As a Netball Development Community Coach for England Netball, Yvonne Rhoden MBE delivers netball across four inner London boroughs sharing her passion and love for the sport to inspire women each and every day. Read more about her journey and experiences below…
“My netball journey started when l was seven years old and my Mum wanted to get me out from under her feet. As soon as l picked up a netball in the playground at Columbia Road Primary School, l was hooked. I played throughout my school years and even later on in life when l joined the Metropolitan Police as a probationary Constable. Through netball, l met many other police officers who are, still to this day, friends who also happen to still be involved in netball. I became a B Award umpire in 2000 but like many, began to realise that my playing days would be numbered. I still wanted to be involved in netball and began to coach, in a very basic way, my colleagues still playing in the Met North Police Squad. I found this new role really rewarding and in 2009 became a qualified netball coach. It gave me another ‘family’ outside of my police family where l met amazing women and talented girls involved at different levels in my beloved sport. I was fortunate to be selected to become part of the coaching team at the Essex Metropolitan Netball Academy, balancing netball with my role as a serving police officer, in addition to volunteer coaching at Oakwood Netball Club in North London.
“As l marched swiftly towards retirement at the end of 2013, l always dreamed about having a full time role as a Netball Coach and in June 2016, l became a Netball Development Community Coach with England Netball focusing on four inner London boroughs. I had always had a passion for working with women and girls from diverse backgrounds so this was the ideal job! I’ve also had the opportunity to coach internationally at the Maccabiah Games in Israel for Team GB with a wonderful bunch of under 18 netball athletes and came away with a fabulous silver medal!
“Each day, l have the privilege of delivering the sport l have loved since l was seven years old and count myself very lucky. On my journey, l’ve met some amazing women, some of whom have taken the plunge to get involved in netball, not just as participants but have gone on to start their own journeys in officiating and hosting, having gone through their own personal challenges. l am humbled every day by their stories which motivate me to continue sharing netball with as many people as widely as possible. Netball has allowed me to utilise the skills l developed in one career to propel me forward in another and l would recommend coaching to anyone who wants to contribute to the game, whether it’s encouraging more participation or developing netball athletes through their performance journey.”
