Former Pulse Star to Develop the Next Generation

Former Pulse Star to Develop the Next Generation

Media Release
21 August 2014
Frances Solia, former Central Pulse and Samoa captain, has been appointed as Emerging Talent Manager for Netball Central Zone.

Frances, aka ‘Froggy’, has played netball at an elite level, including taking part in two Commonwealth Games and three world championships with Samoa, a World 7s series and stints in the ANZ Championship with both the Pulse and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic.

The 37-year old mid-courter retired from playing in 2012 to start a family, but returned to the netball world last year as the Centre Manager of Kapi Mana Netball.

Frances feels she has a lot to offer the role given her enormous playing experience. “I’ve finished playing and I’ve got a lot of playing experience. I’m in a position now where I can share and give back.

“This is an exciting and challenging role and I'm thrilled to be given the opportunity. The new Netball New Zealand (NNZ) programme that is due to be released at the end of the month is a great initiative, especially for netballers striving to play at an elite level. To be a part of this new implementation is such a rewarding feeling as I've always enjoyed helping players fulfil their dreams to succeed in the sport we love to play,” explained Frances.

The Emerging Talent Manager replaces the previous High Performance role and will be working closely with both Netball New Zealand and the centres within the zone to ensure that both the national and zone programmes are integrated.

“I have lots of ideas on how to make it happen, but I need to make sure that we plan the most effective way to make it happen for our players.

“It means tapping into U15s and U17s and making sure that the right pathways are available to those youngsters, so that we eventually get them into the U23s, and then on to the Haier Pulse.

Although the new manager doesn’t officially start her role until 9 September, she will join high performance personnel from the other zones around the country at a forum on 24 August.

“I’m really looking forward to talking to people like Julie Fitzgerald, to see what ideas they might have.

“Julie is amazing, I was very fortunate in playing career to have been coached by her and Lisa Alexander during the World 7’s in 2009 where I picked up little things. The Australians tend to approach things a bit differently to New Zealand…. little things, but highly effective.”

Haier Pulse and Netball Central Zone CEO Carolyn Young believes Frances will be a huge asset to the zone, bringing with her a wealth of netball experience from grassroots to international tests. “Frances has a long pedigree in netball, having played in representative teams for Wellington, and as a member of the Shakers, Pulse, Magic and the Samoan national team during her playing career,” she stated.

“Her experience will be invaluable to the implementation of the new NNZ programme,” added Carolyn.

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