Athlete Spotlight

Elite Netball Academy athlete Taylor started training with Anna through our Mini netball classes when she was just five years old! It’s been a pleasure watching Taylor develop into the netball player she is today and we can’t wait to see what her future in the sport looks like. We caught up with Taylor to find out why she loves netball and what she hopes to achieve in the game.

Name: Taylor

Age: 12

Club: Woodhouse Grove School, YMCA, Rhinos Hub, West Yorkshire County

Time playing netball: Seven years

Favourite international players: Nat Metcalf and Ellie Cardwell

Aspirations in netball: Progress through the Rhinos Academy

Pre-match food of choice: Porridge with granola and honey

Training with Elite Netball Academy: Two years (trained with Anna previously)

What keeps you motivated: I always want to be stronger and better at netball, I’m quite competitive with myself

How long have you been training with Elite netball Academy?

I started Mini Netball classes led by Anna at age 5 and school netball at Richmond House not long after that. I have been trained by Anna, Emily and other members of the team in the past. As soon as Elite Netball Academy started up I knew I wanted to be part of it.

What drew you to Elite Netball Academy?

I was excited about something new, there was nothing like it in our area when it first started. I began with weekly sessions and Fun Camps before progressing into the U13 and then the U15 High-Performance Centre. I also really like that there’s always a netball camp in the holidays and there are opportunities to attend workshops from top players like Nat Metcalf, Nat Panagarry and performance analyst Andrew Butterworth.

What are your favourite sessions at Elite?

I love the play days where we get to do matchplay with players from other classes at Elite. I also really enjoy the fitness testing which happens 3 times a year so I can see how I’m progressing and the things I need to work on. I’ve also been working with Rosie Harris at NETU fitness after the netball coaches at Elite suggested it would help.

How do you think Elite netball academy have helped you develop as an athlete?

Elite compliment my school, club and franchise netball perfectly. I feel like I’m getting a brilliant all-around netball training experience. Some of the best young netball players in the North attend Elite’s netball classes so the standard is really high.

What did it feel like getting into the Rhinos Hub?

I am excited to start my Rhinos journey, I would love to play for them in the Superleague one day.

Tell us about the friends you have made through training with elite

I get to train with girls who don’t attend my club or school so have made so many new friends. And we get to see each other at Performance Camps or Residential Netball Camps in the holidays too.

What would you say to anyone considering joining Elite netball academy?

Do it! Elite Netball Academy has netball classes and camps from Minis all the way through to High-Performance Centres. The netball coaches are all lovely. They push and support you to be the best you can be.

What’s it like getting advice from your idol Nat Metcalf?

Nat Metcalf is an amazing attacker, I’ve been lucky enough to attend some of her workshops through Elite Netball Academy. I also play shooter for my school team so have really enjoyed watching Ellie Cardwell recently.

To enquire about how Elite Netball Academy could progress your netball training, please fill out the contact form below a member of the Elite team will be in touch: