Wales Netball
April 19, 2024
At Wales Netball, we are committed to raising the profile of all our Academies across Wales and to recognise the hard work of athletes and coaches put into their weekly training. With a focus on developing individual skills and promoting positive unit play, the Regional Academies are dedicated to helping young athletes reach their full potential.
Coleg Gwent’s Regional Academy is our spotlight this month, highlighting its dedication to athlete development and training. As part of the Regional Academies the athletes are learning Transitional Principles, with the monthly outcome being to understand and effectively transition from attack to defence and defence to attack.
Emma Meredith, the Head Coach of the Coleg Gwent Regional Academy, expressed her pride regarding the talent and enthusiasm shown by the athletes who attended the trials in September. Following the trials, two age group squads were selected – U15s and U17s. The athletes’ weekly dedication to training has seen several athletes progress into the Welsh U19 and U15 National Academy Squads.
The athletes train together weekly and are led by Head Coach Emma Meredith and Assistant Coach Carys Portlock. The coaches plan and deliver sessions to stretch and challenge the athletes through athlete-centered physical training and positional-specific fitness. The sessions cover tactical and technical requirements that influence the ability of each athlete to perform skills under pressure and adjust to the opposition, based on the Welsh Way.
Both the U15 and U17 squads are working hard and developing their individual skill levels through fun and engaging sessions each week. The training promotes positive unit play in preparation for the end-of-season Regional Academy tournament in July.
Coleg Gwent is Wales’s largest further education college, with various locations in the former county of Gwent, South Wales. It has 24,000 students ranging from secondary school leavers to mature students. The college offers a wide range of part-time and full-time academic and vocational courses.
The college has announced two open event dates for prospective students. The first will be held on Monday, 29th April (5 pm – 7:30 pm), and the second on Tuesday, 25th June (5 pm – 7:30 pm). The events will give students a chance to learn about the courses on offer and explore the college’s facilities. To find out more about Coleg Gwent, head to their website, or follow them on social media using the handles below.
