Sarah Wall gets the ball rolling at the first Jeanieboy Dream Catcher Netball Academy training session last night.
THIRTY-six aspiring netballers were put through their paces at the first of three sessions under the guidance of former Melbourne Vixens netballer Sarah Wall last night.
Wall, a Camperdown export, launched her Jeanieboy Dream Catchers Netball Academy at the Arc.
The program was developed to help under 15 netballers reach their potential in the sport and potentially form a pathway to the elite level.
Wall enlisted former East Warrnambool coach Katie Burt to help run the program, which was also rolled out in Dandenong and Broome. The three sessions focus on mind, body and soul.
Wall said she had organised special guests for the second and third training runs but was keeping their identities hidden.
She had originally planned to select 21 girls for the inaugural program but the interest from south-west netballers was overwhelming.
“I am so excited. It’s been a thorough process to select the girls,” she said.
“I selected 36 girls. I did originally say 21 but we got so many fantastic responses.”
Last night’s session focused on goal setting and the appropriate way to use social media.
The girls then took part in an on-court session.
Burt said the group would learn more training techniques throughout the program.
“It is a new way of training and it’s very exciting for me because I have always had new ideas and approaches and I am really open to the mind, body and soul concept,” she said.
“I am so excited because I get to work with someone who has the same ideas.”
Burt, who will take on a coaching role at Victorian Netball League club Geelong Cougars next season, said she expected the Dream Catchers program to thrive. “Sarah touches a lot of people’s lives across Australia,” she said.
justine.mc@standard.fairfax.com.au