Forty pupils from four local schools will have the chance to compete in an elite style netball tournament today [Wednesday 14 March] at Bristol University’s Coombe Dingle Sports Complex.
Hosted by 15 players and coaches from the University’s Netball Club, the year eight pupils aged 12- to 13 from Brislington, Fairfield High, City Academy and Ashton Park schools will also have the opportunity to experience a coaching session led by Eboni Beckford Chambers, an England under 21 player and member of the University’s Advanced Sport Squad.
The coaching session will be structured similar to an England team session to give the school teams’ players an opportunity to experience elite athlete training. Newly qualified coaches and umpires from the University’s netball team will assist at both the coaching and the games, to help develop their skills and gain valuable experience as volunteers throughout the tournament.
Each pupil will receive a medal for taking part in the tournament with the winning school receiving a Bristol T-shirt signed by Eboni Beckford Chambers.
Event organiser and Bristol University Netball Club Captain Antonia McElvenney, said: “This is a great opportunity for club members to run tournaments similar to those we all enjoyed when we were at school. We hope to run a tournament at the start of each term as a way to welcome new members to the club and get them involved straight away. Some of the girls already coach in schools, but for those who don't this event offers another opportunity by which they can develop in their sport and achieve greater awareness as players.”
Karen Harvey, Bristol University Community Sport Development Manager, said: “I’m delighted the Netball Club have been so proactive in developing the club and their members by engaging with local schools. The pupils taking part are potential University of Bristol students and Netball Club members and I’m sure they will have a really positive experience with our current students and club members.
“The University of Bristol offers a number of excellent sports coaching and leadership courses to its staff and students and it’s fantastic to see our Community Sport Development Programme in action.”
The tournament will run from 1 to 5 pm on Wednesday 14 March at Coombe Dingle Sports Complex, Coombe Lane, Coombe Dingle, Bristol, BS9 2 BJ.