The article (in case you didn’t read it in the above paragraph!) was very much about ‘country / outback’ netball, the ‘release’ netball gives hardworking women and the challenges they overcome to be successes in their careers, as well as on court. It’s an inspiring read and one that reminded me what inspirational and influential women I have had the pleasure to share time with on and off the court!
My Back to Netball coaching & Walking Netball hosting days are particularly interesting to this subject. To get to know your participants, a hugely important part of the success of these programmes, one of the questions regularly asked is ‘what do you do / did you do for a living?’ I always used to listen out for the most surprising answers which included a radio jingle composer, a clown (children’s entertainer) and antiques expert. (An actual celeb of sorts!)
A few years ago now I was asked to coach a group of non Netballers (pre back to netball days) who were all new to the area, staying for a year, as part of a multi agency military project! (DSTL if you want a Google!)
The project was shrouded in mystery and the netball part was a bit of ‘team bonding’ but I was able to confirm I had a number of pilots, scientists, mathematicians and professors in the ranks! It might have been a military ‘thing’ but just the way these women held themselves was impressive, as well as their enthusiasm and quickness to form a ‘team’ environment despite not really knowing each other outside of their top secret project!
Professional Services also seem to be keen on offering netball as an out of office opportunity to their workforce. Solicitors and accountancy firms make up many a team in local social leagues and have been popular, along with universities, colleges and schools, at fun, mixed festivals.
My experience of coaching such ‘office’ teams is plentiful and it’s the way the ‘hierarchy’ mix is what impresses me most: Senior Partners earning mega bucks mixing it up with cleaners and receptionists. On court it doesn’t matter how much you earn or what decisions you are responsible for: you are all important cogs of a successful machine.
You don’t have to have a first class degree to enjoy netball and provide inspiration to others! (Obviously!)
Regular readers will know I had the best time at the World Cup in Liverpool this past summer - what really made it though was the people I went with. Women from all walks of lives, all of whom I have met through netball in some way or another! Some have known me since I was a baby, others I babysat when they were babies!
In that mix are family and non family, all ages, backgrounds and born in far flung places, married, divorced and everything in between. Those who are highly educated, those who aren’t, those who are retired and live comfortably, those who will probably never retire. Mums, Nans and those who haven’t had children: some who would like to, others that haven’t or didn’t. Some well travelled, others not so. All with different experiences in life, stories to tell and secrets to keep. All unique in their own ways.
You probably wouldn’t see them together in any other walk of life. But netball, well it’s special isn’t it? It brings together incredible women!
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