NEW for September 2025: We are very proud to be launching our youth team for 10-16yr old girls.
Philippa and Gaylene have been working together since last season, coaching an independent youth team of girls aged 10-14yrs old. From September 2025, the youth team will join our Rockets’ family along with our new youth team assistant coach, Pedro.
Gaylene will lead the youth team as head coach. She has worked with youth netball since xxx in South Africa and has been coaching and umpiring here in Portugal for xx years.
Philippa is our current Rockets’ club President and will support Gaylene as assistant coach, having completed her Level 1 netball coaching qualification in 2023. She is planning to continue with her Level 2 qualification in 2026. Before moving to Portugal, Philippa worked with families and children for 20+ years in various roles including nurseries, schools and after school clubs. Philippa also ran and managed her own holiday clubs and classes for children & families focused on play and developing ‘the whole child’. She is passionate about child development and women’s sports, especially encouraging girls to continue playing sport through their teenage years.
Pedro joins us this season as assistant coach. Pedro was born in South Africa and emigrated to Portugal 30 years ago. He has a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from the University Lusofona and a master’s degree in IT Teaching from the IE-University of Lisbon. He has worked for various schools in Portugal, both international and public, and from an early age has worked with children. In addition to teaching, for the last 25 years Pedro has also worked as a basketball coach in various clubs in the Algarve. Most recently working with under 16/18 girls and has a Level 2 coaching qualification.
Lisa M, our current Treasurer and club Vice President will be our safeguarding lead. Please contact Lisa if you have any questions or concerns regarding safeguarding. Lisa H, our current club Secretary and a former Deputy Headteacher, has compiled our development plan for this season and beyond.
We are extremely proud to have such an experienced and qualified team of people to grow our new youth team.
Anyone involved with the youth team has completed safeguarding courses from ‘International Safeguards for Children in Sport’ (recommended by World Netball,) has also completed police checks to work with children. As a club, we have taken the pledge ‘to protect children whenever and wherever they play sport‘, we were the first organisation in Portugal to be a part of the International Safeguards for Children in Sport initiative.. We are proud to be the first netball club in Portugal registered with the IPDJ (Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude, I.P.).
You can find all our policies (including our Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults policy) and Club Constitution on our policies page.
English (UK) 
Português