The Academy, operated by Dubai Hurricanes, is delighted to announce the appointment of Penny Ashcroft as its new Director. With a comprehensive background in sports education and coaching, Penny brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the role.

About The Academy
The Academy supports school sports by providing both in-curriculum and extracurricular coaching along with high-level group training programs in rugby, netball, and cricket. It caters to individuals (1-to-1), small groups (2-6), and high-performance academy squad sessions, supporting the development of players, coaches, and officials aiming to advance their skills and knowledge. Facilitated by experienced and qualified coaches, The Academy offers rugby, netball, and cricket education for beginners, skill developers, and those considering a career in sports. It is open to all, not just Dubai Hurricanes members.


Penny Ashcroft’s Background
Penny Ashcroft has been a dedicated member of Dubai Hurricanes for the past four years, serving as a parent volunteer. She is a qualified netball and rugby coach, with both her daughters having been selected for UAE squads in netball and rugby.


Career Highlights:

  • Head of Netball & PE Teacher, Kings’ School Dubai: Penny has led the netball program at Kings’ School Dubai (KSD) to become one of the most successful primary schools in the Middle East. As Head Coach and Performance Lead for netball from Y2-6, she has recruited and managed additional netball coaches and supported them with coaching techniques. Penny has also been an outstanding PE teacher, supporting and organizing annual Sports Days, House Swim events and fulfilling a sports administrator role within the PE department to support the ECA lead.
  • DASSA Head of Netball: In this role, Penny leads the planning and delivery of all DASSA Primary Netball competitions throughout the academic year, organizing tournaments, pre-season friendlies, and playoff competitions for all participation levels (from elite competitive to development level). She also leads CPD training for coaching, umpiring, and developing netball in schools.
  • UAE Netball Open Manager: Penny is new in this role and was part of the team that gained silver place at the European Championships, earlier this year.
  • Other Roles: Penny has served on the DASSA Select Committee, identifying and developing elite performers in rugby, netball, and basketball since 2019. She has also worked with England Netball as a Sports Scientist and Data Analyst from 2000-2003. Penny is Medic First Aid trained and actively participates in netball and golf.

Penny’s extensive experience and passion for sports education make her an invaluable addition to The Academy. Under her leadership, we are confident that The Academy will continue to thrive and provide exceptional opportunities for aspiring athletes and sports enthusiasts.

Please join us in welcoming Penny Ashcroft to her new role.

For more information, please contact The Academy operated by Dubai Hurricanes on: [email protected]