Coaching success
My heart is so full right now after a short performance session with my girls just now.
I have been coaching the school’s netball team since 2011. Only recently have my load been taken off with our new coach. But even so, my work hardly stops and I’m called to step in every now and then.
This success comes much appreciated and almost like a reward after one of my biggest heart wrenching experiences. I had given up on coaching and was doing my duties as part of my job, without any passion and keenness to open my heart to these girls.
This year, I have a batch of new, beginner players, and some experienced ones. What I have grown to understand is how this group is so different from their seniors. The level of friendship and sisterhood goes beyond the desire to win.
My focus with them started just 3 weeks ago, and already there is so much improvement and success in their performance on court. I stepped away from my usual textbook routines and looked to building up on the basics for netball.
- Single leg landing and pushing off
- Controlled landing with the ball
- Immediate conversion of passes upon receiving
- Looking at options and identifying clusters
- Fingertip control of the ball
Heres a video of a ball handling drill with the new girls. They caught on faster than those experienced players.
What helped was the willingness in these girls to put in that 100% effort. It didnt matter if they had already learned the skill, but practicing and the desire to get even better is what set these girls apart from their seniors.
So it was really heartening to see how much these girls have improved today. It gives credit to the right drills and training that they have gone through, and it also builds their confidence going into the subsequent trainings.
For once, I feel like I have truly made an impact.
Looking at the alumni who also came back, it was a joy to see how this sport has kept them together, and how much they continue to enjoy it.

