Western Heights students get inside look at elite netball through Vixens link

WESTERN Heights College has become the first school in Victoria to partner with Netball Victoria and the Melbourne Vixens, giving student-athletes unprecedented access to one of Australia’s leading high-performance sporting programs.

The partnership will provide students with access to elite training environments, athlete education, strength and conditioning programs, recovery sessions, performance analysis and career pathway opportunities.

Specialist sports program leader Renee Lane said the initiative would complement the school’s existing netball program by exposing students to some of the country’s best athletes and support staff.

“It’s just going to value add to what it is that we already do,” she said. “We already have such high quality and calibre coaching on a day-to-day basis, but that variety piece for our students to be able to hear from the highest-level athletes in the country.

“We really want to open doors and avenues for students in that broader field and context of sport and netball – both on and off the court.”

The school took a group of student-athletes to a Vixens training session earlier this month, with the visit giving them an exciting insight into what’s to come.

Specialist netball program head coach Susan Meaney, who played for the Melbourne Phoenix and Australian Diamonds, said the partnership will create strong habits in the student-athletes early in their careers.

“Having had the privilege of playing elite netball …and knowing what that journey can be like and what you can be exposed to, to give these kids this opportunity is just absolutely incredible,” she said.

“[It is] giving them that little bit of a leg up and exposure to that early, from probably one of the most professional teams, if not in Australia, in the world.

“[When] we took the kids up a couple of weeks ago, they sat courtside to watch a session and they were just blown away by the intensity and the professionalism of what they saw within the athletes.

“Those experiences are just going to continue to inspire them.”

Student-athlete Ellie Rundel, who hopes to one day earn selection in a state team or talent academy, said the partnership would help her identify the areas she needed to improve.

“This partnership will help me recognise what goals and areas I need to work on by watching how the Vixens team execute them on court,” she said.

“[It has] changed my view on how I always need to train at game intensity and that consistency matters for game performance and execution.”