LIZ ELLIS BACK ON COURT COACHING TOMORROW’S NETBALLERS

Liz Ellis may have retired from international netball, but those attending the 2008 AVON Netball Clinics will have the opportunity to learn from Australia’s most coveted netballer.

After leading the Australian Netball team to victory at the 2007 World Netball Championships and following a remarkable 18 year career which includes among other things 2 Commonwealth Gold Medals, 4 World Championships appearances, 4 Commonwealth Bank Trophy titles and as Australia’s most capped netballer of all time (122 Tests), Ellis retired from netball last year.  

While you won’t see Liz playing for Australia again, tomorrow’s netballers can join her on the court at the 2008 AVON Liz Ellis Netball Clinics being held in the coming April school holidays.  

Now in their 13th year the AVON Netball Clinics are designed for players aged 7-16yrs and cater for all abilities. Participants receive expert tuition from Liz and other leading players in attack and defence skills, tactics, ball work, movement and match play.

With five clinics set down for the April school holidays, Liz and her coaches will be aiming to teach young netballers new skills and maybe even discover some rising stars!  Liz will be hosting clinics in Sutherland, Bankstown, Ku-ring-gai, the Hills District and Maitland. 

“I am really looking forward to meeting all of the participants at the April clinics.  I haven’t been near a netball court since retiring, so I am really looking forward to getting back on court. I get such a buzz teaching new skills to young players, and it is great to see them put these skills into action in the match play sessions at the end of the day.”   

“Over the past 13 years the number of kids attending the AVON Netball Clinics could more than fill ACER Arena. It is great to see these young players enjoying the game of netball and keeping physically active even if they don’t have aspirations to be in the Australian Netball Team.”  

“The support I have received from AVON has been outstanding, with our long term partnership continuing again in 2008. AVON will provide a range of products for everyone attending this year as well as other products from our partners included in a show bag given out at the end of the day.” she said. 

Bookings are now open and strictly limited. Bookings are available online www.lizellis.com.au   

The AVON Liz Ellis Clinics are proudly sponsored by:

AVON, Reliance Sporting Goods, Dunlop and Holden. 

2008 AVON Liz Ellis Netball Clinics (all clinics run from 9.30am – 3.00pm)

Monday 14 April	Sutherland	Bellingara Road, Miranda
Wednesday 16 April	Bankstown	Deverall Park, Yanderra St, Condell Park
Friday 18 April	Hills District	Pennant Hills Park, Britannia St Pennant Hills
Monday 21 April	Kuringai	Canoon Road, South Turramurra
Wednesday 23 April	Maitland	Maitland Park, Bloomfield St, Maitland

 

 

 

 

 

For more information, contact the AVON Liz Ellis Netball Clinics on (02) 9037 8047

 

 

 

Monday 19 November, 2007 Press Release - Netball champion Liz Ellis retires on a high 

Australian netball captain and legendary player, Liz Ellis has bowed out on a high after leading the national team to World Championship glory in Auckland on Saturday night.

After a brilliant 18-year career at the top, Ellis announced her retirement, flanked by her Australian team mates, at a welcome home function hosted by major sponsor, GM Holden in Melbourne today.

Revered as a fearless, tenacious and inspirational defender, Ellis leaves the court having achieved every personal and team accolade possible, including World titles, Commonwealth Games gold, national league MVP awards and national league titles with her beloved Sydney TAB Swifts.

The 34-year-old, who is Australia’s most capped player of all time, says the timing feels right.

“Winning the World Championship proved a fairy-tale ending, and at the end of the game I just knew the time was right to finish,” Ellis said.

“I am really privileged for the career I have had and to top it off with a win like this with this great team is the perfect ending.”

Netball Australia President, Noeleen Dix paid tribute to Ellis’ outstanding contribution to the game.

“Liz will be remembered as one of the most brilliant and talented players ever to wear the green and gold. Her thrilling duels, in particular with New Zealand shooter, Irene van Dyk, are legendary,” Dix said.

“She has been an inspirational leader for Australia and the Sydney TAB Swifts and a wonderful role model for so many aspiring players. Loved by the fans, Liz is also highly respected around the world for her outstanding commitment, dedication and passion for the sport throughout an illustrious career.

“The netball community salutes this great athlete and Australian captain on her stellar career.” Dix said.

The Australian captain said her teammates and the camaraderie they shared is what she will miss the most.

“While there are things that I won’t miss – like pre-season, ice baths and fitness testing – I will miss my team-mates and the camaraderie that comes with being involved in great teams like the Swifts and the Australian side.  I look forward to starting my post-netball career and to exploring many avenues off court that will utilise the skills I have acquired as a player and a leader in some great sporting teams,” Ellis said.

Amongst the career-highs, Ellis also faced adversity when in November 2005 she injured a knee during a Test match against New Zealand and underwent a knee reconstruction, sidelining her for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.

In an amazing sporting comeback, Ellis defied the odds at 33-years-of-age and steered the Sydney TAB Swifts to an historic undefeated season in 2006, won a third Commonwealth Bank Trophy title and claimed the league’s Most Valuable Player Award.

At today’s announcement, Ellis thanked her Australian and Swifts team mates and coaching staff, the fans and the people and organisations that had supported her over the years. Among the organisations acknowledged were her personal sponsors and commercial partners; Dunlop Sport, Nestle, Reliance Gripper Netballs. Whilst thanking Macquarie Bank Sports Foundation and AVON, Ellis indicated she will continue to be involved with these two companies to coach young Australians in the game she loves.

Future:

Beyond netball, Ellis wants to concentrate on her business activities, a soon-to-be-launched charitable foundation and to spend more time with her husband, Matthew.

Having chosen a sport which required the commitment of a professional athlete, but without professional salaries, Ellis was always active outside netball: completing her law degree and working as a solicitor, writing two books, sitting on numerous industry boards, running successful businesses, meeting the needs of sponsors, coaching, guest speaking and working in the media…all while performing at an elite level in her sport.

Liz Ellis heads off shortly for a well-earned break and will holiday overseas before starting the new chapter in her life: beyond netball.