Karen Jones is one of those athletes who love to give back to their chosen sport.Whenever the opportunity presents itself, the Bermuda netball captain is always willing to pass on knowledge that was freely given to her to help others reach their full potential on the court.“I don’t coach youngsters per se, but I’m always readily available to assist and help anyone I can within my club (SS Tigers),” the nearly six foot tall goalkeeper said. “I want to share what I know with our young people to help develop them within the sport. And we have so many young ladies we are trying to develop socially through sport.”Sport is a part of Jones’ DNA as her father Quinton is a former Somerset Trojans goalkeeper.Incidentally, Jones plays goalkeeper as well. But that wasn’t always the case.“I started out as a goal attacker and shooter right until two seasons ago,” she said. “One night we had a competitive game and our coach asked me to play goalkeeper and I’ve been there ever since.”Jones’ career was hatched at the age of 10 while she attended West Pembroke Primary.So what was it that she found so appealing about netball?“Netball was the only female sport and it was just the thing to do,” she said.Decades later the mother of three remains active in the sport and keen to broaden her athletic horizons.“Once you’re passionate about the sport and enjoy it it’s something that never leaves,” she said. “Even at this stage of my career I’m still developing self and trying to teach what I’ve learned to those that are receptive to it.”Earlier this year the veteran player was appointed as captain of Bermuda’s senior national netball team ahead of the Americas Federation of Netball Association’s (AFNA) Championships in Trinidad and Tobago.Jones admits being appointed as Bermuda’s captain caught her by surprise.“I was surprised at first, but that didn’t last long,” she said. “Being appointed was humbling for me because my role changed ... I took on the added responsibility of being Bermuda’s captain.”Captaining her country is a role Jones takes great pride in.“I do carry a sense of pride but my sense of pride is selfless because it’s not just about me,” she said. “Netball is a team sport and I couldn’t be netball captain without all of the other players. I can’t take the whole banner.”Jones reckons she’s made a smooth transition to her new role as Bermuda’s captain.“It’s been business as usual,” she said. “I don’t think being captain has added or taken anything away from my playing ability.”The veteran netballer is a fierce competitor on the court who doesn’t take kindly to losing.“It hurts to lose and after losing I always think to myself what could I have done differently to help myself and the team,” she said.As committed as she is to her chosen sport, Jones admits balancing parenthood and work with netball is no easy juggling act.“As a mother with kids and a full time job it definitely takes organisation,” she said.But she says netball can be rewarding both on and off the court.“Netball helps to develop life skills but you have to put the hard work in and be dedicated,” she said. “For me netball is more than just a sport, it’s a lifestyle.”