The Netball Super Clinic was hosted by the LeasePlan Western Bulldogs and Macquarie Sports and also included current Melbourne Vixens players Abby Sargent, Sharni Layton and Ashlee Howard and Melbourne Fury players Melanie Kitchen and Kath Knott.
Students from St Albans North, Albanvale and Ardeer Primary Schools took part in various shooting, passing, defending drills and games at the Action Indoor Sports Centre.
Western Bulldogs Community Programs Manager, Debbie Lee, said today’s clinic was a great experience for students.
“The Bulldogs and Macquarie Sports work hard together to ensure school children in the western region have access to the best sports resources beyond that of just football. It’s great that we have been able to get someone of Liz Ellis’ calibre out here to teach some basic netball skills,” she said.
At the conclusion of the super clinic every student was given a show bag with merchandise from the Bulldogs and Macquarie Sports.
Ellis was impressed with the enthusiasm shown and said it was a credit to the Bulldogs and Macquarie Sports for putting the clinic on.
“I have done a number of these clinics with Macquarie Sports and they are always a lot of fun. There have been some great skills shown by all of the girls and boys here today,” she said.
“I think when kids come to a clinic like this they are all very nervous about how they will perform. By creating an environment where they have lots of fun it helps them leave with a lot more confidence.”
The partnership between the Bulldogs and Macquarie Sports has seen a wide range of sporting activities made available to students in the western region. Last month Bulldogs players assisted at a football super clinic at Whitten Oval for 130 Bulldogs Friendly Secondary School students.
Students of the club’s FRESH Program, which supports at risk youth who are experiencing difficulties with mainstream school, have also benefited from the partnership with Macquarie Sports by taking part in their Freshen Up Sports Program.
Macquarie Sports has been running sports programs for nine years, reaching more than 8000 children a year. All programs are hosted by national and international sporting identities in rugby union, cricket, rugby league, netball, basketball and Australian Rules football.
