Talent Coaches
Netball East are excited to have Jo Munnion and Sue Collins as our Regional Talent Coaches, who will be coaching and mentoring both coaches and athletes within the Regional Excel Pathway and working with a range of partners.
Contacts Details:
Sue Collins:
Email: suec@englandnetball.co.uk
Phone: 07921 699 148
Jo Munnion:
Email: Jom@englandnetball.co.uk
Phone: 07525 702 636
Sue Collins profile: East (Suffolk, Essex East and Thurrock and part of Norfolk):
I have played netball at all levels, starting my playing career with O.P.A. Netball Club in East London under the watchful eye of Lesley Jones. O.P.A. was a top club in Essex Metropolitan, playing in Division One of the Essex Met. League and also competing in National Clubs Competitions.
I played for Essex Metropolitan from the age of fourteen and later for the East Region.
I was fortunate to have some brilliant coaches and players around me. The encouragement, advice and playing experiences that I received from these people were invaluable.
I eventually made the England Squad when I was in my early twenties, never quite making it as a junior.
As a netball coach I have worked in sports centres, schools, clubs and academies. I have also been involved with International players during their Home Training Programme and was lead coach for the East Region’s Talent Development Programme.
Having moved to Suffolk I am now realising the problems faced by players from rural areas and by players that do not have top clubs readily available.
As one of the East Region’s Talent Coaches I hope to be able to assist talented players from all over the Region to fulfil their potential, irrespective of where they live. This is not only through coaching and advising, but by helping other coaches, parents/carers and teachers to understand what is required for a young player to progress up through the Talent Pathway. I also want to support teachers and coaches so that they are able to recognise a talented player and ensure that the player is given the appropriate opportunities.
The prospect of working alongside some of the top coaches in the country is also very exciting and I look forward to sharing this knowledge with other coaches in the region.
Jo Munnion profile: East (Cambridgehsire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and part of Norfolk):
"I started playing at school in my home county of East Hants and progressed quickly as my youth career involved playing in age groups above my own. After a move to Mid Hants and participating in the South Region TDP programme I was thoroughly hooked on our game. Although I was an all round sports person I went to England trials on a few occassions but did not achieve my goal of getting into a squad until I was 23. This opportunity appeared as I went to university in Bedfordshire where Maggie Jackson identified me and the East Region Talent Camps progressed me through their ranks. I was lucky enough to represent England at the European Championships and also played against Australia in the test series. I have played for Birmingham Blaze (SuperCup) and Loughborough Lightning and I have worked as a PE teacher, lecturer and now work as a full time coach combining Regional Talent Coach, England and private (Internetball) coaching and coach education. The Bedfordshire Netball community has consistently supported my coaching aspirations as I gained valuable experiences coaching the university side to BUSA victory and I was given opportunities to coach County U18's as well as satelitte and county academy groups. It was a natural progression to start working with home training groups and for the last 4 years I have been involved in the England Talent system working with the young England players. I have been a member of the Performance Coaches group since its creation and enjoy debating different aspects domestic and international coaching. Last year I toured South Africa and Botswana with the U21 Squad and I am currently the England Talent 2 Coach (U19's). For the last two season I have worked with the Mavericks Youth squad and I look forward to developing the NTL team and coaches working with this group as I continue with the Head Coach position in 2008/9.
When people ask me if I miss playing, they seem surprised when I say "no". I explain that I have always been a coach and understand far more than I can physically do so I can achieve much more from the sidelines that I can on the court."
