Mavericks Youth

In 2006/7 Mavericks introduced a youth section to the franchise in order to help develop local players. The Mavericks Youth squad is made up of players aged under 19 across the east region and joining counties. The University of Hertfordshire sponsors the Mavericks Youth Squad. None of this would be possible without the support of Netball East and the clubs and coaches across the Mavericks catchment area, they have been fantastic about finding players and helping them with managing their training schedules and match play opportunities.

Selection

Players within the East Region go through the screening process which includes County Talent Identifiers referring players to county and then regional trials. If they are successful then they will be invited to Mavericks Youth trials.

Training

The Mavericks Youth training includes sessions at the Hertfordshire Sports Village and also training closer to home for the athletes. This means that the players do not have to travel excessively each week, however as this structure is developing there are not extension centres close to every athlete yet. Training sessions are open for coaches to come and watch whether for ideas or just to see what is going on. It is particularly useful for the athletes club or school coaches to see the intensity and skills that are developed in these sessions. Coaches are open to observers but due to maintaining a suitable training environment for the athletes please contact the coach to make sure a visit is possible.

Squad

The Mavericks Youth Squad is made up of players from all over the east region and neighbouring counties.

**Mavericsks Youth Athletes**
Player	Court Area	Area	Club	Notes
Stephanie Collard	Defence	Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire	MK Netters & MK Leisure Diamond	---
Ellesse Lee	Defence	Finsbury Park London	Oakwood	---
Josie Huckle	Defence	Clophill Bedfordshire	Team Beds & Westoning	---
Laura O'Mahony	Defence	Broxbourne Hertfordshire	Hertford Hornets	---
Sophia Candappa	Defence	Bracknell Berkshire	Eagles	---
Abby O'Hara	Defence	Romford Essex	Manor	---
Amy Fennelly	Defence	Basildon Essex	Robins	England Talent 2
Caroline Howard	Defence	Ampthill Bedfordshire	Team Beds& Maulden Cubs	---
Harriet Arbuckle	Centre	Cambridge Cambridgeshire	Comberton	---
Natalie Brookes	Centre	Beaconsfield Buckinghamshire	Eagles	---
Adele Burnett	Centre	Great Yarmouth Norfolk	Thoroughbreds	---
Shana Potgieter	Centre	Ormesby St Margaret Norfolk	Thoroughbreds	---
Abigail Lamden	Centre	Abbots Langley Hertfordshire	Watford Premier	England Talent 2
Kelsey Nolan	Centre	Flitwick Bedfordshire	Team Beds & Luton Tornadoes	England Talent 1
Katherine Thornton	Centre	Sharnbrook Bedfordshire	Grangers & Amazons	---
Charlotte South	Centre	Maulden Bedfordshire	Team Beds & Maulden	---
Michaela McFarlane	Attack	Harrow Middlesex	Academy	England Talent 2
Chantelle Hankin	Attack	Chelmsford Essex	Robins	England Talent 2
Sam Brightman	Attack	Cranfield Bedfordshire	Team Beds & Carnfield	---
Zoe Murdoch	Attack	Basildon Esssex	Robins	England Talent 1
Stephanie Whitfield	Attack	Shenfield Essex	Conquerors	---
Francesca Plom	Attack	Grays Essex	OPA & Bear Babies	---

Coaches & Staff

The Mavericks Youth Squad has had a wealth of ex-international players and current internation coaches working with them since its creation. All of the staff apply for their positions and the most appropriate candidates are selected. The managers and support staff are also extremely experienced and help the players to develop as athletes through their contact.

**Mavericsks Youth Staff**
Role	Name	Area	Club	Notes
Head Coach	Jo Munnion	Northampton	Wyvern	England U17
Assistant Coach	Helene Hall	Norwich	Thoroughbreds	England U17
Technical Coach	Helen Stepney	Cambridge	Comberton
Technical Coach	Ann-Marie Muller	Welwyn
Manager	Kelly Cole	Potton
Physio	Roly Fletcher

Fixtures

The Mavericks Youth Squad will complete one fixture against each Super League franchise Youth Squad (Loughborough Lightning, Leeds Met Carnegie, Northern Thunder, Team Northumbria, Brunel Hurricanes, Celtic Dragons and Team Bath) as well as two new Talent squads created in the South Region and the West Midlands. This is a total of nine fixtures over the season. See fixtures page.