Rachael Foy is the President, Coach, and incredible motivator of the Ohinewai Netball Club which brings together 30+ primary aged Tamariki from 9 schools, to compete in the Future Ferns netball competitions held in Hamilton.
Rachael revitalised the Ohinewai Netball Club in 2020, when the school team she was coaching couldn’t field enough players for a school team. Seeing the wider need in the area the inter-school club was the perfect option.
Rachael has been the backbone, organising trainings, coaching 2 (of 6) teams, and rallying volunteer support for fundraising and committee succession planning.
Rachael was coaching a friend’s kids netball school team, however once the school could not get enough players for a team, instead of folding she moved her energy to revitalise the Ohinewai Netball Club which had been put into recess.
Having previously coached and voluenteering for the Ohinewai Netball Club 10 years earlier, she was aware of possible Seed funding, equipment and uniforms available to kickstart the club again. Rachael pulled on any local volunteer she could find (mostly family) and formally restarted the Club committee.
In the first year they entered 2 primary school teams into the Future Ferns netball competitions held in Hamilton. Today the Ohinewai Netball Club has 5 youth teams (5-12 year olds) and 1 adults team.
Since restarting the Club in 2020, the team numbers have been increasing every year from 2 teams to now 5 youth teams and 1 adult social team. Majority of the players are school kids returning every year and bringing a friend along. Today the club’s members pull from 9 schools from Ohinewai, Huntly, Te Kauwhata, Waikaretu and Whitikahu area.
Each team has a training night and game night per week. The players are also encouraged to participate in fundraising initiatives such as pinecone collection for Firestarter, raffles and sasuages sizzles. The funds are used to purchase new equipment for the growing teams and first aid kits.
Evident by the growing club size, the club is fostering a significant positive impact for the wider area and giving opportunity to rural tamariki to play sport, and a variety of sport, where schools may not have the ability.
Rachael is humble in her efforts and would be the first to shine the spotlight on the team of volunteers she has pulled together. Rachael is a young rural professional, managing a dairy farm and puts her all into ensuring Tamariki in her area access to enjoy sport. Her ability to fosters a positive team around the club, ensuring coaching capability, upskilling committee members and creating fundraising opportunities are all parts of the puzzle that results in the positive outcome for youth.
Rachel’s vision for the club is to not only foster participation with skill growth and ball handling, but also with team work and sportsmanship.
The majority of players return every year, bringing along more friends to get involved in the sport. Despite not being ‘school friends’ the members build strong friendships. Often the Tamariki are told to “go home” from practice because they love being together and being coached.
The growth of the club, positive environment and pure enjoyment of the players is testament that the Ohinewai Netball Club is a great experience for these rural Tamariki – with credit to Rachael for revitaising the club.
“Anyone who turns up plays, no one is turned away”
- Membership increasing to 30+ players, aged 5-12 years old
