If you are NOMINATED as one of the students to attend the trials in January, ensure you are prepared. The smallest of margins can often decide who gets through and who does not. Please read the following which highlights the key factors within the FOUR areas of assessment:
(1) FITNESS
- Do not take this for granted!
- You need a good cardiovascular base of fitness but also the abiity to accelerate, maintain speed over short distances and have speed endurance
- This section will be tested via a warm up and then some speed tests which could include shuttle runs and / or the 'Star Run' seen n the image shown. Whenever a ball must be put down, ensure it is placed and not thrown down otherwise you will waste times and incur penalty points
- When waiting to do a speed test, you can and should stretch as necessary to get ready. Be efficient with your movement; we need speed but it needs to be under control and you will need to maintain it over a series of drills
The Star Run - the ball must be placed down not thrown down.
(2) SKILLS
- You will be assessed in both continuous skill tasks and some in isolation. These tasks / drills will cover rolling / receiving and feeding / the no ball show.
- This is not just about getting the ball to the right target, but especially in the feeding, the action itself
- Feeding/no ball show - check your technique. Is your wrist straight, arm extended when delivering the ball and feet shoulder width apart? Can you deliver the ball to different distances without compromising your technique? Can you pivot to a player who is moving around and still get the ball to their waist height?
- Do not forget the no ball show - this is an important skill and must be done with precision. It is only done after feeding not after rolling.
- Rolling - you should have practiced enough to ensure this can be done confidently. The balls must be flat, fast and parallel to the lines on the court. You can move forward a little when rolling, but do not go too far down the court, you need to be able to roll long distances. Do not hold back with the pace. There are big differences across candidates in this skill every year, be bold and ensure you have a backswing.
- Receiving - an underrated skill which is very important. Practice receiving with more than one ball in your hand. Get behind the incoming balls, don't just reach out and catch a ball, again it is how you do the skill that is important
- Stance - whenever stood still ensure you have a commanding posture. You need to stand with authority; shoulders back and head up.
(3) KNOWLEDGE
- Make sure you have reviewed modules 1-8 as this will be the subject of the multiple-choice test
- Remember in the test, you can only mark one answer as being your correct answer. If you mark more than one, this will automatically be marked wrong.
- Questions can include a socreboard, so make sure you can interpret this and know when players move, when balls move, how scores are called, when a set is over etc
- Pencils will be provided
(4) COURTWORK
- Before you attend the trial in January if nominated, your school representative will have indicated to us whether you are trialling as a base or centre
- If you get through, we reserve the right to chnage your position if we think you are in the incorrect one
- The courtwork gives us the opportunity to assess your knowledge, skills and urgency
- Do everything with speed but also control and precision
- Make sure you know where yo ushould be standing/crouching on court
- Listen to the umpire and ensure you can hear the score, there will be no scoreboard
- You will only get a few games to show us what you can do. This will simply be game play, with players actually playing on a full court.
- You need to know which is the serving end and where the balls should be going. You will be placed in a random team and are assessed individually regardless of the team performance. If you know what you are doing and the rest of the team are not as strong, it will be clear to us
Finally, do not forget the detail when preparing. Arrive with your shirt already tucked in, with clean indoor shoes that you have not worn to the venue, with your hair clipped back away from your face. Do not talk during the assessment unless being asked or asking a question. Discipline underpins everything we do, do not overlook this, as ultimately it could make the difference between getting a place and not.
We wish you luck in your preparation and look forward to seeing you in January, should you be one of the students from your school who is nominated by your representative.
Miss Goldson