The West of England Netball Academy was set up in 1999. The aim of WENA at that point was to give top level coaching and fitness education to talented players from Devon and Cornwall. In the first cohort of players was Jo Binns – now England Senior Squad who at that point lived in Okehampton and travelled to Truro for the monthly training sessions. The first coaches in the programme were Jean Davies and Heather Crouch. Click here to read more about WENA
The following year, 2000, was very successful for WENA, Jo Binns, Sara Henshall, Naomi Kent and Sophie Vaughan, were all selected for the U17 England FENA Squad. Sara Jo and Sophie all progressed to the U19 long squad the following season. Jo and Sophie both gained places in England U19 in 2002. Sophie like Jo had an opportunity of attending the World Youth Championship in Florida in 2005. Sophie at this time was studying Medicine in Wales and with Welsh heritage qualified for the Welsh squad.
Other successes have been the selection of Cara lea Moseley for England Squads. When only 14 she gained a place in the U17 England FENA Squad. She went on to represent England at U19 level when still only 16. She was selected for the U21 World Youth Long Squad but injury forced her out of the reckoning. She has since moved to Wales to study Psychology and has just been selected for the Welsh Senior Squad which played against South Africa in January. Her father had previously played rugby for Wales and Cara had been born in Wales.
The players currently working in WENA have great opportunities to progress. WENA is now an Extension Centre to the High Performance Netball Centre at Bath. Until recently Lyn Gunson travelled to Cornwall to coach these talented youngsters a couple of times a season. The players have had opportunities to attend workshops at Bath and some have represented Team Bath Superleague Youth Squad. Karly Semmonds, Caseley Heard and Rachel Northover have played in Team Bath matches.
WENA has been using the facilities at Truro College for the past 5 years. In 2006 it moved into the brand new sports hall at the college. Players are given education on all aspects of fitness, nutrition, time management, injury prevention. Sport Science officers from the college assist with the delivery of the education programme and co-ordinate the fitness testing. Along side their education programme they receive fortnightly coaching sessions on individual skills and tactical awareness.
Youngsters from WENA still have great opportunities to progress. Most recently 5 players have received coaching at Bath and 3 represented Team Bath Youth Squad in a match against Wales U17s.
The age range of the players in WENA is 11-18. The sessions are run in 2 groups. Group 1 are the established players aged 14-18 who have had England Screening opportunities or are working towards it. Group 2 are less experienced but have real potential. All the players in WENA are selected from the Cornwall County Development programme. WENA is not an age related Academy. It works to the level and ability of the players regardless of age.
The purpose of WENA is to produce England Standard players. This has always been the case and we have many players attending Regional Screening in Bath for and England Trial Opportunity this February. More recently WENA has spread its wings and has given opportunity for talented young coaches to become involved in the coaching at WENA. These are players who have passed through WENA and are now putting something back into the sport that they love.
The format and the venue for WENA may have changed over the years but the ethos has always remained the same:
“Preparing athletes to become the best that they can be”
Jean Davies
WENA Head Coach
