New Woodend-Hesket A-grade coach Wendy Roberts is excited by the prospect of returning to coach senior netball.
Roberts, a 17-year resident of the Macedon Ranges, has extensive playing and coaching experience, but this will be her introduction to the Riddell District Netball League.
Most recently, she’s been involved with the Macedon Ranges Netball Association junior program, having previously coached state league netball at Parkville.
She also coached the under-21 Victorian men’s team.
As a player, Roberts held an AIS scholarship for two years and played in the then-Victorian State League competition.
Roberts says she’s excited to coach the Hawks after being approached by netball co-ordinator Kellie Duff.
“I’ve never been involved in the netball-football set-up, so I’m learning on the go,” she said last week.
“I coached at Parkville then we moved up to the Macedon Ranges. My daughter got involved in netball and I got involved up here at Macedon Ranges Netball Association. It’s time for me to go back to senior netball.”
Roberts, who will also be the club’s head coach, says she knows it won’t be an easy or quick ride up the ladder, sharing Duff’s view that it’s about setting up the program for the long term.
Building foundations off the court is just as important as building them on the court, she adds.
“I want to increase the skill base and the confidence. We finished eighth of 12 teams last year and you learn from every game .
“It’s exciting that we have a complement of coaches who can work together and learn from each other. We can really get to know the players and develop them.
“You need to inspire at training and you don’t want them to get bored. We have some good foundations.”
Roberts says developing local netballers is a passion, and she wants to help out a local club instead of returning to coaching in Melbourne.
“I bring enthusiasm, energy, dedication and ownership of the player’s performance,” she said. “I have passion, hope and a strong desire for teamwork on and off the court. I believe if players connect with my vision for the club, there will be successes both developmentally and on the league ladder.”
The Hawks have also announced the reappointment of Anne-Louise Lindner as the under-19 coach. She led the under-19s this year when they won a final, the first in the club’s netball history.
Trials for the Hawks’ netball teams started on Saturday.
A second lot of trials will be held Wednesday for the open sides, while the under-19s will have a second trial session on November 24.
Information on trials is on the club’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WoodendHesketFootballNetballClub/?fref=ts
Tara Murray
