The Northern Territory Institute of Sport (NTIS) has appointed two top-level coaches to its staffing roster.
Gillian Lee replaces Bronwyn Jonathan as the Head Coach of Netball and Graeme Smith has begun work as the new Head Coach of Cricket. Mr Smith replaced Tony Judd who remains at the NTIS as the Skill Acquisition Coordinator.
Ms Lee has an extensive background coaching netball at both junior and senior levels, is a former assistant coach with the Melbourne Phoenix in the National Netball League, a former specialist coach with the Australian Institute of Sport and a former Victorian State Team Open player.
In 2012 and 2013, Ms Lee was the technical director and national coach for the Cayman Islands Netball Association, but most recently was based in Honduras where she was writing the latest in a series of Netskills Coaching Manuals which have sold more than 30,000 copies worldwide.
Ms Lee is also the author of a junior netball novel titled Netball Dreamz.
She said she was looking forward to the challenge of shaping the NT’s next elite netballers.
“I have been really impressed with the attitude and the respect the young players have, and the intensity they work at,” she said.
Ms Lee said she had identified that, unlike teams in southern states, in the NT the girls don’t get enough match play.
“Every day I’m here, it’s reinforced to me how much players will benefit from match play, especially under pressure. I’m looking forward to structuring my own match play and incorporating skills within matches to give young netballers the same coaching benefits as players in other states.”
The Department of Sport and Recreation will be tapping into Ms Lee’s extensive coaching experience when she presents at the Higher Faster Stronger forums around the Territory later this month. The forums are designed to help coaches build the capacity of their sport and enhance their skill development.
New NTIS Head Coach of Cricket Graeme Smith has 15 years working in player development, including eight years with Cricket NSW’s High Performance / Game Development Department.
He has significant experience with junior cricket as a former NSW U17 and U19 program coach and selector, and country cricket NSW U21 coach/manager.
Mr Smith is also a former Australian Country player having played against Zimbabwe and Pakistan.
He says cricket in the NT is in pretty good shape.
“My job will be about building on that, working on those things I think we could do better and hopefully developing players to the national level – providing the pathway guidance,” he said.
Mr Smith said his immediate challenge was to get planning programs for the next 6-12 months in place.
Media contact: Andrea Allen 0401 119467