• 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. 

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 Regional Academy Volleyball Championships.

• Athletes must be between 12 and 17 years of age as of 31 December 2024. 
  • ie born 2007 - 2012

• 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 Academy does not operate the same sporting program. In these circumstances, the neighbouring Academy must be consulted to determine the athletes eligibility.
• Where a neighbouring Academy does operate a program, the athlete shall be advised that they must nominate and trial for the Academy where they meet the primary form of eligibility.
• Athletes may not nominate and trial or be selected into multiple Academies, nor select an Academy based on "best fit", training schedule, or historical performance.

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 trial games 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, however there is no required "pass mark" for these elements to be achieved. 

One or more trials may be conducted.

Selection Process:

• Athletes must nominate and attend one or more trial/s as listed.
• Athletes must attend all trials. If an athlete is unable to attend a trial they must provide a reason in writing, prior to that trial to gain an exemption. 
• The Academy may select up to 12 x athletes from within each U16 and U18 Age and Gender "Groups", subject to a high-level of performance criteria applied. 
• The Academy will select a squad, not a team. As such, there is no requirement to select based on filling certain playing positions, nor fill any set quota per age or gender group.
• 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 after the final trial, and will need to attend an Athlete Induction Session held in November. 

• An Athlete Scholarship levy of $400 inclusive of GST, will apply to all successful athletes. 
• This levy assists in offsetting the program costs of;
  • Annual Athlete Membership including athlete uniform consisting of Academy Polo Shirt, Walkout Shorts and Gym T-shirt, Water Bottle, Athlete Journal and 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

• Additional competition uniform costs exist, specific to sport requirements, which athletes will need to purchase through the online store from the official uniform supplier, Aceit. The required items 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. 
• Athletes who are NEW to the Academy will be provided a tracksuit in their first year only. Athletes entering their third year or greater will be offered the purchase of a new tracksuit at half-price. 

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 Wagga Wagga in April 2024 will be required to pay a Games levy of between $300 and $450 (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.

• 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 Regional Academy Championships.

• Additional Academy Education sessions and off-court development will take place throughout the program period, with the program concluding at the Annual Athlete Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner, generally held in late July. 

• Regular (ideally Weekly) 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, and including an Academy training break to allow athletes to focus on SVL and SJVL commitments. Athletes may however be requested to attend Academy Education sessions and/or promotional events during this time. 

• Selected athletes will be required to undertake a strength and conditioning program, that may include access to a supervised gym program throughout the period. 

• Subject to athletes commitment to the Academy, training performance and the depth of squad, The Academy may send up to 2 x Male and 2 x Female (subject to age and gender divisions), to compete in the ClubsNSW 'Your Local Club' Regional Academy Games Volleyball competition to be held in Wagga Wagga in April 2024, and the Regional Academy Volleyball Championship to be held in the Illawarra in July 2024. 

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

• 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. 

2023-2024 SVSR Mini Crane Hire Volleyball Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Francis Ah-Kin
Associate Head Coach: David Toomalatai

Program Coach: Tolotear Ah-Kin
Program Coach: Lisbeth Rutene
Program Coach: Maiya Roi
Program Coach: Vasilija Simunovic
Program Coach: Maxwell Tran

Squad Manager: Van Chanhdara
Assistant Squad Manager: Blake Stevenson
Assistant Squad Manager: Jenna Vinluan-Stevenson

2023-2024 SVSR Mini Crane Hire Volleyball Squad