Sports Bulletin: Issue 04/22

Between the wet weather and Covid, our Term 1 sports season has certainly been hampered in some capacity. As we move to the second trimester of sport, unfortunately, it seems little has changed.

It is with great anticipation that most people within our community look forward to the footy season, that is, AIC rugby and football. The Trimester 2 AIC season is the greatest in terms of student participation and community engagement. We are always pleased to announce that everyone makes a team, and no one misses out. It is also a time where a significant amount of our students and parent body as well as our past families and old boys can gather to support the current group of players in their respective sport.

The Sports Office and coaches have worked hard to ensure a fair trial process is followed. At the commencement of the rugby and football trials held last week, our first session concentrated on rotating all players through various skills and drills. This was an opportunity for all coaches in that year level to see all players. The second session was then dedicated towards playing several internal games, again all coaches would see all players to begin the selection process.

The Saturday session was another opportunity where boys could play so the coaching staff could then start drafting teams.

Given the latest spike in Covid cases across Brisbane, we had many families inform the Sports Office that their son/s were going to miss trials. We are very much aware that other colleges cancelled their trials altogether due to the large numbers absent in their communities. Villanova decided to push ahead with our scheduled trial session to give those who were well and able a chance to trial. Those who were unable to trial will simply return into the fold when they are able to do so.

As we had many students missing throughout this process, the coaches have been unable to see and compare all boys. It was our hope to have a first draft of all teams published before we head into the Easter vacation. It is now very likely that our coaches will require more time to sort out their teams. To this end, we are asking for the patience and understanding of all players and parents as we navigate through the selection process.

Be aware that we do have a trial game against Ashgrove the very first weekend back next term. Training will commence the very first day back next term on Tuesday 19 April as well as on Wednesday 20 April. No training will occur on the Thursday afternoon 21 April and Friday 22 due to parent-teacher conferences.

Please be aware that we encourage our coaches to monitor all players from week to week throughout the entire season and to make the necessary changes to their teams weekly based on player performance, attitude and attendance. Therefore, no position in any team is secure. This is the case for all teams from Year 5 to the 1st’s. This concept allows for a movement of players and rewards those who try hard. It is also fair.

Please see below some information regarding the Year 5 and Year 6 and Year 7-12 Cross Country holiday programs. We also have several senior rugby and football camps and competitions going on too which is listed in the date claimers below.

On a personal note, after 28 years of teaching to date, I will be taking some long service leave throughout the entire duration of Term 2. Mr Chris Everding has been appointed the Acting Director of Sport during this period.

I take this opportunity to wish everybody a happy and holy Easter. I extend by best wishes to all students and hope they have a fun and enjoyable experience playing sport for the mighty green and gold next term, enjoy!

Brisbane Lions Tickets – Offer to the Villanova Community
As a result of our mighty First XVIII winning the AIC Premiership, we have been given access to the Champions Room at the Gabba this Saturday night. The Lions have provided us with cheap tickets for families if they wish to attend. We will have our own area designated to the Villanova College community. It would be fantastic to see as many families there as possible to celebrate a successful AFL season.

If interested, please click the link below to purchase your tickets. If you have any difficulties purchasing the tickets, please email Mr Adam Fry afry@vnc.qld.edu.au and he can send you the link directly – Brisbane Lions – Powered by Spinzo

Reminder – Communication
The three main avenues of communication to parents regarding sport at Villanova are listed below;

• The College newsletter – Villa View
• Access to the College website. The ‘Locker Room’ contains all the important weekly sports messages and announcements, links from the ‘Locker Room’ will take you to the ‘Weekly Fixture’ section and to the individual sports sections, including the ‘AIC Rugby’, ‘AIC Chess’ and ‘AIC Football’ sections (as well as any other sport)
• The Villanova College App. Go to the App store and search for – Villanova College. Download the free app. Important messages will be given via the app from time to time. These messages are mainly used for the confirmation or cancellation of training and games.

The students also receive sports messages via the daily morning notices in their Pastoral as well as information given out at assemblies. Please use the avenues listed above as all pertinent information regarding sport is posted and updated regularly.

ANZAC Day and Labour Day – Long Weekends and Term 2 Sport
Please note that there are two long weekends scheduled early in Term 2. We ask parents to ensure their son is available to honour their commitment to the team by attending the matches scheduled before heading off to enjoy a well-deserved break.

It is imperative that players are not missing during these weekends. We ask parents to take this into consideration when planning any trips away.

AIC Chess – Mrs Sally England, AIC Chess Coordinator
Term 1 is coming to an end, and it has certainly been challenging for chess in the last couple of weeks with so many boys succumbing to Covid in one way or another. We were unable to play our trial game against St Laurence’s last Friday but instead used it as a trial game for our own team make up. It was very successful with only a few boys unable to participate.  So, now we have completed our teams in the Intermediate and Senior levels but will have to wait until next term to complete the Juniors as so many boys have been ill.

At this point, we are going ahead with the second trial game at home against Ashgrove on Friday April 22. This is the first Friday back and is the pupil free day for parent interviews. All boys who are in the teams will be expected to attend the College on that day for a final practice session, with hopefully some coaching sessions as well, finished off with the game against Ashgrove.  More information will come in that week. If the game is cancelled, we will still expect the day to go ahead, finishing early at the end of the day, but notification will come if that changes at a later date. As you realise planning ahead at this point is difficult.

I have added the Term 2 timetable again for you to see what should be happening. Please contact me if you have any queries or concerns. Email: sengland@vnc.qld.edu.au

 AIC Rugby and Football Trial Games – Date Claimers 

• Term 2 Training will commence on Tuesday 19 April as per ‘Term 2 Training Schedule’ posted on the website
• Saturday 23 April AIC Rugby and Football trial v MAR (full school trial- Year 5-Year 12)
• Saturday 30 April Round 1 – Saturday 11 June Round 7 as per College calendar

Holiday Training Schedule
Ballymore Cup
A 25-man squad will participate in the Ballymore Cup to be played from the 2-4 April. The 1st coaching staff will communicate directly with those students involved.

1st Rugby Camp
32 rugby players will participate in a rugby camp on the Gold Coast from 7-9 April. All information forms have been given to those involved.

1st Football Camp
A squad list and schedule for the 1st football camp will be posted on the web. The football camp will be conducted at Villanova Park on Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 April for those boys in the squad.

AIC Cross Country – Mr Brian Pascoe, Cross Country Coordinator
Easter Training Program – Year 7-12
The cross-country training for the ‘Running Wildcats’ has had a very positive start for those runners who have been training. I strongly encourage each member of the squad to continue training through the Easter holidays to maintain the fitness developed through some outstanding training during the latter stages of Term 1.

The AIC Cross-Country Championships are scheduled for Wednesday the 1st of June, at St Patrick’s College, Sandgate.

There have been many students who have uploaded the Strava app. I encourage further members of the cross-country squad to download the free app and join the club. Although, the Strava app works better on fitness trackers and smart watches it is also very effective with any smart phone. However, you will need to carry your phone (arm brace preferable) when running to get maximum benefit from the app.

Strava is a free digital service accessible through both mobile applications and the web. Many students have been uploading runs regularly, following other athletes, giving them kudos and comments, joining clubs and challenges.

It is a closed club so to join the squad on Strava please join Strava and request access to the:-  Running Wildcats Cross Country Squad.

• Or use the link https://www.strava.com/clubs/893528

Easter Training
The recommended Cross-Country training each week should incorporate (using the table below):

• One session from Option 4, with the Parkrun being the preferred option.
• Two sessions from Option 1, 2 or 3.

Warm – up for all sessions 10-minute Jog + Drills/Run throughs (High knees, Butt flicks etc),  the usual warm-up completed before each Cross-Country session.

Villanova College Cross-Country Easter Holiday Training Program

Please email any of the coaches if you require further clarification about the Cross-Country holiday training program.
We look forward to having each runner in the team, become the best runner he can be. Dedication to training especially when no one is watching, is a key habit that enable a team, and an individual, to grow in character.  Challenge yourself boys because we are confident of you becoming a ‘winner’.

Please see former British athletics Coach Frank Dick describe what winning is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIrdZ9PWahc

Junior Cross-Country Training – Mr Tom Lonergan, Year 5 and Year 6 Cross Country Coach
Things you need to know about the cross-country season:

Regular Training – Sessions held on Monday and Wednesday during term 3.15 – 4.30pm at Little Langlands.

Holiday Training (non-compulsory) – 8.30 – 10am at Whites Hill Reserve on the following days in April: Monday 4, Wednesday 6 and Friday 8 (Week 1), Monday 11, Wednesday 13 and Friday 15 (Week 2) and Monday 18.

Term 2 Regular Training – After school training re-commences on Wednesday 20 April at Little Langlands 3.15 – 4.30 pm.

Villanova Runners Club (non-compulsory) – Sundays 4 – 5pm at Whites Hill Reserve, Camp ill. This session commences on Sunday 24 April. Villanova College boys, siblings and friends are all invited.

Lytton District 10 – 12 years Trial – Thursday 5 May 2022 at Villanova Park Tingalpa. More than 20 schools contest this trial where the best eight finishers, in each age group, move on to contest the Met East Trial. The competition is structured so that all boys who turn 10 years, 11 years and 12 years in 2022 compete in their own age groups. Boys serious about doing well in this event need to train during the school holidays.

AIC Trials – Villanova boys will run against other AIC schoolboys on the following dates:

• Wednesday 11 May – AIC Meet at St Laurence’s College Playing Fields, Runcorn. Hosted by St Laurence’s, this will be held in the afternoon after school. Buses will transport the squad to the venue and back to Villanova at the completion of the meet.
• Wednesday 18 May – AIC Meet at Curlew Park, Sandgate. Hosted by St Patrick’s, this will be held in the afternoon after school. Buses will transport the squad to the venue and back to Villanova at the completion of the meet.

AIC Championships – Wednesday 1 June 2021 at Curlew Park, Sandgate
Communication

• Ms Amy Roberts is Manager of Juniors Cross Country; She can be contacted at the College during school hours via email aroberts@vnc.qld.edu.au.
• Mr Tom Lonergan is Head Coach. He can be contacted by email at lonert24@gmail.com or by phone on 3349 0767

To enable better communication with parents, about their son’s performances at training and in competitions, we would like a family email address. (Ms Roberts will organise). A group email will then be constructed, and newsletters, results and location of training/competition changes can be notified.

Representative Sport
A huge congratulations to Thomas Winn, Henry Wright and Oliver Wright for being selected in the Met East Golf Team.  Oscar Tanks and Jay Gill were also selected to represent Met East in the 13-15 years AFL Team. Both teams will compete at their respective State Championships in late May, all the best boys!

Composite/ Met East
Composite/Met East trial paperwork is now available in the Sports Office for the sport/s listed below

Mr Craig Stariha, Director of Sport

Last term Villanova entered a team from Year 7/8 into the Just Dance esports in the Brisbane region competition of The FUSE Cup. The FUSE Cup (www.thefusecup.com.au) is a fast-growing national and now international esports league which brings together students from Year 5 – Year 10 to compete in a safe, structured and supervised competition where they will also learn about resilience and collaboration in online gaming, mental health and digital wellbeing.

Over two days, students from many schools across the greater Brisbane area competed online via Microsoft Teams. Five Just Dance songs were randomly selected per round and our combined team scores over both rounds qualified us to compete at the Brisbane regional finals in Week 3 of this term.

Our esports team was made up of our top four ranked dancers plus reserves and technical/online support. The key dancers who performed online were Zach Henderson, Elijah La Porte, Lewis Nunn, and Hamish O’Toole. Our reserves/support team on the day were Paulo Albuquerque, Isaac Hyam, Chase Midgley, Max Neumann and Harry Woodward. The boys worked well together to support and encourage the greatest level of performance we could muster against our sporting rivals, larger colleges and co-educational schools.

We now reset as a team as we look toward the regional finals against Forest Lake State High School, St Laurence’s College and Whites Hill State College. I hope to share more success in future as our foundation Just Dance team sets its sights on winning the Brisbane division to qualify for the state finals on the Gold Coast in October.

Mr Jason Lane,  Esports Coordinator

We are now seeking volunteers to help with canteen and barista duties at Villanova Park.
Register your interest to volunteer here:  Volunteering at Villanova » Villanova College (vnc.qld.edu.au)

Any inquiries please contact: Sarah Patterson: spatterson@vnc.qld.edu.au