Earlier this year, Miss Duddy travelled to Paris to coach with the Elite Netball Academy, a prestigious programme spearheaded by former Superleague Head Coach Anna Carter. 

Over the course of five days, the event welcomed an incredible 485 young athletes from across the UK, representing the Under 12, Under 14, Under 16, and Under 18 age groups. For two days of the trip, the young athletes participated in a competitive tournament alongside coaching masterclasses, with sessions focusing on key areas such as shooting technique, defensive structures, attacking play, ball handling, and speed and agility. Each day, the coaching masterclasses were delivered to half of the group, while the other half enjoyed some well-earned free time, whether exploring the shops of Paris or spending an afternoon at Disneyland.

Miss Duddy shared: “It was a fantastic opportunity to work with athletes of differing abilities, with the sole aim of helping them develop their netball and have fun whilst doing so. Aside from delivering the coaching masterclasses, a highlight for me was when one of my first ever netball coaches (from when I was 11) walked in with one of the teams. That felt like a full-circle moment, as she had coached and inspired me as a youngster - and now there I was in Paris, coaching not only her team but also her eldest daughter. It's true when they say netball is a small world! 

“I am extremely grateful to have been given the opportunity to work with them, and I learned so much from Anna and the way she runs the Elite Netball Academy - all skills which I have brought back to further my coaching abilities here at Robert Gordon’s College.”