Join our successful Netball Performance Programme
One of the most highly regarded of its kind in the UK, the University of Edinburgh Performance Sport Programme enables athletes to achieve a world-class degree and perform to the best of their ability. The University of Edinburgh Netball Programme prides itself on developing players with potential and a positive attitude into performance athletes. In return for your dedication and hard work, we will offer you world-class training facilities and support to allow you to reach your full potential:
- 1 Full-time Head Coach
- Specialist Support Coaches
- Full-time Strength & Conditioning support
- Academic support
- Performance lifestyle support
- Nutritional advice
- Sports psychology Support
- Access to the world-renowned FASIC Sport & Exercise Medicine Clinic
- Performance analysis, team and individual
The Performance Netball programme has allowed me to train and perform at the highest level, alongside my academic studies. As a team we benefit from exceptional coaching, in first-class facilities both on the court and in the gym. In this supportive environment – including nutrition guidance, sports psychology and physiotherapy – I can balance the demands of studying and training, allowing me to excel and thrive as a student-athlete
Aela Stewart, Environmental Geoscience. Northern Ireland Emerging Warriors
The performance netball programme has not only allowed me to flourish within my netball training but also it has provided me with the support tailored to ensuring my mental and academic wellbeing off court. With S&C support, nutrition workshops and sports psychology, the programme has aided me to excel in my sport at an undoubtedly high level thanks to the support of our amazing coaching and support system.
Flic Rome, Classical Studies. Scotland A, Scotland U21
After an unbeaten 23/24 season in BUCS Scottish Tier 1, the first team was promoted to play in Prem North for the 24/25 season.
- 2023-24 BUCS Scottish Tier 1A Winners
- 2023-24 National League Champions
- 2023-24 Scottish Cup Finalists
- 2023-24 Conference Cup Champions
- 2022-2023 BUCS Scottish Tier 1A Winners
- 2021-22 Netball Scotland Senior Club of the Year
- 2020-21 BUCS Conference Cup Finalists
- 2019-20 BUCS Scottish Tier 1A Winners
Alongside our BUCS and Scottish League successes, many of our players and alumni are involved in national programmes and play in international squads. This has included:
- Alumni Claire Maxwell – Former thistles captain, now retired with over 100 caps between 2009-2023. Represented Scotland at 2014, 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games, and 2015, 2019 and 2023 Netball World Cups.
- Alumni Emily Nicholl – Current Scottish Thistles vice-captain (45 caps). Represented Scotland at the 2019 and 2023 Netball World Cups, and 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games.
- Alumni Hannah Grant - Current Scottish Thistle (9 caps). Represented Scotland at the 2023 Netball World Cup
- 1 current student in Northern Ireland Emerging squad
- 2018-19 4 players selected for SSS National Squad
- 2017-18 7 players selected for SSS National Squad
- 1 Alumni involved in 2 commonwealth games appearances (2018, 2022)
- 1 Alumni involved in World Cup Squad appearance 2019
Edinburgh mixes architectural beauty and history with a lively, fun environment and has regularly been voted as one of the most desirable places to live in the world. As part of our Performance Programme, you will develop your athletic and academic skills in tandem, competing for one of the United Kingdom’s best sporting higher education institutions and studying at a university that is consistently ranked in the top 50 in the world:
- Over 650 degree programmes
- Flexible study
- Ranked 10th in the UK for graduate employability by the Times Higher Education, Global Employability Ranking 2018
We support elite athletes during the University application process by crediting athletic attainment.
Find out more about our Elite Athlete Policy:
Head of Performance Netball, Trish Wilcox
Trish is our newly appointed Head of Netball having been in the role since September 2022 and has been developing and growing the netball performance programme. Trish is a NNZ Level 3 qualified coach and has been coaching for over 25 years spending over 20 years coaching in NZ and learning her craft.
Some highlights of her international coaching career are:
- 2002 -2014 New Zealand- Appointed Auckland Netball’s first ever Development Officer (2002) Development Manager (2006) Northern Zone Community Netball Manager (2012)
- 2004 NNZ Coach Education Facilitator Award
- 2006-2011 Director of Netball Epsom Girls Grammar School Auckland NZ
- 2009 Head Coach Auckland NZ provincial U15s
- 2010 Apprentice coach programme NZ U21
- 2010 Head Coach U19 Regional Auckland/Waitakere NZ
- 2011 Head Coach U17 Regional Auckland /Waitakere NZ
- 2011-2013 Head Coach Samoa U21
- 2012 Head Coach U17 Auckland NZ
- 2012 Netball New Zealand Performance Coach Award Programme
- 2013-2014 Head Coach Cook Islands National Team
- 2014 short term contract for Pacific Netball Series
- 2014 Sport New Zealand Coach Advance Programme
- 2014- 2017 Head of Elite Performance at Wales Netball
- 2014-2018 Head coach Wales National team
- 2014-2018 Head Coach Celtic Dragons Franchise
- 2018-2022 Head of Netball Fettes College
- 2020-2022 Head coach Edinburgh Academicals
- 2021 2022 Head Coach Eagles
Practice facilities at Pleasance Sports Complex & Gym are extremely accessible with recent refurbishment made to the flooring. We also have access to our medical clinic at the University for the selected Performance Players within the Women’s Basketball Programme.
We offer a number of named scholarships available through the application process.
Eric Liddell High Performance Scholarships: Created in memory of one of the University’s sporting greats to help our most talented student athletes attain their sporting ambitions.
The University of Edinburgh Elite Athlete Scholarship Fund: Awarded to support talented student athletes with the purpose of enhancing their dual career (academic and sporting) ambitions and positioning the University as the UK’s foremost Higher Education Institution for performance sport.
The University of Edinburgh is also part of the Winning Students Network, which provides financial scholarships from the Scottish Funding Council to support student athletes.
Further information about sport specific scholarships
Further Information about University scholarships and funding
The University of Edinburgh is a UK Anti-Doping accredited institution. We are fully committed to clean sport principles and educating all of our athletes in applying these principles correctly. Please feel free to read through our full Clean Sport Policy.
Get In Touch
We are always looking for ambitious, academic athletes to realise their potential with us. Our aim is to train, develop and retain some of the finest netball talent in the country. We look forward to welcoming the next generation of netball players to our Performance Programme and hope to hear from you soon.
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