Sport / Smith appointed netball development manager for isles
GROWING the game of netball in Shetland will be the main focus for Vicki Smith after she was appointed the isles’ development manager for the next three years.
The full-time role will see Smith look to improve netball in the isles after being appointed by Netball Scotland.
It is the first time Shetland has had a development manager for the sport, with the hope the move will take the pressure off local volunteers and encourage more people to either take up netball or return to the game.
Smith has been involved in netball from a young age, beginning her journey while representing Bells Brae Primary School.
She continued to play through high school and university, and has represented Shetland both at junior and senior county level.
After completing her university degree Smith got involved with the Shetland Junior Netball Development Group, taking on various roles on the committee, and has coached age groups from preschool right through to seniors.
Smith said she was very excited to get going and was looking forward to developing netball within Shetland over the next three years.
We want you – three-year project aims to grow netball in the isles
“We want to provide more opportunities for the community to get involved in netball, whether that’s through playing, coaching, umpiring or volunteering,” she said.
“We are looking to introduce some new initiatives to increase participation like recreation netball and walking netball.
“We want netball in Shetland to be an inclusive sport for everyone, all ages, genders, and abilities.”
She said netball “has always been a second job for me”, so she was delighted to say “it is now my full-time job”.
“It’s exciting to see where we can take Shetland netball over these next three years,” Smith added.
As well as getting more people involved in netball, Smith wants to upskill netball volunteers.
“We are looking to run netball coaching courses and umpiring courses in Shetland to give our volunteers the required skills and confidence they need to deliver and officiate netball,” she said.
“Speaking to the local associations and clubs is key to finding out what the netball community needs and how we can progress Shetland netball.
“The aim is to get more people active and loving netball”.
She thanked all the funders who had made the project possible, including the SIC Coastal Communities fund, Viking Community Fund and North Yell Development Trust.
And she also thanked Shetland Netball Association for not only part-funding the post, but for the “huge amount of work” it had done to source external funding.
If anyone would like to get in touch with Smith to discuss any netball related matters or would like to get involved in netball in Shetland they can contact her by email at NDMShetland@netballscotland.com
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