Out and About with Our Coaches

Over the past few months, it has been so much fun connecting directly with coaches across our zone. Alongside Aimee Te Whata, WBOP Participation Lead, we have had the privilege of visiting several centres to deliver futureFERNS workshops with Centre Coach Developers, as well as Netball NZ Community Coach Award 1 (CCA1) workshops.

We have worked with coaches from a wide range of backgrounds and experience levels, including some incredibly talented secondary school-aged coaches.

What continues to stand out is the enthusiasm and willingness of coaches to learn, share ideas, and support one another. The workshops have provided valuable opportunities for coaches to connect, exchange practical coaching tips, and explore ways to keep their sessions engaging, player-centred and fun.

This experience has also reinforced that many coaches are still seeking guidance around what to coach and how to coach it. Creating opportunities for learning, collaboration and confidence-building remains an important part of supporting our coaching community.

A huge thank you to the following centres for welcoming us so warmly:

Otorohanga, Taupō, Waihi, Te Awamutu and Taumarunui Netball Centre’s.

We look forward to continuing these visits and supporting coaches throughout the zone.

Magic Coach Connect Continues to Grow

Our annual Magic Coach Connect event continues to go from strength to strength, bringing together coaches from across the zone for a day of learning, connection and inspiration.

The event began with an opportunity for coaches to connect and network over lunch before hearing from special guest speaker Kirsten Hellier. Kirsten shared valuable insights from her extensive experience in high-performance sport, coach development and Olympic success. Her people-first approach to coaching challenged and inspired attendees, leaving coaches with plenty of ideas to reflect on and apply within their own environments.

Coaches then enjoyed the opportunity to observe both the WBOP NNL and AVIS Magic, viewing the games through a coaching lens and discussing key observations with fellow coaches.

A highlight of the day was hearing directly from Head Coach Helena Hoult, Assistant Coach Leigh Ashton and Captain Grace Namana, gaining valuable insight into preparation, decision-making and performance review.

The learning continued after the AVIS Magic game with Rachel Davis, WBOP Player Pathway Lead giving valuable insights for coaches developing and preparing athletes, before coaches then heard from AVIS Magic Head Coach Mary-Jane Araroa and Assistant Coach Rebecca Gabel. This event provided an authentic look into coaching at the elite level and offered practical takeaways for coaches working across all stages.

A sincere thank you to all our presenters and contributors for their generosity in sharing their knowledge and experiences.

Netball NZ CCQ Coach Achievement

Coach Achievement

A special acknowledgement and congratulations to Leigh Ashton and Rebecca Greenhalgh from Cambridge Netball Centre on successfully completing their Netball New Zealand Composite Coach Qualification.

Over the past 12 months, Leigh and Rebecca have been two of six coaches from across the WBOP zone undertaking this comprehensive qualification. Their commitment to the programme demonstrates a strong dedication to continuous learning, self-reflection, and the ongoing development of their coaching practice.

The Netball New Zealand Composite Coach Qualification represents a substantial investment of time, effort and professional growth. Both Leigh and Rebecca should be incredibly proud of their achievement and the positive contribution they continue to make to players, coaches and the wider netball community.

Congratulations, Leigh and Rebecca, on this well-deserved accomplishment.

Good Luck to Our U18 Teams and Coaches

Best wishes to all players, coaches and management heading away to the 2026 Netball New Zealand U18 Championships in Christchurch.

We are proud to have five teams representing the WBOP zone:

• Hamilton City A
• Hamilton City B
• Rotorua
• Tauranga
• Whakatāne

The championships will be held from 13–16 July 2026 at Ngā Puna Wai, Christchurch.

We wish all teams a successful tournament and look forward to following your journeys and celebrating your achievements.

Article by: Article by: Kim Hunt, WBOP Zone Coach Lead
Article added: Thursday 25 June 2026