Netball Scotland are delighted to announce that Gail Parata has been appointed as their new National Coach. Parata is from Porirua, Wellington in the North Island of New Zealand. She is currently a Netball New Zealand ‘Carded Coach’ which means that she has been identified as a potential future Silver Ferns (National Team) Coach. The Silver Ferns are currently ranked Number One in the world.
She has been involved in high performance netball for 24 years, first as an athlete for 14 years including representation as a Silver Fern and then as a High Performance coach for the last 10 years.
Part of her extensive performance coaching pedigree includes being assistant coach for the New Zealand Silver Ferns Netball team in season 2012/13 when she was part of the quad series where the Silver Ferns won all test matches against Australia, England and South Africa.
Parata will move to Scotland with her partner and their 4 year old daughter and take up her position on 18th April 2013. Her main focus will be to prepare the Scottish Thistles for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.
Her first chance to see the Thistles in a competitive environment will be in Aberdeen at Netball Europe from May 31st – June 2nd 2013.
Parata has said her main aim in accepting the post as National Coach of the Scottish Thistles is “To promote a high performance culture that has high standards of performance and a professional approach that models best practice.
Also, to gain trust and install a belief in the athletes as individuals and provide a pathway for them to grow as complete High performance athletes”.
Netball Scotland Chief Executive, Maggie Murray said “I believe we have a top quality elite coach with great presence, drive and a depth of experience which will be critical to achieving our aspirations for success in the lead up to and during the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
It is clear from her many successes at elite level that she has the respect of significant peers within the Netball New Zealand community and, that she has dedicated her life to the perfection of her craft.
Her time with Netball Scotland will be a great opportunity for our national athletes and coaches to learn and improve and, for the sport of netball in Scotland to take the next critical step in the long journey to producing successful international teams.
I am personally extremely excited about the opportunities we have in front of us for our sport under Gail’s leadership and influence.”
