Making a difference

Sonia Mkoloma, who was announced in March as the new Roses Pathway Head Coach, overseeing the Future Roses programme and the Roses Academy, recently visited Thames Ditton Netball Club, providing inspiration to the next generation of netballers. The visit was a prize won by the club after completing an England Netball membership survey. The youngsters recognised Sonia not just as a former England star with 123 caps to her name, but also as a Gladiators referee, so the delight on their faces as they met her was double! We caught up with her to see what she thought of the experience.

What was it like to go to Thames Ditton NC?

It was fun. It’s refreshing to tap back into grassroots netball. To see the coaches and parents, to hear their enthusiasm for the sport, to listen to how they’ve grown their club, which I think has been amazing. Starting with under 50 players and five teams, and now at over 200 players across 20 teams. So it was good to go back and get a better understanding, or a refresher, on the commitment that these coaches and parents have and need to keep netball going in their communities.

How can we use our grassroots clubs to discover talent and create the stars of the future and make sure that players aren’t slipping through the net?

It is a hard one. I think the importance around it all is that communication with the clubs; the visiting, the visibility, is what it’s all about. So the fact that I was able to visit, and obviously I know I’m not going to be able to go to every grassroots club across the country, was good. I just think the fact that we are going out and visiting and the club coaches feel that there’s a two-way communication is key. They know what’s going on, they’re updated about what events are happening so they can start nominating their clubs or nominating their players to start progressing. We know we’ve got the county system, but how many of these girls are going through it? We know there is that pathway to the top so it’s just ensuring that these clubs are supported, understanding what that looks like, and knowing that they’re coaching the players in the right way so they can start entering the netball Pathways.

And how does netball help young players beyond the court with their friendships, teammates, discipline, and other parts of their lives?

Oh, I think you’ve just named it. I think netball, and not just netball, but team sports, help to build that confidence and communication, build those networks. The game builds a bit of resistance and resilience on the court and because you’re in a team sport, you also build friendships. What’s more, team sports build discipline, which hopefully funnels into the home environment and the school environment, and working or playing with people from different socio-economic backgrounds or ethnic groups and cultures is always important. So that understanding about inclusivity is always going to be important. There’s so much that comes not just from playing netball, but from being within a team sport environment.

You are now in the role of Roses Pathway Head Coach. How bright is the future looking and what’s it like being part of this talent development?

I’ve always had a passion for Pathway player development, whether it’s at the top level or girls just entering the Pathway. So for me, it’s always exciting to see the girls improve, become a better version of themselves on and off the court. We are starting to grow competitors and I think it’s important for our sport to say these girls are competitors. It’s not just for the love of the sport, it’s for competing on the big stage in front of the big crowds against the big nations.

And you get to take a group of talented youngsters to the Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar 2025. How much are you looking forward to that?

It’s crazy because right now with this group of players, I speak to them and ask them what their aspirations are and they all talk about going to the World Youth Cup and putting on the red dress for the Roses. That’s their aspiration. I think for myself as a coach, that is the end goal but I’ve just got to make sure we’re doing what we can to get them ready to perform and compete on the world stage. For me, Gibraltar is part of the journey but I think it’s about ensuring that we don’t forget the processes needed to get us there.

“The game builds a bit of resistance and resilience on the court and because you’re in a team sport, you also build friendships”

And what is the most exciting and rewarding part of this role?

For me, it’s about making sure I’m getting the right girls to the right places. Number one, it’s about the progression to the Vitality Roses. And that means in two years’ time, actually moving these girls on through the Pathway, letting them go!

“Sonia was amazing. The girls really thought she was special. I know how few opportunities girls have to see female role models and so to meet someone who has done incredible things is just wonderful. The fact that she’s done so much coaching and Gladiators really inspired them. My daughters, who are 12 and 10, were so excited – they felt like she genuinely cared about the feedback she gave them. That connection to inspirational people is vital and for so long female role models have been lacking.”