• 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 Netball 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, VNSW Phoenix Camps, and the Regional Academy Volleyball Championships.

• Athletes must be between 12 and 17 years of age as of 31 December 2023. 
  • ie born 2006 - 2011
• 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;

• Athletes who have been selected, or are selected into NSW Phoenix Squads and/or State Teams are eligible to participate within parts of the SWSAS Academy Program, subject to the approval of Volleyball NSW. 
• Approval will be subject to the training load and commitments for the relevant VNSW Phoenix / State Team program, however may include inclusion into the SWSAS Academy sports education, strength and conditioning, sport science testing and or athlete health and wellbeing programs. 
• Subject to interest and a high level of applicant performance, a "Graduate" program of athletes aged U19 (i.e age eligible for the NSW Phoenix U19 Program) may be selected as a train-on program Only. 

Nominations for the 2022-2023 Squad have closed and trials have been conducted. 

Athletes have been advised of their requirement to attend additional trials. 

The Trial will feature a number of skill and drill sessions, as well as short sided and/or modified games. 

Depending on the number of nominations and trialists, a second trial may take place. 

Selection Process:

• Athletes must nominate and attend one or more trial/s as listed.
  Where a Trial date has not been nominated, those athletes who have nominated prior to the trial will be advised via email when the trial will take place. (At least two weeks notice will be provided)
• 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 20 athletes from within the U14, U16 and U18 Age and Gender "Groups", subject to a high-level of performance criteria applied.
• The Academy will select a training squad, and not specific age or gender teams. 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 early in 2023.  

Athlete Levy

• A program levy of $400 inclusive of GST, will be applicable to all successful athletes. 

Additional Camp Levies

• Athletes within the program who are selected to represent the Academy at the Regional Academy Games in Wagga Wagga during late April 2023 will be required to pay a Games levy of $350, which will be invoiced separately to the above Athlete Levies. 
• Athletes within the program who are selected to represent the Academy at the Regional Academy Championships in Port Macquarie during July 2023 may be required to pay a Games levy, which will be invoiced separately to the above Athlete Levies. 
• Additional Camp levies may be applied for certain activities, including any VNSW Phoenix Camps, and throughout the program year and will be communicated well ahead of the event. 

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

UNIFORM

NEW ATHLETES

• New Athletes will be provided a full uniform including a walkout polo, walkout shorts, training (gym) t-shirt, tracksuit jacket and tracksuit pants. 
• New Athletes will also be provided an Academy Branded Performance Shirt, and Performance gym shorts/skorts.

RETURNING ATHLETES

• Returning Athletes who require a new Performance Shirt or gym shorts/skorts will be eligible for a discount off the purchase through the Academy's Official Uniform Supplier Aceit. 

Athletes who require any additional or replacement walkout, competition or optional uniform items (including hoodie, backpack, SWSAS socks, sportsbag etc) will be able to purchase these items through the Academy's Official Uniform Supplier Aceit.

• SWSAS will conduct regular training sessions that will include individual and squad based fundamental skill development training in two program blocks between December 2022 to April 2023, and June 2023 to August 2023. 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.

• 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 between May and mid-June. 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 one team in each of the U16 and U18 Male and Female (Maximum of 4 teams) age and gender groups, to compete in the ClubsNSW 'Your Local Club' Regional Academy Games Volleyball competition to be held in Wagga Wagga, Friday to Sunday 21-23 April, 2023. 

• Subject to athletes commitment to the Academy, training performance and the depth of squad, The Academy may send up to one team in each of the U14, U16 and U18 Male and Female (Maximum 6 teams) age and gender groups, to compete in the Regional Academy Championships Volleyball tournament to be held in Port Macquarie Friday to Sunday 8-9 July, 2023. 

• 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 in early 2023.

• 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 TeamApp online communication tool. 

2022-2023 Volleyball Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Francis Ah-Kin
Assistant Coach: David Toomalatai
Assistant Coach: Tolotear Ah-Kin
Assistant Coach: Lisbeth Rutene
Assistant Coach: Jeremiah Leato
Squad Manager: Shinavia Jerochim

2022-2023 Volleyball Squad

Female Squad

Male Squad

Graduate / Open Squad