Kim Bailey has been coaching for three decades, and loves seeing up-and-coming athletes develop and improve as they move through the pathway.
“I’ve gotten more out of coaching than I have out of playing,” she said. “It’s what I do, and it’s what I love to do.”
As a Talent Academy coach, she gets to see the next generation of talent firsthand, and loves nothing more than providing them with the skills they need to reach the highest level of netball they can achieve.
With a coaching style that both fosters and challenges athletes who are beginning their journey in elite sport, Kim is most proud of the way her players can take what they learn at her sessions and apply it with their local clubs.
“Talent Academy is the first entry into high performance, so it can be scary for them. But we teach them what high performance behaviours are about, and make sure that what we teach can be taken back to their communities.”
The Talent Academy athletes meet for six three-hour sessions during the year, and are always looking to make the most of their time together. The sessions include match play, mastering basic skills, and learning how they can contribute to a high performance setting.
Kim ensures that the program caters for all learning styles, so each session can be explained and demonstrated in a way that resonates with every player.
“We want thinking athletes in our pathway, so you have to appeal to all different learners,” Kim said.
For Kim, it’s imperative that players from regional Victoria have a strong presence in netball, and are given the same opportunities provided to those in metropolitan Melbourne. Ensuring that players from outside Melbourne can apply their newly developed skills at their home clubs is an important part of the process.
But before a player can reach the Academy, they first must be talent identified. For 70 per cent of athletes currently in the program, that moment came at the Association Championships.
“The Association Championships give us exposure to every association in the state,” said Kim. “It’s essential.”
The Championships give coaches and talent scouts an opportunity to see players showcase their skills in multiple matches at the same venue. The level of skill on show is always high, and Kim attributes that to how the community treats the competition itself.
“We need to acknowledge how it’s [the Championships] viewed in our community and how highly regarded it is.”
Despite her many years coaching, Kim is often left astonished by the level of talent amongst the current Victorian players.
“I have 25 kids in the academy, I could’ve picked 50!” she said. “Just goes to show how many good athletes we have.”
Registrations for the Associations Championship close on Friday 28 April.
