What an incredible weekend it was on September 14 and 15 as Sydney played host to the National Junior Training Clinic.
Held at the Liverpool Catholic Club and Marconi Club, this clinic saw the largest turnout of the year, welcoming both novice and international players from Queensland, ACT, and Victoria.
The event was a hive of activity, with warm-ups, skills drills, games, and practice sessions expertly led by Australia’s Junior Coaching Panel.
A special shout-out goes to our Head Coach Stefano Chiandotto and Junior Co-ordinator Linda Chiandotto, along with coaches David Pevere, Kerrie Reitano, and special guest coach Coco Julien. Their energy and dedication made the clinic a memorable and valuable experience for all involved.
The Liverpool Catholic Club and Marconi Club buzzed with enthusiasm, and the support from the weekend was phenomenal. Huge thanks go to our volunteers — Lucky Legato, Rosa O’Callaghan, Linda Chiandotto, and Paul Danelutti — who kept spirits high with a barbecue and delicious cakes on day one. Also, a big thank you to Marconi Club for their generous hospitality. We couldn’t have done it without you!
We’re also incredibly grateful to one of our major sponsors, Macron, for not only outfitting our junior athletes and coaches for overseas competitions at an affordable rate but also for bringing a pop-up stall to the event. Your continued support means the world to us.
Exciting news
A massive congratulations to David Pevere and Kerrie Reitano, who have been officially selected as Australian Junior Squad Coaches for the 2024 World Junior Championships in Puerto Rico.
This dynamic duo, who have successfully coached our juniors in Monaco and regularly lead national training sessions, were chosen through Bocce Australia’s newly implemented selection process.
The selection panel, made up of Head Junior Coach Stefano Chiandotto, Junior Co-ordinator Linda Chiandotto, the National Coaching Team, and parent representatives Corinne Tomasi and Paul Danelutti, met via Zoom to evaluate candidates. Facilitated by Sports Development Director Sonia Fava, the panel employed a fair and transparent scoring matrix, considering both quantitative scores and qualitative feedback.
The unanimous decision to appoint Kerrie and David as the coaching team speaks to their exceptional technical skills and leadership qualities. Their passion and dedication to the sport and the juniors is truly commendable.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the selection panel for their thoughtful work and to Kerrie and David for their ongoing commitment to the development of our Junior players. The future of bocce is bright with you at the helm.
Here’s to more exciting milestones ahead as we continue to nurture the next generation of bocce champions!
Written by Frank Funari and Samuel Pevere.