England International Appointed School Netball Coach
13 Oct 2008
Former England international Helen Smith has given Solihull School’s sporting reputation an added boost after being appointed the school’s head coach for netball.
Helen, who plays for Elmdon in the national league and Lyndon Centre in Birmingham Division 1, is a fully qualified netball coach who has trained senior and youth squads for more than 12 years.
Her appointment to coach netball to girls at all levels of the leading independent co-educational school follows a successful netball and hockey tour to Barbados by Solihull School's senior girls this summer.
As an England Under-21 player from 1993-1995, Helen was twice nominated by Birmingham Sports Council and BBC TV Midlands Today for the Young Sports Personality of the Year award.
She was later named Birmingham University's first Coach of the Year after coaching the university to the British Universities (BUSA) championship title three years running from 2001 to 2004.
Helen also captained the Birmingham County Netball team to victory in the Inter-Counties Tournament in 2004, before going on to coach the senior squad for the following two years.
She also spent two years coaching young girls deemed to have England potential, and continues to train Lyndon's senior and youth squads as well as mentor new coaches.
Helen Smith said: “I am thrilled to have joined Solihull School as it aims to raise the profile of girls' sport in its fourth year as a fully co-educational school. I am passionate about developing young talent and look forward to helping the school's netball players reach their potential.”
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