GIANTS Netball’s Head of Strength and Conditioning Simone Freeman will this weekend join an impressive list of guest speakers at the Plae Labs conference at Sydney University.
Plae Labs is a US based company that focuses on delivering informative and educational experiences by strength coaches, to those within the industry or looking to work in the industry.
Freeman – who also manages the strength and condition program for the GIANTS’ AFL Women’s program - will present alongside some of the world’s top strength coaches, in front of hundreds of paying guests, wearing a GIANTS logo proudly on her chest.
Last speaking at an ACA conference two years ago, Freeman said she is looking forward to returning to the stage.
“I am a bit nervous, but it’s going to be a really good conference and I’m excited to share the stage with some big names,” she said.
“I’m presenting on jump mechanics and will break down the skill and talk through the technical components and what it looks like – both a standing vertical jump and the two running jumps.”
The GIANTS staff member is the only female among the eight guest speakers at the Sydney conference.
“I myself am looking forward to hearing from the other guest speakers as I haven’t heard from a lot of them before,” said Freeman.
Having started with the GIANTS’ AFL program in 2015 in the fast-track traineeship program, Freeman’s growth from a career perspective has been concurrent with the GIANTS’ brand and club.
With the introduction of GIANTS Netball and AFLW in 2017, the once-upon-time intern was given the nod to take the lead in the strength and conditioning space.
Her dedication and hard work to the programs does not go unnoticed and she is well respected and appreciated amongst both playing groups, as well as the AFL program where she also helps out.
Freeman was named the inaugural GIANTS Netball Club Person of the Year in 2017.
Highlights from her five-year career with the GIANTS include the opportunity to work with netball icon and legend Kim Green, as well as seeing the GIANTS’ AFL side make their first grand final in 2019.
Growth and development are two of of the key metrics that a strength and conditioning coach works for and that’s something that Freeman looks forward to continuing to witness with her teams and programs under the GIANTS banner.
