It's been a big year for CNC's Junior Netball Coordinator, Sara Norton. We profile Sara and ask her also about her coaching achievements this year.

CNC: How long have you been working at CNC?

SN: 2018 was my third year working at CNC

CNC: What does your role as Junior Netball Coordinator involve?

SN: My role as Junior Netball Coordinator involves the delivery of the Mother Earth futureFERNS programmes, facilitating coach workshops, running school holiday programmes, planning and running the Year 7-8 tournaments, delivering in school netball sessions, after school netball sessions, overseeing our satellite programmes, attending community events and much more! There is also a LOT of planning and administration involved.

CNC: What’s coming up in 2019 in the Junior netball space?

SN: 2019 is going to be a busy and exciting year. We have some new Junior Programmes to offer to schools, new Year 1-2 satellites starting up and we will be running lots of Have a Go Days out in different areas of Christchurch. We will continue to offer all of our usual programmes as well.

CNC: You’ve had a big year in coaching, earning your CCA Level 2 and winning the CNC Annual Award for Coach of Year. How did it feel winning this award?

SN: Winning CNC Coach of the Year was totally unexpected and a real honour! It was a busy year of coaching, but also a rewarding one with Hornby A moving up a grade again, Middleton Grange A winning into Supernet Reserve and moving up 6 places at SISS (my first year with them), CNC U14 White Representative team coming 3^rd at Zone tournament and Hornby B staying in the seeded section of 2^nd grade (I coached Hornby B for the 2^nd half of the season). I also coached a Year 7-8 team for Selwyn House School this year.

Achieving CCA2 was just awesome, I am hoping that I will be able to continue on the Performance Coach pathway in 2019.

And just when you think I couldn’t fit anything else into such a cool year – I was also awarded Hornby Netball Club’s Founders Trophy at the club prizegiving.

CNC: Who will you be coaching in 2019 and have you set any goals for 2019 at this stage?

SN: My 2019 coaching will be similar to this year. I will be coaching the Hornby A and B teams with the help of an Assistant Coach. The goal for Hornby A is to make Prem 2 by the end of the season, fingers crossed, and Hornby B to move up a couple of sections, perhaps top of 2^nd grade.

I have been asked to coach Middleton Grange A again next year and the goal will be to stay in the Supernet competition and to finish in the top 3 of B grade at SISS. I believe that Middleton Grange A will be entering the CNC 2^nd grade tournament in 2019.

I will also throw my hat in the ring for a Rep team again, I really enjoy the U14/U15 level at this point in time.

CNC: Please tell us something we may not know about you?

SN: I love a wee sing-song and can often be found participating at my local Karaoke bar!

CNC: Describe yourself in three words:

SN: Committed, hardworking and reliable!

Congratulations on a great year, and we look forward to what's coming up for you and the Centre in the Junior netball space in 2019.

Article added: Friday 02 November 2018