Kellie Hull, a sports coach at Bristol independent girls’ school, Redmaids’ High, has been picked for the first ever mixed England netball squad.
Competitive netball featuring teams comprising both women and men is a relatively new phenomenon, with the first national championships only taking place in 2021.
“Netball is such a fantastic sport, and this is a positive step in making it more inclusive and accessible to those who consider it a female only sport,” said Hull, on the convening of the first ever mixed squad at national level.
“It’s going to be a great experience playing alongside these highly skilled players and I’m excited to see what we achieve together as a team.”
Hull is also a player/coach for South West Hawks, the team which finished as runner-up in last year’s inaugural national championships.
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Previously, she had coached both the under-19 and under-21 Severn Stars teams in the National Performance League, before last summer becoming head coach for the new Severn Stars under-17 Nova Academy, hosted at Redmaids’ High.
The school boasts a strong reputation for netball in its own right. This year saw the under-16 team reach the national school finals, while the under-19 team finished as runner-up in the Sisters n Sport national plate final.
“We are so proud of Miss Hull for being selected for the first ever England mixed netball squad,” said director of sport at Redmaids’ High, Claire Maggs. “She is an incredibly talented player and will be a real asset to this team.
“Her passion for netball has inspired many of our own students to pursue netball outside of school, and our students and the players coming through the Severn Stars academy have benefited so much from her expertise and exceptional coaching.”
Pic: Kellie Hull passes on her netballing wisdom to Redmaids’ pupils
