Swifts Abbery McCulloch and Steph Wood lap up chance to push Orange's best juniors

NURTURING netball in regional areas continues to become a heavier focus of Netball NSW and it’s something NSW Swifts stars Abbey McCulloch and Stephanie Wood both agreed is of utmost importance to sustain the growth of the sport state-wide and indeed, nation-wide.

In that respect, Wednesday afternoon’s Train Like a Swift clinic at Orange’s PCYC was a pretty good start especially considering it’s the first time the program was taken outside of Sydney.

“(High quality) coaching is very important in [juniors’] learning and process of getting to the top,” McCulloch said.

“(That’s) why a lot of the girls at the Swifts are going through that coaching process to become accredited so that we have those skills so that when we do get the opportunity to come out here during the season or in the off-season we can pass on those skills.

“We really love coaching, especially out in the regional areas. The kids out here are great, they’re good listeners and they really want to learn.”

“I’m actually a Brisbane girl, so there was plenty of this type of thing in Brisbane. When you’re in the city it’s quite easy to get access to [elite] players,” Wood added.

“So to be able to do this type of thing is just awesome for netball in general.

“It’s really exciting to come out to regional areas it’s not something we get to do often during the season.

“Just being able to come out here is great, the kids are always super keen.”

McCulloch and Wood took an almost 60-strong group of the region’s up-and-comers through a stringent day of training at the PCYC on Wednesday, focusing on mid-court strategy, technique, shooting and defence.

Orange Netball Association president and nutritionist Jacki Jasprizza and local physiotherapist Justin Johnson also took the group through sessions on nutrition and recovery.

“We just [went] through some really good basic skills, in our opinion the teams with the best basic skills are the ones which will get the job done at the end of the day,” McCulloch said.

“It’s so exciting to show the kids a skill, and see them get it and improve. The looks on their faces, their enjoyment, that’s why you do these types of things,” Wood added.