Two new team members
We’re delighted to welcome Amy Sly and Leah Furlong to the Elite Netball Academy team. Get to know them more below:
Leah Furlong
What do you enjoy about netball coaching?
I enjoy netball coaching as I like to inspire athletes to get involved with the sport I love. Having a positive impact on someone’s journey is a great feeling. Coaching at Elite has given me some amazing experiences such as coaching in Paris.
Tell us more about your netball playing & coaching experiences
I started playing netball in primary school and then joined my local club. I then went on to play for my county pathway. I now represent my university playing in their BUCs team every Wednesday. My coaching journey has allowed me to coach for club, county, Manchester Thunder pathway and now Elite. I feel very privileged and grateful for the opportunity to be working full-time in a sport I love.
How’s it going at the Merseyside Academy where you’re head coach
The Merseyside Academy is really strong. We have a great group of girls who turn up and work hard every week. The potential is amazing and I can’t wait to see where the players go in the future.
Off the court, what do you enjoy doing?
I am studying for a degree in Sport and Exercise Science. I hoping that this can increase my knowledge to use alongside my coaching.
Amy Sly
What do you enjoy about netball coaching?
Seeing the impact netball can have on players! Facilitating this as a coach and seeing girls and women loving sport and everything that comes with it is brilliant.
Long-term love for the sport is fundamentally a theme I aim to put into each session along with creating an environment where players can develop their skills and challenge themselves to be successful. When I am coaching, I like to throw in a fun and silly warm-up game to get players in the right frame of mind for the session – at the moment Croc Hockey is the top choice!
Tell us more about your netball playing & coaching experiences
I have played netball since I was in primary school and continued to play throughout school, college and university, I’ve always loved playing and I have been fortunate to have some great coaches who created a fun and challenging environment. Currently, I play in the prem division of the local Gloucestershire league, and still look forward to playing on a Saturday!
Although I enjoy playing netball and being in a competitive environment, my focus has always been more on the coaching pathway and seeing where my coaching journey would take me. I have worked with some great coaches and learnt a lot from these experiences. I have been involved in coaching athletes from age 5 to 18 and I have enjoyed working with different age groups and all the challenges each age group brings. Currently, I coach for Challengers Netball Club, working with the regional U16 team. This is my second year coaching this age group and is definitely the age group I have enjoyed coaching the most so far.
How’s it going at the Gloucester Academy where you’re head coach?
The Gloucester Academy is great! Players attend from a wide range of clubs and schools in the area. They work hard and turn up with a great attitude to improve and develop. Recently we have been working on understanding our fundamental skills and how important it is to nail the basics, as well as improving fitness and conditioning to give players that extra edge. I am looking forward to seeing the girls continue to develop and grow more confident in their netball ability and see where their time at Elite takes them.
Off the court, what do you enjoy doing?
When I am not coaching or playing, I like going to the gym. Lifting weights and feeling stronger is something I am learning is important. During the summer months, when the weekends are a bit quieter, I really enjoy going horse riding. This is something I have been doing since I was 5 and stayed a big part of my life until I went to university. At this point riding and netball did a swap and netball became my priority, but I still love to go riding when I can!
Meet the rest of the Elite team, here.
