball League, and aiming for selection within the NSW Phoenix pathway program, as well as future NSW and/or National squad and team selection.

The intent of the program is to compliment the athletes representative club training, by providing on and off court development across varied aspects of sports high-performance pathways, through education, training and athlete support.

Whilst the program may participate in selective tournament match-play, the focus of this program is on training for long-term development and not regular team competition.

Athletes who have been selected into NSW Phoenix pathway program are eligible to apply and participate within parts of the  Academy program. 

Program Objectives

Create an environment where athletes can develop the necessary tactical, technical, physiological and psychological skill competencies to aid progression through their sports Athlete High Performance Pathway.

Develop athletes to be competitive, with a fundamentally sound base.

Provide fundamental individual and squad skill development sessions for athletes during representative off-season, and in-season maintenance programs, as a part of the Volleyball NSW High Performance Pathway program. 

Compliment athletes local club and representative team training and encourage athletes to be leaders within those teams.

Prepare athletes for NSW High Performance trials and pathways, such as the NSW Phoenix performance program, Sydney Volleyball League programs, and future NSW and/or National selection. 

Athlete Benefits

The program provides access to pathway performance coaching, analysis of individual skill and development within a squad structure, sports science testing, and access to high performance strength and conditioning programs.

A large range of athlete appropriate education workshops such as sport psychology, nutrition, drugs in sport awareness, public speaking, resilience, media training, sports medicine and injury prevention are also undertaken as a part of the regular training program.

The South West Sydney Academy of Sport Volleyball program is closely aligned to the Volleyball NSW high performance curriculum, and operates in conjunction with fellow Regional Academy of Sport Volleyball programs, and as such is designed to introduce athletes to the State and National high performance pathway. And include training in the NSW Style of Play along with technical and tactical skill development. 

Key performance opportunities will be selected to best suit the current development level of athletes, and may include events scheduled in conjunction with other NSW Regional Academies of Sport and/or camp-like training environments, such as the Regional Academy Games, and the NSW Youth Volleyball Championships.

Athlete Eligibility

• Athletes must be between 14 and 17 years of age as of 31 December 2025.
  • Ie born 2008-2011
• Subject to overall numbers, athletes aged 12 to 14 years of age may be considered for a Development Pathway squad. 
• Athletes must be a registered member of Volleyball NSW
• Athletes must reside in, or attend school, or compete for a VNSW affiliated association within the Academy area of Campbelltown, Camden, Liverpool or Wollondilly local Government areas.

In addition;

• Regional Academies in principle agree that the primary method of eligibility is by athletes residential status, that being the address the athlete spends the "majority" of their calendar year.
• Criteria such as attending school or competing within a registered club within the LGA may only be used as an athletes primary eligibility where an athlete resides in an adjoining LGA, and one where a neighbouring Regional Academy does not operate the same sporting program. In these circumstances, the neighbouring Regional Academy must be consulted to determine the athletes eligibility.
• Where a neighbouring Regional Academy of Sport (ie Western Sydney Academy of Sport) does operate a program, the athlete shall be advised that they must nominate and trial for the Regional Academy where they meet the primary form of eligibility.
• Athletes may not nominate and trial or be selected into multiple Regional Academies, nor select a Regional Academy based on "best fit", training schedule, or historical performance.

Selection Process

What to Expect:

The Volleyball squad is selected based on the athletes performance at an open trial.

The trial will feature a number of skill and drill components, followed by a series of short-sided or modified match-play scenario to assess the athletes skill and potential. 

Elements of sport science testing and/or fitness assessment may be conducted as a part of the trial. 

One or more trials may be conducted.

Selection Process:

• Athletes must complete a South West Sydney Academy of Sport Athlete Nomination Form prior to the advertised closing date. 
• Athletes must attend at all trial dates. If an athlete is unable to attend a trial they must provide a reason in writing, prior to that trial to gain an exemption. 
• Prospective athletes Parents must attend an Academy Information session, which will take place at the same time as one of the trials. This will be identified on the Nomination Page and communicated to parents by the email provided in the nomination form when confirming the trials information. 

• The Academy may select up to 20 x Male and 20 x Female athletes from within the 14-17 yr age group. 
• The Academy will select a squad, the forming of teams will not be the primary intent of the Volleyball program. 
• Final selections, number of athletes and squad composition will be made dependant on the talent available during the trial process. 
• Successful athletes will be advised within seven (7) days of the the final trial.  

Athlete Scholarship Levy

• An Athlete Scholarship levy of $300 inclusive of GST, will apply to all successful athletes. 
• This levy assists in offsetting the program costs of;
  • Annual Athlete Membership including ID Card, Athlete Journal, Annual Awards Dinner admission; 
  • Training and Development including training venue hire, sports equipment, skill development programming, and guest / coaching costs.
  • Education and Support Services including online access to programs / XPS network, targeted sports education lectures and workshops with guest presenters, sport specific strength and conditioning program with an Academy S&C partner facility, sport science testing, and access to athlete wellbeing and support service network providers.

Additional Fees / Levies

Uniform Costs

• All uniform purchases are to be made via the Academy's uniform supplier ACEIT, utilising their online store. 
• New athletes will be required to purchase uniform consisting of at minimum, Athlete Polo Shirt, Walkout Shorts and Gym T-shirt. The cost of this is approx. $90. 
• New athletes will be provided a discount code to purchase an Academy tracksuit following receipt of payment of the Athlete Scholarship Levy. 
• Additional competition uniform costs exist, specific to sport requirements, which athletes will need to purchase. The required items, if not listed below, will be identified at the sport program induction. 
• Athletes may purchase additional Academy items, that includes Hoodie, Socks, Towel, Sports Bag, Backpacks, and Active Wear. 

Camps, Tours and Tournaments

• Camps, Tours and Tournaments form an important part of each sport program structure. The costs of these events, as with the overall sport program, are heavily subsidised by the Academy and its partners.
• Camp / Tour costs may be applied for certain activities throughout the program year and will be communicated well ahead of the event. These are generally costed at $100-$150 per day and include transport, accommodation and the majority of meal costs, as well as any entry fees associated with tournaments or performance elements of the camp / tour. 
• Eligible athletes who are selected to represent the Academy at the Regional Academy Games in Tamworth in April 2025 will be required to pay a Games levy of between $350 and $400 (subject to sport requirements), which will be invoiced separately to the above Athlete Scholarship Levy.
• Tournaments held locally (where the Academy does not provide Accommodation) may attract a nominal fee of between $10 and $50 depending on the sport requirements, and are used to assist in covering the tournament entry, venue hire and any transport costs.

All Athlete levies must be paid in full within 30 days of the invoiced date, or the scholarship offer will be automatically withdrawn; unless financial hardship or payment plan arrangements have been made with the CEO.

Training and Performance Opportunities

• The Academy will conduct regular on-court training sessions that will include individual and squad based fundamental skill development training between October and July. A focus on team dynamics and tactical skill development will take place towards the latter part of the program and in the lead up to the Regional Academy Games, and NSW Youth Championships.

• Additional Academy education sessions and off-court development may take place following the conclusion of the "program year", with the program formally concluding at the Annual Athlete Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner, generally held in late July.

• Regular training sessions will be aligned to avoid clashes with the representative training and competition schedules of those clubs within the South West Sydney Academy of Sport catchment area, as much as possible. 

• Athletes will be required to undertake a strength and conditioning program, including access to a supervised gym program throughout the period.

• Subject to the athletes commitment to the Academy, training performance and depth of squad, the Academy will send two (2) male and two (2) female team/s to compete in the ClubsNSW 'Your Local Club' Regional Academy Games Volleyball competition to be held in Tamworth, in April 2025. 

• Subject to the athletes commitment to the Academy, training performance and depth of squad, the Academy may send up to two (2) male and up to two (2) female team/s to compete in the Volleyball NSW Youth State Championships competition in July 2025.

• The Academy intends to send athletes to participate in an overnight Inter-Academy training camp in February as a key part of the athlete on-court training program.

• The Academy may send age and gender appropriate team's to other tournaments, or conduct Development Camps/Challenges with other Regional Academy or high performance programs and invited teams through the program period.

• Training sessions will take place at indoor training venues and Volleyball facilities throughout the South West Sydney Region.  A full training and performance schedule will be provided to successful athletes through the XPS Network online communication tool. 

Squad and Support Staff

2024-2025 Volleyball Squad and Coaching Staff will be announced after the selection date. 

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