"Shem Maxwell is one of the best netballers Saint Lucia produced," says Netball Saint Lucia

The Netball Association of Saint Lucia lauded Shem Maxwell for her remarkable achievements since the beginning of her career.

While appreciating her, the association said, "One of the best netballers Saint Lucia produced over the past years. Shem has been remarkable in all ways on and off the field. Continue to do what you do, and keep nurturing the younger ones."

The young female attended the Micoud Secondary School, where she got involved in netball through her sister, Chermin, who also represented Saint Lucia. She got involved in numerous activities at the school, with road racing being her pet, and she always finished in the top 10.

During the Inter House Schools competition, she participated in the high jump, long jump and also netball for Compton House. With Shem being captain, they dominated the competition.

She played netball with the community of Dennery with the older women, namely (Cecelia Albert, Chermin Maxwell, Thedosia Constable, Sylma Tobie, etc.) whom she followed far and wide. They were coached by Claudia Noel Jn Baptiste, who invited her to join the team.

The first time she played was in the GA position in Castries, and she did extremely well. Jennifer King, who was the national coach for netball, saw her and told Claudia Noel Jn Baptiste that this child needed to come to national trials. From then on, she has represented Saint Lucia at numerous competitions.

After the Dennery team broke up, she joined the Elite Strikers Netball Team, and they were the team to beat. They participated in numerous tournaments, including Helen of the West where they won for a few years.

She Left the Micoud Secondary School in 1995 and work part time jobs until she was called up for a scholarship to attend school in Cuba in 2002 – 2005 at the International School of Physical Education and Sports in Havana.

Prior to that however, she participated at the Windward Islands School Games in Dominica in 1993. At the insistence of then Team Technical Director Mr. Michael Pierre participated creditably in the high jump, and 4x400, meters event. She was also an integral part of the Netball Team.

Shem graduated from Cuba with a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education and Sports, returned home, and joined the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports as a netball coach.

She was subsequently afforded the opportunity to do her Level 1 and 2 coaching netball awards. Coaching for her then was a challenge as she was the only coach at the Ministry.

The Saint Lucia Netball Association realised her potential and used her to coach the Under 16 national team in 2011. She also coached the Windward Islands School Games team, which she met with success.

In 2020 she got promoted from netball coach to Physical Education Specialist a position she still holds. She has been assisting at various schools and officiating at sporting activities while still finding the time and energy to coach national teams.

She was the coach of the Under 21 national team which placed 3rd at the first Caribbean Games which was held in Guadeloupe in 2022.

Currently, she is the PRO of the Saint Lucia National Netball Association where, because of her passion and wanting to give back to the sport, finds herself doing much more than the role of the PRO.

Shem captained the Senior National Netball Team for a few years, where she gained invaluable experience at her first ever Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014. She has commenced her own Netball Academy in the Dennery region.