Ferguson Empowers Pacific Coaching

By Amellia Wood

“I've always loved coaching,” Ferguson said. “Every day is challenging in the coaching space, but ultimately it’s been an incredibly rewarding journey.” 

Having served as a defensive coaching specialist to the Queensland Firebirds and Australian Diamonds, the former Australian captain took on a new duty in 2021 as the Firebirds’ assistant coach in the Suncorp Super Netball League. 

For Ferguson, her first memories of coaching materialised at the grassroots level.  

“I started when I finished high school and continued to involve myself in different forms of coaching from NetSetGO, all the way through to the elite level while I was playing,” she said. 

“I thoroughly enjoyed facilitating and engaging with others in their growth and the innovative aspects of creating new concepts and ways of approaching obstacles."  

With a playing career spanning 10 years at the Firebirds, including their Premiership winning seasons in 2011, 2015 and 2016, Ferguson always recognised how her coaches factored into her success nationally and internationally.  

So, when Ferguson was presented the opportunity to contribute to the future of Pacific coaching this year, her answer was immediate.  

In November, Ferguson, along with Suncorp Super Netball official Tim Marshall, presented at a five-day virtual training program for 30 current and perspective netball officials in Samoa.  

The combined initiative between Netball Australia, the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Netball Samoa, Samoa NRL and ADF Touch supports the growth of Samoan officials' involvement in netball.  

A conversation between Ferguson and Netball Australia's Market Development Programs Officer, Sallee Caldwell, became the catalyst for Ferguson to transfer her talents to the Pacific. 

“I met Sallee Caldwell when she was working at Sport Australia,” Ferguson said. 

“Sallee and my philosophies around the integration of physical literacy into everyday coaching aligned really nicely, so when she asked if I would be keen to get involved in the coaching session for this workshop I jumped at the opportunity.” 

The virtual workshop Ferguson took lead on was run out of the Tanoa Resort in Apia, Samoa with instructors, including herself, participating virtually from Townsville, Melbourne and Sydney. 

The program marked the fourth in the Pacific under the Department of Foreign Affairs Team Up initiative, following highly successful virtual camps in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga, which resulted in coaches, referees, sports trainers and strength and conditioning coaches becoming internationally accredited. 

Ferguson said being involved in the workshop reaffirmed her commitment to growing netball from the ground up, no matter the country.  

“Grassroots netball is the lifeblood of our game,” she said. 

“I feel that all coaches involved in development pathways should have the opportunity to be exposed to ideas and concepts which will help them strengthen their passion for coaching and help the players in their care to develop a lifelong love for netball, regardless of where they live. 

“In Australia we have an abundance of opportunities available to us as coaches to develop our skills and knowledge. This was a unique opportunity both for Netball Samoa and myself which I was excited to participate in.” 

Leading lessons in coaching, Ferguson ran a full day session which included theoretical, conversational and practical components.  

From a player to coach, she implemented her experience of daily training environments, building rapport with players and viewing their development holistically as a means of harnessing potential into her teachings.  

Ferguson covered coaching roles and general principles, game sense, game day coaching, the practical application of program planning, engaging players through feedback, and the empowerment of athletes.  

“I was only involved in the coaching session,” she said. “But for me it was hearing the feedback from participants about what they had taken away from the day that was my highlight.  

“They engaged beautifully throughout the session, were enthusiastic and eager to learn, try new things and view things differently to how they have done beforehand. 

“I loved that they were excited to try new ideas and hear how they would implement them in their coaching practice.” 

With Team Up, and other national government initiatives providing more resources for the expansion of netball to reach new heights in the years to come, Ferguson feels the talent from Samoa is waiting to burst on the international stage. 

“The talent pool that sits within the Pacific Region is incredible,” she said. 

“If these workshops are a catalyst for coaches to try new things, step outside their comfort zone in their coaching space and spark an interest in continued learning and growth, then hopefully we will see the strength of Samoan netball grow, particularly within the grassroots and development pathway spaces.” 

While 2022 will see Ferguson continue her responsibilities with Queensland in the Suncorp Super Netball League as an assistant coach, her work in international community pathways is something she has little reason to conclude.  

“These workshops provided passionate and willing participants with the opportunity to continue developing their awareness and skillset around how they can do that in their environment,” she said. 

“Sport plays such a pivotal role in connecting communities, so if we can keep people engaged in sport for longer through coaching, officiating and playing pathways then we have the potential to create meaningful environments for members of our society to belong.”