The Northern Inland Academy of Sport has a long history of alumni returning to help foster and develop the next generation.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Josh Worpel is the latest to make the transition after coming on board as an assistant coach of the 2018 boys hockey squad.
“I was in NIAS for three or four years,” the Tamworth product recalled.
He was coaxed into being involved by Hockey NSW Regional Coaching Coordinator Greg Doolan, who will run the boys program.
“I’m looking forward to it, being involved and learning a fair bit and giving back to NIAS,” Worpel said.
The place of the program in the development pathway has changed a bit from when he was involved.
Back then it was a standalone program. Now it is a stepping stone between the Hockey NSW-affiliated Centre of Development (COD) and Accelerated Athlete Program (AAP) programs.
The latter is the what Doolan wants the players to aspire to.
“For both the boys and girls we really want to push them and push them for higher honours,” he said.
“We want them in the AAP squad that’s the next step.”
The trials for the 2018 intake were held recently and drew players from predominantly Tamworth and Armidale but also Inverell.
It is a fresh, young squad with only four returning players.
Back involved after a few years away while he was working as the RCC for the Hunter and Newcastle, Doolan was encouraged by the potential.
There is still a lot of work to do but the level of enthusiasm and athlete coachability is right up there, he said.
The squad will convene in Armidale this weekend for their first official training session. The girls squad will also be training this weekend. Helen Willis is again leading the program as the head coach with Katrina Rekunow assisting.
2018 BOYS:
Samuel Behrend- Armidale, Lachlan Butler- Tamworth, Cameron Carr- Tamworth, Ryan Constable- Tamworth, Angus Doyle- Bective, Sebastian Etheridge- Barraba, Nicholas Farmer- Tamworth, James Highlands- Tamworth, Brock Lambert- Moore Creek, Luke Maher- Tamworth, Hamish McAdam- Tamworth, Stuart McAdam- Tamworth, George Nash- Tamworth, Harry Reynolds- Tamworth, Toby Smith- Duri, Liam Smith- Armidale, Mitchell Stewart- Delungra, Alex Taggart- Tamworth, Kieran Wicks- Armidale, Aiden Wicks- Armidale, Dane Wilson- Tamworth
2018 GIRLS:
Maible Chalmers- Armidale, Jessica Clarke- Niangala, Flo Davidson- Tamworth, Chelsea Eichorn- Armidale, Lucy Frame- Tamworth, Sophie Gale- Armidale, Annabelle Green- Walcha, Tarnie Hillard- Armidale, Ashleigh Horniman- Tamworth, Hayley Lennon- Armidale, Lily Neilson- Armidale, Melissa Sherwood- Tamworth, Erin Startin- Garoo
