The Northern Inland Academy of Sport have recieved a record amount of applications across a range of different sports as the trials for programs in 2017 begin to heat up around the region after kicking off last month.
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After a year’s absence from the NIAS sporting programs, Mountain Biking is back as one of the core sports for 2017 as the region continues to boom with new tracks and upgraded clubs.
The new batch of mountain bikers will be enjoying their first overnight camp this weekend as they head to to the Tamworth headquarters for two days of action following selection trials last month.
NIAS CEO James Cooper said training will commence from 9am Saturday and continue right through to 11am Sunday both on and off the track and bikes.
“Head coaches Steve Mair and Brad Newman are eager on improving the development of each athlete’s physical aspects of mountain biking,” Cooper said.
Another sport that continues to enjoy a lot of interest is the Tamworth Servies rugby league program, with the squads getting put through their paces at a trial day on Saturday at Jack Woolaston Oval, Tamworth.
The trials will begin with a skills training session at 10am followed by a round robin of match play games under the eyes of coaches and training staff.
After plenty of success in the program last year Peter Stevens will again be at the reins as head coach, while Northern region Development Officer Scott Bone will act as manager for the year, alongside a host of training and fitness staff.
Players are reminded to arrive at the ground 15 minutes early to check in.
Last year the NIAS reaped the rewards of the inclusion of a basketball program and next years Peel Valley Training and Employment Program is already shaping up to follow in their footsteps.
Last years boys and girls squads both went through to win the Academy Games undefeated, before Miah O'Sullivan and Nathaniel McGrath earnt selection in their respective All Star Five teams and went on to be named NIAS male and female athletes of the year.
To add to that all three coaches, Greg O'Toole, Jono Willis and Matt Hobson, shared the NIAS coach of the year award.
Pippa McMahon will join the same coaches as an assistant coach in 2017, with the trials for the much sought after squads also taking place on Saturday from 10am until 3pm at the Tamworth Sports Dome.
After successful trials over the past month, the NIAS West’s Hockey and Inverell RSM AFL are also on the move.
The Hockey program will take start this Sunday at the Tamworth Hockey fields starting from 9am through to 1:30pm.
“NIAS is excited and looking forward to working with Andrew Davey as the squad’s head coach and the return of girl’s head coach Helen Willis,” Cooper said.
“Blair Chalmers, the Regional Coaching Coordinator of Hockey NSW will be assisting in the development of both the athletes and coaches as well.”
The AFL program will also kick-off on Saturday from 10am at Farrer.
“Head coach Alan Martin is eager to improve athlete’s holistic development both on and off the field. Training will involve clinical testing run by exercise physiologists from Rural Fit Tamworth,” Cooper said.
