Youth
Hi I’m Sophie Lebecq and I am the Youth Representative for East Essex Netball.
I am passionate about encouraging young people to get involved in the sport I love.
I’ve been progressing through the umpiring pathway, and through this journey, I’ve seen how powerful getting support and opportunities can be.
That is what I aspire to share and improve for young people wanting to get involved in netball.
The meaning behind the role and what East Essex have been doing:
Netball can’t continue to grow and evolve without the help of young people.
One of my primary aims in becoming the Youth Representative is to encourage and support young people in all aspects of the netball community whether they’re aspiring umpires, budding coaches, or simply exploring their path within the sport.
Current proposals and actions to support this aim have been raising the profile of trainee umpiring opportunities through resource sharing on social media, and to allocate matches at one of the junior leagues within the East Essex region.
There are also plans to continue creating clearer communication channels and spreading awareness by engaging more with clubs and providing support through mentoring.
By building a visible support system, we hope to spark new opportunities.
From a coaching perspective there has been collaboration with London Mavericks as they strive to engage more with local communities.
With less experience in this area it is an avenue for future focus with the emphasis on supporting and learning from success stories of young coaches within junior clubs.
More to come in this space.
Above all is the importance of hearing young voices which is why I have set up a support group to ensure those voices get heard. In order to improve it is important to know what is working well and where we are falling short.
If you have an initiative that enhances youth experiences in netball, or you’re facing a barrier East Essex can help remove, please reach out.
Together, we can make a real impact.