LOCAL aspiring netballers had the opportunity to hone their skills with coaching from a former Diamond.
National netballer Tegan Philip made her way to the Mildura Sporting Precinct to run two training sessions last week for 60 children aged eight to 11 and 12 to 16.
Philip, who was in the region for the WorkSafe Country Club Game of the Week at Ouyen, said it was great to be able to teach the participants some basic netball skills and have a bit of fun along the way.
“It is super encouraging to see them just have a crack at whatever you put forward, whether it’s a game or a skill you are trying to get them to work on,” he said.
Growing up in a regional town herself, Philip said enjoyed getting out to country areas like Mildura.
“There is just so much appreciation when I get to come out to places like this, they are so inviting and welcoming and that’s why I love doing it,” she said.
“Obviously netball, which is a sport that I love, and seeing other people share that joy and being able to do that together is really special.”
Mildura Netball Association president Alex West said the training session was a great opportunity for young netballers.
“It is very rare that we are blessed to have somebody of Tegan’s calibre to be here as an ex-Diamond and ex-Vixens player, and still a very active person,” West said.
“Our rural kids don’t often get exposed to this kind of stuff, so we just saw the opportunity to capitalize on it.
“They meet a Diamond, and they think that they can be a Diamond – that’s the beautiful thing about it.
“Hopefully we might have another Tegan in our midst.”
