A University of Worcester student has been appointed as Assistant Coach for the English Universities National Netball team.
Student Abbey Cox
Abbey Cox, who is training to be a teacher, has also taken on a pathway management role within the University’s elite netball franchise, Severn Stars, with the under 21 side.
“I feel proud to be appointed to these roles and ready for the challenges of what lies ahead in this season,” she said.
The English Universities team, which is made up of talented university students, plays against other universities teams from home nations like Wales and Scotland, but also other sides such as national youth teams competing at the highest domestic representative level. The team most recently travelled to Glasgow where they faced Scotland Under 21s. Abbey will use her decade of coaching experience in the role, joining the team for training camps and fixtures which take place once a month during the season.
PGCE PE student Abbey told how a twist of fate when she was 11 brought about a passion for coaching. “It was an injury that first made me get into coaching, and I also used this time on the sideline to gain hours for my Duke of Edinburgh Award,” said the 21-year-old. “Then I fell in love with helping other people and passing on knowledge and love for the sport, which was the start of coaching opportunities opening up for me. I just got carried away with it.”
Abbey first started coaching at her local netball club and then progressed to school coaching eventually becoming head coach of two Under 14 teams.
She currently coaches the University of Worcester Netball 3rd team and RGS School Worcester and is a UKCC (UK Coaching Certificate) Level 2 netball coach.
“Coaching is really rewarding, said Abbey. “It has developed so many personal and social skills for me such as communication that I can take into the future as well as a career in teaching. I really enjoy learning about different people, what works well for them and getting the most out of athletes. It really gives me the willingness to learn more and to take my coaching further.”
“With English Universities in particular it’s so rewarding bringing so much talent together, who haven’t played together before, to put a performance together and compete.”
Abbey spends her evenings outside of her studies coaching for the University netball team or working with Severn Stars Under 21s, and her weekends then with either English Universities or again with Stars.
She said: “Being a PGCE student alongside my coaching means having to be really organised and always knowing where you have to be. But, if it is something you like, you will make it work. It is just about balancing everything because I love it so much.
“Staff at the university are very flexible and understanding towards my coaching commitments and passion to strengthen my coaching. Being at the University of Worcester has also given me many opportunities to develop my coaching and allowed me to make new connections within the coaching field.”