The Illawarra Academy of Sport girls’ rugby 7s athletes have taken their game to a new level following a collaboration with Athletics Australia track and field coach Danielle Szakacs.
Szakacs, who owns Danszak Speed Squad and trains athletes across the Illawarra in sprints and middle-distance running, held a speed and agility training session with the girls’ rugby 7s athletes as they begin the scholarship year.
Both the Illawarra Academy of Sport U14 and U16 girls’ rugby 7s squads undertook the speed and agility training session, with two more sessions planned in December.
“The speed session was great and the speed and agility drills were really good,” girls’ rugby 7s U16s athlete Zali Milthorpe said.
“The session was very different to rugby union training and the speed training will help my running game.
“Rugby 7s is a fast-paced game, and speed is important. By becoming faster, it will help our team win games, and all the girls in the squad will benefit.”
Milthorpe, who can play in the halves or on the wing, has a younger sister and said she enjoyed training with her sibling as they battled it out to see who was the fastest on the footy field.
“It was cool training with my sister. She is younger than me, and we don’t always have the opportunity to train together,” she said.
“It was good fun, and we are very competitive and try to beat each other in the running.”
Zarielle Jack plays as a forward in the U14s squad and said the speed and agility session will help her get quicker and move better on the field.
“The session helped me with my speed, taking off and quick movements,” Jack said.
“Rugby 7s is a fast game, so speed is important, even for forwards, and it was good to work on my speed.
“It was my first time doing a speed session, and I’m looking forward to continuing the training with Danielle.”
Szakacs said all the athletes enjoyed the session and will continue to improve their game as the training continues.
“The first session with both teams went very well, the girls were enthusiastic from the beginning,” she said.
“In just our initial session, there was a big improvement in technique which will contribute to overall speed on the field. With some further training planned, I believe that the players will see improvement in their sprinting.
“I thoroughly enjoyed working with the girls and I am looking forward to the next few weeks training with both teams.”
