Ahead of the Severn Stars’ second season in the Vitality Netball Super League, England international Laura Malcolm has high hopes for the team’s chances under the the guidance of new head coach Samantha Bird. Bird took over after last season’s head coach Mo’oina Gerrard stepped down, but Malcolm is excited by what she’s seen so far.
She said: “Samantha’s got a real clear vision of how she wants us to play and how she wants us to train which is always really great. It means as a player, you just have to turn up and do the netball side of things.”
The centre, who was club captain last year, feels that her experience is useful but the support she gives the younger players can work in two ways.
“They help me quite a lot because they’re really fresh and excited to be in it so that’s always refreshing as an older player to have those young players that really have that buzz for the game,” she told Park Life netball correspondent Connor Laing.
“Bringing a few bananas to training and making sure they’re fuelling up after the session: I guess that’s how I’m helping them!”
The transition doesn’t just involve the change in coaches. Even though a few players such as Malcolm have stayed, there are a number of new acquisitions that need to settle in. However, this hasn’t been a problem.
Malcolm said: “There’s a few new people in the team so I’d like to see what we can create with those guys as well.
“It’s just feels really natural this year which is great because it means we don’t really have to really work on that as hard as if it’s not really working.”
The 25-year-old from Wolverhampton is busy at work off the court as well, helping young people get into sport, especially netball. She’s become an ambassador for new mobile app Hoops Connect, which encourages sport participation.
She said: “It’s a really exciting new app that basically allows you to see what sporting events are going on in your area, what sessions you can go to and get involved in.
“It’s just really great because it helps participation in sport which is always a good thing so I’m really proud to be an ambassador for them.”
She has also started her own academy to coach netball to youngsters and has encouraged people to get involved.
She said: “I’ve just created ‘Maias netball’ and again it’s one extra thing to help people get into sport and to enjoy netball, the game that we all love.
“Have a look, see what I’m doing and come along join in with some sessions.”
