Netball Alberta is very pleased to announce the appointment of Sam Elsom in the role of Head Coach and Elite Program Manager.
Sam has been very involved in our elite program for the last year, as Head Coach of our U18 B.C Zone Championship squad in April, and Assistant Coach of the Alberta U23 provincial team that went to Nationals in May. She also coached in our Junior B program. Sam's experience, passion for netball and approach to coaching will be a valuable asset to our Elite program. Her commitment to developing players as a person, as well as a netballer, is evident in the way she relates to players.
Sam will also be involved with developing the School Clinic program, with a goal to grow the Junior High and High School clinic program.
I was introduced to netball through school in the United Kingdom. I played at the County and Regional level in England.
After university I returned to netball as a player and coach for a local club which motivated me to complete my Level I and Level II coaching certificates, and commence the Level III course.
In 2001, I coached in schools for County Durham council. I also attended an evening class to achieve a diploma in sports science to further my knowledge. As coach of the Kenton ladies netball team throughout the summer and winter season that year, the team improved three places in the league over the previous year's results.
In 2002, I joined the Metropolitan police and my husband and I moved to south England where I joined the Chelmsford netball club as a player/coach, leading training sessions for all ages.
In 2006, we moved to Canada and I briefly coached for Netball Alberta until the arrival of our first daughter. I returned to netball, playing briefly in the Senior A league until the arrival of our second daughter. After my third child arrived, I did not return until 2014, playing in the Senior A league.
As my two girls are now at the age that they can also play, I returned to coaching also. I have enjoyed coaching the range of ages and abilities, from junior beginners to netball to provincial representative teams. I am now looking forward to taking on the challenges and opportunities of this new role to support the development of netball players and coaches for Netball Alberta.