Sports Bulletin – Issue 17, 24 November 2023

It has been a massive 2023 in the sporting arena, with over 190 teams across 14 AIC Sports. All in all, over 1200 students and 200 coaches have been engaged in Villa Sport in 2023.
Congratulations to our Premiership winning Firsts teams in Basketball and Rugby League. Also our Aggregate winning programmes in Basketball and Cricket.
We have included some of the Sports Office favourite shots from the year!

Term 1 Sport Uniforms
Prior to the start of Term 1, families are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Villanova College Uniform Look Book. This information is found on the website Uniform Shop page. Opening hours for the Uniform Shop can also be found here. All students selected in AIC teams are expected to wear the correct uniform for AIC fixtures each week.

Please note for students playing AFL and Volleyball, the College supplied ‘hire jerseys’ for these sports. Students will receive information on when to collect their hire jerseys from the Sports Office/Uniform Shop in Week 1, Term 1. This is coordinated by the Sports Office, so parents do not need to collect hire jerseys.

Once collected, students will wear their hire jersey for all AIC fixtures in Term 1 and return to the Uniform Shop following the final round. The College generally allows a couple of weeks following the last round for hire jerseys to be returned. Following this, parents may incur a late fee. Information regarding this process will be available in the College Newsletters in Term 1.

Communications
Families are reminded to access all Sport information via the Villanova College website and the Villanova College App. The Locker Room tab provides updated information regarding training schedules and current AIC/trial draws.

Sport Contact List
If you are requiring information about a specific Sport, in the first instance, visit the website Locker Room page. If you need further clarification, please contact the relevant coordinator below:

Director of Sport – Shaun McLean, smclean@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC AFL Coordinator – Matt Conlan, mconlan@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Cricket Coordinator – Chris Everding, ceverding@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Swimming Coordinator – Juanita Jacobs, jjacobs@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Volleyball Coordinator – Todd Kropp, tkropp@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Cross-Country Coordinator – Brian Pascoe – bpascoe@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Chess Coordinator – Kath Underhill, kunderhill@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Football Coordinator – Nathan Dufty, ndufty@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Rugby Union Coordinator – Chris Everding, ceverding@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Golf Coordinator – Todd Kropp, tkropp@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Basketball Coordinator – TBC – contact the Director of Sport
AIC Rugby League Coordinator – Alex Russell, arussell@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Tennis Coordinator – Nathan Dufty, ndufty@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Track & Field Coordinator – Anthony Kemp, akemp@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Water Polo Coordinator – Juanita Jacobs, jjacobs@vnc.qld.edu.au
Composite District Sport – Todd Kropp, tkropp@vnc.qld.edu.au
Lytton District Sport – Chris Everding, ceverding@vnc.qld.edu.au

AIC Draft Draw 2024
Please find attached the “draft” AIC Draw for 2024. Please note this is only a draft version and changes may occur prior to the commencement of Term 1, 2024.

AIC Draw 2024 (draft only)

 Holiday tours, camps and clinics
Over the Holiday period, a number of Villanova teams will continue training and other activities in preparation for their respective 2024 seasons. The following lists are ‘date claimers’ for the holiday period.

Training Schedules
For all updated information regarding training and selection trials schedules, please visit the Locker Room page of the Villanova College website.
Please see below the (draft) training schedules for Term 1, 2024. Please note some adjustments may be made leading into Week 1. Please note all training resumes from Monday morning 22 January.

All Sports – Term 1 Training Schedule – 2024 (includes S&C and S&A)

AFL Training Schedule – Term 1, 2024

Cricket Training Schedule – Term 1, 2024

Volleyball Training Schedule – Term 1, 2024

Captains – Term 1 Sport
Congratulations to our Term 1 Sport Captains in AFL, Cricket, Swimming and Volleyball. It is a great honour to be Captain; one that comes with great responsibility. We wish these four young men well as they lead and serve their respective communities in 2024.

AFL Captain – Oscar Tanks
Cricket Captain – Finn Thallon
Swimming Captain – Daniel Walding
Volleyball Captain – Luke Caffery

Mr Shaun McLean, Director of Sport

AFL
The Open Firsts Squad travel to Alexandra Headlands 27 and 28 November for their training camp. This will be a great opportunity for players to train, meet and socialise leading into the Term 1 season.
Training for our Open teams commences from Monday 8 January, with sessions on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 6:15-7:45am at Coorparoo AFL.
Training for all other teams commences from Monday 22 January. See above the training schedule for AFL in Term 1.

Matt Conlan, AFL Coordintor

Cricket
Year 4 Competition Wraps Up
Our Year 5 students for 2024, concluded their six-week cricket competition at Kianawah Park last Saturday afternoon. The main focus of the competition is for the boys to meet new boys who will be entering into Villanova next year and hopefully create some friendships will make the start of next year more exciting and enjoyable for them. It also gave parents the opportunity to also make new friends and to meet the other parents who will share the Villa journey with them for the next eight years.

As each Saturday went by, it was clear to see that the main goal was achieved, as many of the boys seemed to have more fun getting together off the field than actually playing cricket. We did however, entice a few boys to sign on and play cricket next year and hopefully, this is the start of a number cricket careers here at Villanova.

Thanks to the parents for coaching, scoring and umpiring to make each week run smoothly.

Cricket Coaches Needed
Unfortunately, we have found it difficult to find coaches to cover some of our teams. If there are parents who could volunteer to take on a coaching role for any of the following teams, it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact ceverding@vnc.qld.edu.au if you can help: 9B and 8C

Zone Cricket Break Up Day
Next Saturday, 2 December, there will be a breakup for all Zone Cricket teams at Villa Park. Teams are asked to assemble after the conclusion of their matches at approximately 12pm. A BBQ will be provided and a can of drink for all players and their families. Please let your team manager know this Saturday how many will be attending, so we can make sure we cater for everyone. Trophies will also be awarded to players in each team at the BBQ.

Villanova Cricket Program Holiday Date Reminders.
Trial matches Vs Gregory Terrace – Wednesday 29 November
1^st XI, 2^nd XI, 10A and 5A teams only.
All matches starting at 9.00AM at Tennyson Playing Fields.

Cricket Oblate Cup – Sunday 3 – Thursday 7 December.
All games will be played at Villa Park.

Australian Schoolboy Cricket Championships – Monday 8 – Friday 12 January.
Please note – both squads (1^st XI and Under 15) are required to train at Little Langlands nets from 7.00-8.30am on Friday January 5.
Coloured clothing and tournament details will be distributed by the coaches at the allocated training session.

AIC 1^st XI T20 Carnival – Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 January.
All games will be played at Banyo Playing Fields.

AIC 10A T20 Carnival – Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 January.
All matches will be played at Marist College Ashgrove.

Villanova Junior Cricket Camp – Tuesday 16, Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 January.
This camp will be held at Villa Park. The camp runs from 8.00am – 12.00pm daily. (12 hours total duration)
The Cricket Camp is open to all students from Years 5-10 (2024).
For anyone wanting to REGISTER, please email npdcricket@gmail.com directly for further information.

Internal Cricket Trials – Friday 19 January at Villa Park.
2nds/3rds Match (12.45pm-5.15pm) Andrew Slack Oval
10A/10B Match (8.00am – 12.30pm) Andrew Slack Oval
9A/9B Match (12.45pm – 5.15pm) John Seary Oval
8A/8B Match (12.45pm – 5.15pm) Villa Park Oval 3 (Turf)
7A/7B Match (8.00am-12.30pm) John Seary Oval
6A/6B Match (8.00am-12.30pm) Villa Park Oval 3 (Turf)

Mr Chris Everding, Cricket Coordinator

Swimming
AIC Swimming training continues on Tuesday (7-8am), Thursday (7-8am) and Friday mornings (6:15-7:45am) at Langlands Pool.
A reminder that the Swimming Information Pack is on the Locker Room page, with details on dates, times, payments and flipper packs.

Please note an update for holiday sessions. AIC Swimming training continues through now until Friday 15 December 2023 and commences again from Tuesday 9 January 2024. Originally we had it listed as finishing on the 22 December, this has now been brought forward a week.

Please see information below regarding the Villa Swim Clinic on Monday 15 January 2024. The clinic will run from 7:00-9:30am at Langlands Pool. There is no cost. Please RSVP to Mrs Jacobs, jjacobs@vnc.qld.edu.au by Wednesday 10 January. This clinic is open to all students from all year levels.

Mrs Juanita Jacobs, Swimming Coordinator

Volleyball
I wish to thank and congratulate all Volleyball players and coaches for their work during the trial process and matches. With Volleyball now finished for the year, we will welcome back our teams to the skills clinic in January of 2024 (details via link below).

January 2024 Skills Clinic

Whilst the Year begins to wind down, our First VI Squad will ‘ramp up’ as we begin the hunt for the AIC Premiership in 2024. Our First team will head up the range and take on Toowoomba Grammar School in our annual December challenge. A selection of these students will also represent Villanova College at the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup on the Gold Coast in early December. Following on from their gold medal placing in August, these boys will contest Year 11 Division 1 against some of the best schools in Australia. Good luck to these boys and coach Angus and Shania.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge and congratulate the First VI Leadership Team: Ewan McCarthy, Lachlan Gillett and First VI Volleyball Captain Luke Caffery.

I wish everyone a safe and happy festive season.

Mr Todd Kropp, Volleyball Coordinator

Speed & Agility Training – Term 1, 2024 – Years 5, 6, 7 and 8 students
In 2024, we will be commencing a new Speed & Agility Programme for students in Years 5, 6, 7 and 8. The programme will be run by Matt Scott, who is one of our Villanova Track & Field sprint coaches.

The programme will cater for all ability levels and will run for 8 weeks in each term. Students will need to register via email to smclean@vnc.qld.edu.au and a payment is required for this programme. The payment link is available on Parent Lounge. Please RSVP by 5/2/2024.

Term 1 Speed & Agility programme – Years 5-8 students 2024

Speed & Agility sessions will continue for Years 9-12 students in Term 1, 2024. These sessions will run from 7:00-8:00am on Whinstanes and are free of charge as they are run by our S&C team from Athletix. Please email smclean@vnc.qld.edu.au to register.

Strength & Conditioning – holiday programs
The Villa gym will continue to operate in the holidays for the following groups:

• Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings 6:30-8am – Andrew Slack Squad.
• Tuesday and Thursday mornings 6:30-8am – Open/Firsts Squads only.

The sessions will run up until Friday 22 December and recommence on Monday 8 January 2024.
For those students looking for a dedicated Strength & Conditioning program over the break, please see information below from Athletix.

Mr Marco Mastrorocco, S&C Coordinator and Owner/Director of Athletix gym

External Achievements
2023 was a very memorable year for four students who were selected at representative level for Touch Football.  In July, Billy Pearson, Lenny Hine, Charlie Farmer and Eamon Cowley won the Junior State Championships for U14 boys Touch Football in Rockhampton. From this they went on to win the DoorDash National Youth Championships in October. From Nationals, Charlie Farmer has been selected in the 2024 Queensland Youth Academy for U14 Broncos NRL Touch Football representative team.  What an amazing achievement for a group of dedicated touch footy players.

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Volleyball
For any volleyball students interested in some sport specific holiday strength and conditioning training, you can contact coach Jess via jess@rydertraining.com.au.

Cross-Country/Track & Field
Opportunities for Villa athletes to join external training groups for “Sprints & Hurdles” and “Middle Distance/Cross-Country Training.”
Matt Scott is a Sprints Coach for Villanova Track & Field and is running our Speed & Agility programme for Years 5-8 in 2024.