A Tauranga woman is being congratulated for achieving the highest coaching qualification on offer in netball in New Zealand.

Helena Hoult has completed the Netball New Zealand-accredited Performance Coach Qualification – only the second coach from Tauranga Netball Centre to achieve this.

Helena – who was Waikato-BOP Magic’s assistant coach for 2022-2023, 2022′s SHNL head coach, 2023′s SHNL assistant coach and is in her third season coaching Tauranga Open Women’s team for NNZ’s Open Championships – says achieving her PQC is a “natural progression” of coaching netball in the past 15-odd years.

But scratch below the surface and you’ll find her passion for coaching netball runs deep.

“Coaching allows me to provide an environment where players can develop their skills, build confidence, and achieve their best. This continuous journey of nurturing and seeing growth in my players is what inspires me to coach.”

Helena played netball from a young age in Auckland, then played in Tokoroa before moving back to the big smoke to study and play.

About 17 years ago she moved her family to Tauranga, where she whakapapas to, and her daughter began playing netball.

Hungry for more 

When her daughter joined a Year 1 school netball team Helena began coaching and has never looked back.

“When I stopped playing, I wanted to give back to the sport that had given me so much. I started coaching at community level and soon became hungry for more.

“I grew with my own daughter, coaching her teams as she climbed the netball ladder. When she got into Junior 1 and Premier 1 college teams I really enjoyed working with athletes of a higher ability – so I did my Community Coach award, known as CCA1.”

After completing her CCA2 and joining the SHNL national netball league as an assistant coach she inquired about undertaking her PCQ.

Helena started her PCQ studies in 2020.

The qualification can take up to four years to complete.

Coursework includes seasonal plans, training plan sessions with key objectives, reflection, analysing games, receiving mentor feedback, and making observations.

“This came after a series of workshops to master essential coaching techniques and strategies.”

Why does she love coaching? “For me it’s about the people. Regardless of the fact we always want to do well, for me it’s about those in front of you and how I do get the best out of them?”

What’s the hardest thing about being a coach? “The things that don’t go so well – you enjoy the challenge but when things don’t necessarily go the way you hoped or envisioned, and how of you manage that? It’s not always easy.”

Such a buzz 

And how does she feel when players reach their goals?

“Oh, it’s a feeling you can’t explain or even describe, such a buzz…Sometimes it might be an individual player who thinks only of themselves and by the season’s end they’re connecting with their teammates, going into battle and having their teammate’s back.

“So it’s more than the game and players stepping out on courts – it’s the people they become when they leave. It’s making better women better people.”

Very proud

TNC coaching mentor Deb Fuller says the club is very proud of what Helena has achieved.

She met Helena playing against her when she dominated the midcourt of an Auckland club collegiate.

“Nothing fazed Helena – the tougher the contest got, the more she enjoyed it.”

Deb says since then Helena has coached multiple teams, clubs and grades up to the NPC level. An Ōtūmoetai College teacher, she also coaches netball after-hours.

“Her attention to detail, attacking vision, defensive nous and enthusiasm for the game is everything you want to be part of when you turn up to train and play netball,” says Deb.

“She’s an asset to the game and I know she’ll continue to advance as the dedicated and hardworking coach that she is.”