Netball NSW is delighted to announce the coaching teams which will lead the State’s 17U and 19U Teams at the 2024 National Netball Championships.
Since their inception in 1985, the Nationals have provided an opportunity for pathway athletes, coaches and officials to prosper, with an array of Australian Diamonds, NSW Swifts and Giants having participated in the tournament.
NSW has a fine record at Nationals, most recently taking out 17U and 19U Gold at the 2022 event.
While the location of the 2024 Championships is yet to be announced, preparation is already well underway with the NSW coaching teams now selected.
Former Swifts captain Abbey McCulloch will lead her first State Team campaign as a Head Coach when she takes charge of the 17U Team, with Nardia Trevor (nee Macdonald) as her Assistant Coach. The 17s setup will also be aided by Apprentice Coach Gima Crowdy.
Amber Cross, who coached the 17s to Gold in 2022 and Silver in 2023, takes over the reins of the 19U Team in 2024 and will be joined by Stephanie Harrison as her Assistant and Samantha May joining as an Apprentice Coach.
Mardi Aplin, Netball NSW General Manager of Performance & Pathways, congratulated McCulloch and Cross on their appointments.
“It is a huge honour to represent your State and both Abbey and Amber know what it takes to be successful in the Australian netball pathway,” she said.
“Amber has enjoyed great success with our 17U teams over the past number of years and is ready to step-up to the next age group and hopefully lead us back to the winner’s circle.
“In Stephanie and Samantha she will have a huge resource of additional netball knowledge to leverage and we are very excited to see how they bring a squad together.”
Aplin added that seeing McCulloch transition from player to pathway coach was very pleasing.
“Abbey knows all about what it takes to play at the top level and her work in the Netball NSW Premier League and QBE Swifts Academy has provided her with top experience.
“She also has Nardia at her side who has been a top performer in our coaching setup for many years, so we know they’ll complement each other really well.
"It is also a brilliant opportunity for Gima to learn from this experienced team.”
Netball NSW will begin the trial process for player selection in due course.
NSW 17U State Team -
Head Coach - Abbey McCulloch (Sutherland Shire)
Assistant Coach - Nardia Trevor (Baulkham Hills Shire)
Apprentice- Gima Crowdy (Woy Woy)
NSW 19U State Team
Head Coach- Amber Cross (Wyong District)
Assistant Coach- Stephanie Harrison (Camden & District)
Apprentice Coach - Sam May (Penrith District)
