We’re beyond excited to be launching an Elite Netball Academy in Dubai! This is such an exciting opportunity for athletes in the UAE to work with highly experienced performance coaches.
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Hear from our Director Anna Carter to understand more about Elite Netball Academy and what we offer.
Trials have taken place and we’re excited to introduce our team of coaches.
Lucia Sdao
From captaining England U18 and U21 teams to earning 101 test caps and competing in World Cups and Commonwealth Games, Lucia’s playing career is nothing short of iconic. As a coach, she’s led teams in the UK’s top performance pathways alongide technical coaching roles with England and leadership roles in the UAE.
Let’s get to know Lucia a bit better…
Why are you joining Elite?
I’m super excited about a new netball academy coming to town, one that has a big reputation in the UK. Nat Panagarry, who writes the programme, is an awesome player, so I’m keen to learn from her! You’re never too old to learn!
Tell us about the netball academy in Dubai and how it will develop players.
Elite is a proven academy, it has helped to produce performance athletes in the UK and excited to see how we can develop the Dubai kids too. There is so much talent and potential in Dubai, and Elite can only add to that performance potential.
Where do you get your coaching inspiration from?
As an experienced coach and player (long time ago!) I’ve had the privilege of being coached and playing alongside some of the best in the business! I like to watch innovative coaches at work, those who are pushing boundaries and finding new ways to do things – keep learning and moving the game forward! Tracey Neville is my kind of coach, straight-talking and innovative!
What’s it like coaching netball in Dubai?
So good, there are so many players who want to learn, great facilities, supportive parents, amazing sponsors, sunshine! What’s not to love? I can’t wait to get going with Elite and see what difference we can make! Plus, I love workin with Sophie Hankin and all that she’s about.
If you weren’t a netball coach what would you do…
Gosh good question! Maybe some sort of sports psychologist
What has netball taught you?
Resilience, teamwork, organisation, tolerance, patience, determination, working towards a goal! Love it – it’s my life! Alongside my twins and our Labrador!
Sophie Hankin
From courtside watching her sisters to carving out her own elite path, our Dubai Performance Lead, Sophie Hankin’s netball journey began at just eight years old. By 14 she was in a Superleague pathway, and by 17, she had broken into the senior side. Appearances for England U21s in the World Youth Cup followed as well as joining a senior tour to Australia. And throw in another sport because netball wasn’t her only ball game. Up to age 15, Sophie was a top-level basketball player too, until time constraints meant she had to pick one sport.
Let’s get to know Sophie a bit better…
Why are you joining Elite?
The success that Elite has had with its Academies in the UK shows they have great initiative and want to inspire as many athletes as they can. This translates perfectly with what I am hoping to achieve within the UAE.
Tell us about the netball academy in Dubai and how it will develop players.
We are hoping to increase the performance of many more athletes, not only to build on their netball game, but also attributes that they can take into their day-to-day life; such as discipline, commitment, teamwork, etc.
Where do you get your coaching inspiration from?
I have been lucky to have been coached by world-class individuals and have learnt and taken away certain characteristics from their coaching techniques to create my own take on what I believe to be a good coach.
Tell us about your netball journey?
It has been a long and eventful one. Full of success, heartbreak, disappointment, fulfilment, injuries and setbacks but it has got me to where I am now, and I am very thankful for it. It has taught me a lot of lessons as an athlete that I now take on board as a coach, and has led me to successes such as being the UAE U21 coach.
What’s it like coaching netball in Dubai?
It comes with its difficulties, with netball being very new on the block, you face challenges of being in somewhat of a “start up” period but in the past five years it has grown with more participation and acknowledgement, it’s on the right path to being successful like other countries.
If you weren’t a netball coach what would you do?
I would still be in the fitness field, either full-time basketball or continuing my previous job of personal training.
What has netball taught you?
It’s taught me to be resilient and disciplined, that hard work can take you far. It has allowed me to meet people all over the world that I can now consider close friends. I am lucky enough to now live my life in Dubai, because of netball.
Ally Harrison
Ally is a highly experienced performance coach and elite netball player with a deep-rooted passion for athlete development and high-performance sport. With a background spanning Superleague and international netball Ally brings a unique blend of competitive experience, technical knowledge and a person-first coaching philosophy.
Ally is a L2 coach with previous coaching experience at Manchester University and Tameside Juniors. She is committed to fostering strong skilled and confident players on and off the court.
To enquire about joining our Dubai Academy, please complete the enquiry form below:
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