Sports
Coaching clinics
The Macquarie Sports Coaching program includes 80 clinics delivered to more than 8000 children per year. These are conducted by national sporting identities such as former Australian Test cricket opener Matthew Hayden, former Australian netball captain Liz Ellis and Australian basketballer and Olympian Jason Smith.
The coaching programs aim to inspire children, with particular focus on disadvantaged children, to participate in sport and promote a healthy and active lifestyle. Most importantly the children interact with and learn from some of Australia's best role models all of whom are passionate about improving all children's access to sport.
Macquarie Sports Cricket Program
Macquarie Sports annual cricket program sees key players from World Cricket coach more than 1200 children throughout Australia. In 2009/10, this included Australian cricketers Matthew Hayden, Stuart Clark, James Hopes and David Hussey, former Australian cricketers Allan Border, Andy Bichel, Michael Kasprowicz, Dean Jones, Colin 'Funky' Miller and Steve Rixon.
Over the past years international cricketers including Sir Richard Hadlee, Graham Thorpe, Ian Botham and Sir Vivian Richards have all been involved in the program. The cricket program strives to encourage children of all levels to enjoy the game as well as developing their existing skills.
Included in the program are the Cricket Leadership Forums in which more than 100 young cricketing leaders, identified by their schools and grade cricket clubs, receive coaching from many of the cricketers mentioned above. On the day, the boys have the opportunity to interact and learn from players who have achieved at the highest levels of the game and receive training in public speaking and media skills.
Matthew Hayden
Netball Clinics
Macquarie Sports offers over 1500 children throughout Sydney and the greater metropolitan area an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of netball, as well as receiving expert coaching from representative and higher level players. Clinics consist of of skills development, drills, passing, defence, shooting and games.
Coaches include former Australian captain Liz Ellis and current Australian players Catherine Cox and Kim Green.
Catherine Cox
Brumbies Rugby Skills Clinic
Macquarie Sports, in conjunction with the Brumbies, runs a rugby skills clinic each year for 700 junior players. During the clinics, participants learn the fundamental skills of rugby from Brumbies and Wallabies players including Mark Gerrard, George Smith, Tyrone Smith, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander and Adam Ashley-Cooper. The participants come from metropolitan Sydney and regional and disadvantaged communities.
Please click on this short video to see some highlights of the Brumbies 2010 rugby clinic.
Police and Community Youth Clubs Basketball Coaching Program
The Police and Community Youth Clubs (PCYCs) Basketball Coaching program, supported by Macquarie Sports, involves at-risk young people from inner-city PCYCs and other teenagers with a keen interest in basketball.
Professional players and coaches deliver the program each week over a four-week period with the overall aim of teaching all participants the importance of leadership, communication skills and goal-setting, as well as improving their basketball skills. For disadvantaged children from marginalised communities in Sydney, the program provides an opportunity to participate in sport and learn about health, fitness and teamwork.
Kids to Kangaroos Clinics
Macquarie Sports in conjunction with the Australian Rugby League Development, run Kids to Kangaroos Clinics each year throughout Australia. The clinics are a fun Rugby League experience for boys and girls aged 5 to 12 years. More than 15, 000 kids learn the skills of the game and participate in Rugby League lead up games in a safe and fun environment.
Beyond the Clinics, as one of Macquarie Sports leading athletes, Nathan Hindmarsh (Australian and NSW representative from the Parramatta Eels) is passionate about spending time out in the clubs and schools interacting with and coaching children. Throughout the Rugby League season Nathan will visit schools, clubs and regional gala days as a coach and role model. As a result, over 500 children from 15 clubs and schools will be coached by Nathan and receive sporting equipment from Macquarie Sports.
Nathan Hindmarsh
Applications are now closed for the 2011/12 scholarship program
As most women’s sports are not professional in status, the majority of elite female athletes compete at a national or international level as well as studying or working full time to support themselves. The Macquarie Sports Young Women’s Professional Development Scholarships give elite young sportswomen the opportunity to equip themselves with the networks and resources necessary to make a smooth transition from the sporting arena to the workplace. The scholarship provides financial support, workplace training, career and sporting mentoring, work experience and casual employment.
For more information about the scholarship, click here.
2011/12 scholarship recipients are:
Servet Uzunlar - Football
Lavinia Chrystal - Alpine Skiiing
Past scholarship recipients include: