Academy enlists gun coach

Gun Black Sticks striker Nick Wilson is to coach at the Wairarapa Hockey Academy (WHA).
Wilson, who is one of five nominations for the 2010 International Young Player of the Year award and has family connections in Wairarapa, will provide expert tuition to the 20 academy members twice in January. He has also agreed to be a guest coach at the Scorching Summer Clinic for primary school-aged children at Clareville on January 19-20.
WHA regional development officer Jesse Workman is delighted to have a player of Wilson's expertise involved in the coaching process. "Nick plays in Europe in our off season and it's great to be able to come up with dates which suit him," he said.
Wilson debuted for the Black Sticks against Korea in 2007 at 17 and scored his first international goal against the Australians at Sydney's Olympic Park.
Black Sticks assistant coach and Capital premier men's coach Sean Dancer is another high-profile hockey identity who will help out at the Wairarapa academy, as will Black Sticks duo Steve Jenness and Blair Tarrant and New Zealand women's captain Kayla Sharland. Big names in many of the sports science fields will be offering advice, too.
While pleased with the success of the academy in its initial season in 2010, Workman is confident it will reach even greater heights next year. He intends it to be slightly more challenging then to make the goal of producing New Zealand representatives and a bigger number of national under-21 franchise players more achievable.
"I also want all the athletes to gain a better understanding of the game and sports in general and develop leadership skills so they can go back to their club and school teams and pass that knowledge on," Workman said.
Applications for the 2011 academy season close on December 5 and applicants will be trialled and interviewed on December 11-12. The final squad of 20 will be named on December 15.