NSWRL Female Pathways Manager Kylie Hilder has invited 35 of the game’s brightest metropolitan Sydney talent to take part in a four-week Westpac Emerging NSW Girls Academy starting tomorrow (Wednesday 20 November).
Hilder has been assembling the next generation of Under 16s and 17s players to guide them on how to develop their skills, athletic ability and character.
The girls were identified through the Under 16s Australian Schoolgirls tournament held earlier this year.
“Representative jerseys won’t be too far around the corner for this group of girls so I’ve brought together a team of physios, trainers, sports scientists and coaches to provide the information and practical support to becoming better players,” Hilder said.
The sessions will be held at NSWRL’s Centre of Excellence at Sydney Olympic Park over four Wednesdays from tomorrow (20 November) until 11 December.
Each participant will receive an ‘Emerging NSW Girls Players Handbook’ setting out the general principles in driving excellence as players prepare for higher honours like NSW Country or NSW City jerseys, the Westpac Under 19s State of Origin and Westpac NSW Women’s Origin teams.
“The players handbook is not full of game strategies or tactics. It focuses on developing an awareness of how to use your individual skills to improve you as a player,” Hilder said.
“These girls will soon be leaving Lisa Fiaola Cup (U17s) and Tarsha Gale Cup (U19s) to try for a spot in our elite women’s competition, the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership, and then into the NRLW.
“Working closely with their coaches to reach their goals is key to the development of any player.”
Hilder will also run a Westpac Emerging NSW Girls Academy for regional players in mid-December at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence.
