At Saints Netball Club, our main goal has always been simple: to keep young athletes engaged, passionate, and active in sport.

"Our priority is ensuring that every young athlete who joins Saints feels supported, valued, and excited to step onto the court every week," says Saints Netball Club President, Denielle Innes. "Keeping kids in sport is about building a strong, encouraging community, and having the backing of The Westport Club has allowed us to deliver exactly that."

We know that the secret to getting players to return year after year comes down to their experience on and off the court—and nobody has a bigger impact on that than our coaches. Every single one of our coaches is a dedicated volunteer who gives up their time to mentor and guide our teams. This season, thanks to generous additional sponsorship from The Westport Club, we were able to invest directly back into them.

Elevating Our "Coach the Coach" Program

With the funding provided by The Westport Club, we brought in Alex from Netball Coaching to run a specialized Coach the Coach program throughout the season.

Alex brought a wealth of elite experience to our courts, having represented Australia in Indoor Netball and played in Sydney’s Premier League. Her hands-on mentorship provided invaluable support to our volunteer coaching team:



• Training Support: Alex helped plan and run dynamic training sessions side-by-side with our coaches.
• Observation & Feedback: She observed sessions in real-time, giving practical tips to refine drill structures and communication.
• Game-Day Coaching: Alex attended matches to help coaches identify key focus areas and translate practice into match performance.

"Having Alex work alongside our volunteer coaches was a game-changer," shares Saints Coaching Coordinator, Rob Leonard. "Her guidance gave our coaches actionable tools, fresh ideas, and a huge boost in confidence. You could see the positive impact flowing straight through to the players during training and weekend matches."



"Working with the coaches at Saints was an absolute privilege," adds Alex. "Every volunteer brought so much energy and a genuine eagerness to learn. It was rewarding to watch their confidence grow and see how dedicated they are to giving these young players the best possible experience."

Elevating Player Pathways: Prep for Rep

The Westport Club’s support also allowed us to launch our Prep for Rep program, led by Alex. Designed specifically for players aiming to trial for representative teams, this initiative provided extra skill development, tactical knowledge, and confidence-building opportunities for our ambitious young athletes.

Looking Ahead

When young athletes feel supported, challenged, and inspired by confident coaches, they fall in love with the game for life. On behalf of all the players, volunteer coaches, and families at Saints Netball Club, we want to extend a huge thank you to The Westport Club for making this season’s coach and player development programs possible!

If you are interested in learning more about our upcoming programs or want to support our mission, please reach out via our contact page . Together, we can ensure that every child in Port Macquarie has the opportunity to experience the joy and growth that comes from being a Saint. Let's keep the momentum going into the next season and beyond!