INTRODUCTION

My partner Mark and I made the move to the UK from New Zealand mid October 2008. I spent the first few months travelling around the North East getting a bit of an idea of the Talent programme in the region and I am excited about the job ahead.

After graduating from the Christchurch College of Education with a Bachelor of Sport Coaching degree I spent 2 years working at the Christchurch Netball Centre as the Netball Development Coordinator – Christchurch Netball is one of the largest Centre’s in New Zealand with over 530 teams and 40 netball courts. After leaving Christchurch Netball Centre, I spent 18 months as the Regional Manager for Touch Canterbury (Touch Rugby) before retuning to netball as a Coach Educator for Netball Tasman and the Tasman Regional Sports Trust.

My role as Regional Talent Coach involves supporting and developing athletes and coaches within the Regional Excel pathway through:
1. The implementation of high quality Excel Programmes;
2. Providing guidance and support for athletes;
3. Provide guidance and support for coaches;
4. Ensuring more accessible opportunities for athletes.

CURRENT FUTURE PROJECTS

I am currently in the process of putting together a regional plan, but am hoping to have several coaching workshops up and running in the New Year covering attacking skills, defence and specific shooters clinics. Coaches are key to the success of any talent programme and I hope to be able to support coaches currently involved and look to attract more coaches into the Excel Programme. I am also looking into the opportunity to hold a Regional Summer Camp both for players and coaches.

My first task as Regional Talent coach has been to deliver the new England Netball Excel Framework to all academy (and potential) coaches in the region. So far a workshop has been run in Cramlington for the Northumberland and Tyne & Wear coaches. The Durham and Tees Valley session is scheduled for 7th February at Tees Valley Sport. England Netball’s objective is to be the ‘Number 1 Ranked Team in the World” in the next 10 years. This can only be achieved by the work we put in at Regional, County and Satellite level.

The North East is a fantastic netball region with very passionate volunteers and coaches. I look forward to making a difference for netball in the North East. Please feel free to make contact if I can be of any assistance.

CURRENT ACADEMIES

Satellite and County academies are currently being run at:
Northumberland – Joan Campbell j.campbell@northumberland.gov.uk
Satellite: Willowburn Satellite - Alnwick, Cramlington Satellite & Prudhoe Satellite.
County: Cramlington
Tyne & Wear – Gill Mason gillmasona@blueyounder.co.uk
County: U14, U16 & U19, Blue Flames
Tees Valley – Audra Hunt A.Hunt@tees.ac.uk 
Satellite: Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland Academy, Darlington Academy & Stockton & Thornaby Academy
County: coming in 2009
North Durham – North East Regional Office northeast@englandnetball.co.uk 
County: Mortimer Community College, South Shields.
County Durham– North East Regional Office northeast@englandnetball.co.uk
Satellite: Peterlee Academy & Durham High School Academy

The Regional Academy details are as follows:
• Screening: 1st February 2009
• Training dates: 8th February, 8th & 29th March, 19th April & 10th May, venues are currently being confirmed.
• Players will be in 2 age groups: Under 14 and 14 & over. Players may be moved between groups depending on ability.
• For more information, please contact Kelly Hedley, Regional Talent Coach.

Kelly Hedley
Regional Talent Coach – North East
hedleyk@englandnetball.co.uk
0789 4620 596

Click Here to download details about the County Netball Festival 2009