The Wests Entertainment Group hockey program had its first training session of the year on February 14.

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As the weekend aligned with the NSW Hockey under-18 trials, NIAS's coaches leapt at the opportunity to coordinate the attendance of special guest coaches for the NIAS training session.

Both the girls' and boys' squads were led by Hockey NSW's Sydney-based regional participation coordinators Paul Schofield and Andy Van Pelt, and former Hockeyroos midfielder and three-time Olympian Casey Sablowski.

All three guest coaches provided invaluable advice and leadership to the NIAS athletes and coaches.

Running the athletes through various drills, the guest coaches delivered an invaluable experience ahead of the Academy Games in April.

NIAS hockey head coach Greg Doolan said: "When we were to have such a high calibre of hockey players and coaches in the area for the trials, it was too good of an opportunity not to pursue for the development of the NIAS athletes, and coaches as well."

Meanwhile, the Tamworth City Toyota basketball program hosted North Coast Academy of Sport (NCAS) athletes and coaches for an inter-academy weekend last month.

Around 60 athletes got together for on-court training, fitness tests and matches.

Training began early Saturday morning, with fitness testing delivered by Rural Fit throughout the day, before more training took place in the afternoon.

The athletes and coaches then went to the Scully Park pool, where they recovered from the intensity of a full day's training, before going next door for dinner at one of the Academy's major partners, the Wests Entertainment Group.

At the Sports Dome the following day, matches commenced in the morning and ran until midday - when NCAS' delegation travelled home.

It was an intensive weekend of training and matches for the athletes, preparing them for the intensity of the Academy Games in April.

The head coach of the boys' basketball program, Matt Hobson, said: "It was a brilliant weekend. The athletes from both academies mingled well, and to get that match play experience is important in developing them not only as individuals, but as a team on the court."

Both the hockey and basketball squads still have more training sessions before travelling to Newcastle for the major event of the year, the Academy Games, where they will compete against other regional academies of sport.

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