The Deputy Principal of York District High School Karly Guadagnin is one of those.
In 2024, Guadagnin has been Head Coach of the 19/U WA State Team which finished with a bronze medal at the National Netball Championships and is also West Coast Fever Reserves Assistant Coach in the new Super Netball Reserves.
Combined with all that Guadagnin is also married and a mother of two, including a netball mad daughter which makes her a very busy woman but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Guadagnin, who lives in Northam, sacrifices much of her time to travel to and from Perth to be as involved in Netball. The early wake up calls and long drives are her norm she said.
“I leave my house on a Saturday at 4am to travel down to go to Fever Reserves training for a few hours, then hightail it back to Northam to go to my daughter’s game,” she said.
“We then come back to Perth because my husband is involved in WAFL coaching and then back to Northam for my senior netball game.”
Guadagnin is involved in Netball within the State at all different levels, from coaching the players on the cusp of Suncorp Super Netball in the Reserves, all the way to Woolworths NetSetGo in her local community.
She believes the vast difference between the two helps her overall coaching.
“I think as a coach you can always either strip back or advance somethings, you just have to know your group,” she said.
“The grassroots and how special it is really helps you understand the game and how one learns it.”
Both the West Coast Fever Reserves and 19/U State Team have both benefitted from Guadagnin’s guidance this year.
“I’ve been in the system a while and it’s great to see WA up the top of the table consistently year after year,” she said.
Although the schedule is busy, Guadagnin loves what she does and being involved in the Netball in WA and she credits her family and the York community for supporting her.
“I’m leaving home at 3:30am on a Tuesday to drive to training and make it back for work, but it’s a passion of mine and I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t love it,” she said.
“I think its important to show if you’re given an opportunity to take it.”
When reflecting on 100 years of Netball WA, it is people like Karly Guadagnin and the impact she is having on the younger generations of netballers that has formed the success of the sport in the State.
“I always want to learn in every aspect of my life, I love the game and it’s shaped who I am due to the influential people who have been part of the journey.”
