Skills will be the main focus of the program, however we will maintain the kids enthusiasms by playing games at the conclusion of each session.

Coaches again will be of a high standard as well as some guest appearances from our National players.

This year we are also very lucky to be able to run this program on the new blue turf, put down specifically for the Olympics preparation of our national teams. If you are lucky, you may see the athletes hanging around as our session finishes.

This is a great opportunity to continue your skills over summer and prepare yourselves for the forth-coming season.

As we start to prepare for an even better road-show program next year we are looking at other towns we missed. If one of those towns is you, please do not hesitate to contact us. We would be disappointed not to be able to service your town and community.
WSA brings elite players to the grass roots levels providing inspiration to the future hockey players. All coaches are state coaches and on occasion we bring National athletes along to say hi and mix with your town. A great way for players to meet the player and have a chat about what it takes to become an elite athlete.

You can contact Tristram Woodhouse on email. His email is trid@woodhousesports.com.au

Alternatively you can contact him directly on mobile. His mobile number is 0411 849 429.

Get in early to secure your date.

Both teams are full of superstars and this weekend, the final should be a cracker.

If you look closeley on papar, you would think YMCC has the better line up with Jamie Dwyer, Eddie Ockenden mixed with the local Thundersticks talents of Matt Boyce, The Boyne brothers, Andrew Jacobs, Graeme Begbie, Daniel Sampey and there big game goal keeper Tyler Lovell. Tyler in particular for me is the key. He has been one of the standout keepers in the competition has has risen to the occasion many times in finals appearances.

Vic Park also have a formidable line up, headed by internationals Liam DeYoung, young speedster Jacob Whetten and Ian Burcher. They too have an Aussie in the mix with their keeper George Bazaley. They also have Phil Hulbert in the middle, fresh of winning his second Olympians Medal last night at the awards ceremony. He ihas been a tower of strength throughout the year and will be coming out all guns firing in hope to win the crown of Premiers 2011.

The game will be fast and it will be tough. The team that can take their opportunities early will be hard to beat given the crowd support. Grand Finals are big days at the Perth Hockey Stadium. Fans coming out of the wood work to see the fantastic spectacle.

My tip, YMCC 5- Vic Park 2.

In the Womens AHG, UWA and Vic Park have been dominant all year. The sides again are filled with talent, but more so being younger than older. which is good for the health of WA Hockey.

This will be a battle of cool heads. The team that has the discipline to maintain their structures and controlling the ball movement will win the game. I would also expect, those who take their opportunities early, will win this.

UWA cerainly have the experience in Grand Final appearances, being there several times in the past 10 years. Vic Park only played in a Grand Final 10 or so years ago. A long time between drinks.

Vic Park will be hungry for a win and they will be desperate in everything, but you would expect UWA to win, with the amount of experience. They are used to the atmosphere, they ar used to winning.

My tip UWA 3-Vic Park 0

Get down and support your teams and celebrate the last weekend of AHG hockey for the year.

Chris has been a member of the AIS this year after his stellar season last year with the Perth Thundersticks in the Australian Hockey League. Chris was voted best and fairest for the team in 2010 and is making further inroads this year to winning that award again. A team that has fellow stars such as Fergus Kavanagh, Brent Dancer, Kiel Brown, Bevan George and Ian Burcher. All current Australian players with far more experience.

Chris is a known as a midfielder, but has the the ability to play in the half back or full back lines. Its his ability to be able to play any position that makes him such an attractive player to the national selectors. He has to be one of the most exciting and hard working players in Australia and he truly deserves his cap.

WSA congratulates Chris on his recent selection. We are very proud.

Fortunately for us Chris, will be onsite at the July clinics this week at Shenton Turf. He will no doubt provide the inspiration the young players need to take it to the next level.

Other WSA staff who again were called up for national selection are Kiel Brown, Jono Charlesworth, Andrew Charter and Jacob Whetton.

They are running a fundraising event by playing a Celebrity Match in Bunbury, whilst the carnival for the junior is in progress.

On Saturday 4th June,at 5.30pm,  the Perth Thundersticks will play 3 x 20 minute periods with Under 11′s. 13′s and 15′s players.

Each period will have 6 x NHL players and 6x juniors on each side. Its a great chance to play alongside the best players in the state.

Tickets will be available on the day for $2.00 per ticket, or $5.00 for 3. See one of the girls at the entrance to the stadium to win a chance to play in that game.

Also, feel free to add money money as a donation/sponsorship to help them get to the NHL finals in August.

Hope to see you all there.

Keeping to the same structure with the roadshows we coaches juniors, seniors and coaches.

Over 60 players, both juniors and seniors,  experienced the skill based sessions with enthusiasm. The coaches gave them little time to rest so they could get a taste of what it requires to get better at the skills whilst being tired.

All enjoyed the event and will no doubt be wanting us to see them next year.

Thanks Kojonup, its always fun down your neck of the woods.

Newly added coaches to the staff of the academy attending the April holiday clinics in Shenton Park have been selected into the Australian Mens Hockey Team for the upcoming tour to Malaysia for the Azlan Shah invitational tournament.

Kiel Brown, Jonothon Charlesworth and Jacob Whetton have all been coaching at the holiday clinic this week and got the great news on Day 1. We may lose them temporarily for coaching, but its a great excuse for them not to be attending work. We have plenty of coaches to cover for them whilst away including Hockeyroo’s, Perth Thundersticks and WAIS Diamonds  members.

On behalf of all the Academy, we congratulate the three players/coaches and wish them all the best for their international tournament in May.

WSA spent the week on the road travelling to Esperance, Kalgoorlie, York and Albany. Over 3000Kms of travel and each town benefitted from the coaching services provided by the academy.

Starting in Esperance, we were welcomed by the locals. Over 50 juniors and coaches got involved in sessions that gave them both skill development and confidence in their hockey, whether it be with the juniors in their learning of new essential skills or the coaches with how to deliver a inspiring session throughout the year. We also tasted the local fish produce which was definitely a taste worth visiting again.

We then travelled due North to the gold mining town of Kalgoorlie. We were greeted with over 50 juniors wanting the same type of session we delivered less than 12 months ago. We mixed up our essential skills session with a few mini games and specialty skill sets. The photographer on site came a field and took many photos of the event which are now available to see on the Woodhouse Sports Academy facebook page. We also put the coaches under pressure by taking them in a beginner coach classroom session, explaining the new ideas in hockey and encouraging them to share idea as coaches rather than keeping a tunnel vision approach. We challenged them to delivering skills in front of their fellow coaches ensuring them confidence when delivering it to their juniors.

York was next in line. Another 30 odd juniors joined the roadshow and experienced the skill based session. All juniors worked hard and by Day 2 had improved their skills. Coaches also took part in a two day coaches course by spending the first night in the classroom running through the technical requirements of coaching then attended a practical session supervised by WSA coaching staff. Each coach was given a small group and were allocated a skill to teach. It was done on a rotation basis, so all coaches, coached all juniors, teaching their allocated skill. The WSA staff were onsite to assist and provide feedback to the learning coaches. It was a very effective way to run this and a even better as all 11 coaches who attended now will gain their Beginner Coach accreditation through HockeyWA and Hockey Australia.

The last venue was Albany. Two days again of intense training and developing juniors and coaches. Only a short visit, with 6 hours of coaching for juniors and 2 hours of coaches. The coaches also took opportunity to take part in one of the sessions to be assessed as part of the beginner coach accreditation.

In May, we travel to Kojonup and a club in Bunbury called Towns South. This will complete the roadshow visits until June/July when we revisit a few towns that have already invited us back to run another session.

Last weekend we visited Geraldton to train their academy/development players and coach their coaches.

In the sizzling heat of the day, the athletes trained in over 35 degree heat to improve their skills. The young athletes went through a series of skill development exercises that will help them gain confidence for the forth coming season. Over 50 athletes attended and found the two day clinic a complete success.

Another important aspect of the roadshow was the increasingly popular “Coach the Coaches” session. 19 coaches attended the 2 hour session covering all the basic skills of hockey, the understanding of the game in systems and defensive/offensive presses and general handling of their team. The coaches were tested throughout the session in front of their peers and came out more confident in their approach to coaching.

We look forward to visiting them again soon.

This weekend, Woodhouse Sports Academy visited the Bunbury region to coach the talented juniors of the South West Hockey Academy. The course again, ran over two days. The U13 group on Saturday and U15 group on Sunday. Both sessions were intense and a great learning experience. Whilst the juniors were being run through their paces, the coaches were also given an opportunity to fine tune their skills or learn new ones. The participated in a one hour theory session with the Head Coach of WSA and given both advise, skill development techniques and basic system and presses information. Once the theory side was complete, all went out on to the pitch with the players and joined in the coaching with the WSA staff. It is great sometimes for them to get amongst their players and hear what the WSA staff have to say. How they deliver the skill and how they assess them whilst the players are performing it. A great experience for the coaches to be a part of.

Lets hope we can get more of the region involved when we visit again later in the year. The heat could most definitely been a factor as well as people playing their summer sports. Nonetheless, a great turn out and good work out for all those involved.

Thanks to Megan Pollard and her association for supporting us. She worked tirelessly to get this up and running. We look forward to seeing you again soon Bunbury.