London Mavericks are pleased to welcome Dawn Sanders as Performance Well-being and Transitions Coach. Sanders will work in a consultancy capacity to support players’ well-being during transition periods to or from the club, an additional service being provided to players alongside the performance team’s S&C, physio, psychology, video analysis and skills support.
Supplementing the well-being and psychology support provided by Calum Clark for players across the season as part of the performance team, Sanders’ role will focus on providing transition support to three groups of players: new signings transitioning to London Mavericks, players who are leaving Mavericks and transitioning to other clubs, and players who are transitioning away from the sport within the UK.
Sanders has worked in elite sport at the UK Sports Institute (formerly English Institute of Sport -EIS) for over twenty years, where she currently leads their athlete transition programme, supporting the needs of Olympic and Paralympic athletes as they transition from world class funded programmes and elite sports environments.
Previously, Sanders was Performance Lifestyle Coach for the GB Badminton squad and Technical Lead for the EIS, where she was responsible for recruiting and managing Performance Lifestyle Coaches in gymnastics, athletics, swimming, judo, powerlifting and archery.
Having represented England Rugby and Saracens as a winger, Sanders is well-placed to understand the motivations, setbacks and pressures associated with sport at the highest level.
Sanders will provide London Mavericks’ mentoring and well-being support through her Win Well coaching business.
Speaking about the new appointment, London Mavericks CEO Kieran Crombie said:
“Dawn will perform an extremely important role at the club. We want to create a people first culture, whilst balancing our desire to have a positive social impact and build a successful team.
“We are determined to invest in our athletes to ensure they have the best environment to learn and develop and feel supported throughout their time with London Mavericks, particularly through transitional periods.
“We have already announced Calum Clark joining our senior performance team as Performance and Wellbeing Coach and Mel Mansfield as Head Coach of our NSL Feeder Squad, who will play an integral role in nurturing and developing young talent. Dawn will really add to this mentoring aspect, supporting players through the practical and emotional aspects of transitioning to or from the club, as well as supporting their personal development and positive mental health.
“Dawn is known as someone who genuinely cares, truly listens and is curious to learn more about how she can support players, so we have no doubt she will fit in well to the environment and culture we’re building at London Mavericks.”
Sanders explained how she is keen to contribute to London Mavericks’ mission to enable players to thrive as individuals and to succeed in life as well as sport.
“I am honoured London Mavericks have asked me to be a part of what they’re building and I’m excited by their vision,” she said.
“It’s brilliant to see Mavericks taking an approach where well-being and positive mental health is an integrated part of the support that’s available for players. It demonstrates a club that genuinely cares and wants players to feel supported.
“They are committed to developing people, as well as performers, and to giving them a platform to thrive, to learn about themselves and how they can achieve their goals on and off the court.
Describing the specific role she will play, Sanders explained:
“I am here to help players who are staying within netball to navigate their way through this next phase in their life, and for those contemplating life beyond netball to consider their transferable skills and where else they might thrive outside of the netball environment.
“My role will involve supporting players on a one-to-one, to think not only about the practical elements of what change means for them, but also to understand what strengths and values have got them through change in the past, that they can lean into now. I also want to connect people to emotions of change to enable them to express any concerns or challenges alongside the opportunities this new chapter brings.
“I am passionate about supporting, educating and guiding players and coaches around what athlete well-being looks like and how it can positively impact performance.
“My approach brings a holistic view of what it means to develop as a person, as well as helping players understand how to get the best out of themselves, to understand their strengths and values as people and see how they can use this understanding to perform in what can often be high-pressured environments.
“I hope to share the insight and experience I’ve gained from decades supporting athletes’ development as a Performance Lifestyle Coach to benefit London Mavericks’ squad.”
Having seen a seismic shift over the past couple of decades in the way women’s sport has developed, been promoted and supported, Sanders knows it’s an exciting time to be joining London Mavericks.
“It’s a fantastic time to be involved in any women’s sport,” she explained. “Seeing the development of women’s sport over the last 20 years has been amazing to witness. Having a daughter who plays netball for Baldock Crusaders, I know the impact the sport has on women and girls.
“I hope part of my role working with London Mavericks’ players will enable them to connect to and share how their stories can inspire so many others within their local community, whether that’s through showing vulnerability or resilience, how they’ve overcome challenges to succeed in life.
“These athletes all have a powerful story to tell and can be incredible role models to people around them.”