Player development is the key for NSW
By BEN HARRIS
New South Wales Touch Association (NSWTA) is trialling out a new format that will enhance the player pool and development of younger players.
For the first time there won’t be the usual six NSW regions of Hunter Western Hornets, Southern Suns, Northern Eagles and Sydney Rebels, Mets and Scorpions taking part in the X-Blades National Youth Championships (NYC).
Instead, two NSWTA Development squads are in action this week in the NYC at Port Macquarie.
The teams were picked following the junior regionals earlier this year and the girls NSWTA Development coach Edith Nathan said the idea was to give more players national tournament experience.
“We’re trying to help develop kids that don’t get an opportunity to come away and play at the higher level,” Nathan said.
“Things they have to learn and try and take forward into their own game like at State Cup, Junior State Cup and senior State Cup.
“Hopefully they learn something from here and they know that this level is quite important to them to get to the elite.”
Her assistant coach, Glen Flanagan, said it greatly benefits the country players.
“Once the school system has taken their elite players for their three sides like CIS [Combined Independent Schools], triple C [Combined Catholic Colleges] and CHS [Combined High Schools] it gives the players from the country region, who might be on the verge of future representative sides, a chance to develop their own game,” Flanagan said.
“Given the wide areas we go down, to the Southern Suns, the Northern Eagles and the west, it gives a lot of people an opportunity to come together, represent NSW, even if it is a development side, but still develop their skills in the game.
“I think the opportunity NSW has given us to further their touch football and bring them away to tournaments like this is terrific.”
For more information on the NYC, check out these websites:
NYC – www.nyc.mytouchfooty.com
NSW Touch Football – www.nswtouch.com.au
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Player development is the key for NSW
