#40 Giving back!

Awesome news! 

I visited and agreed to run an after school club in a Junior School today! 

Not all that special you might think, but then I’ll throw in that it’s the school I used to attend where some of my formative, favourite netball memories are from and then you might appreciate how excited & grateful I am! 

I attended Newbridge Middle School until1993, back in the days when Year 7 was the oldest year group in Primary School, rather than the first year in Seniors. 

Mum volunteered as Coach, as you would expect if you know my Mum! 

Mrs Sherrington was ‘in charge’ though and did an absolute awesome job at inspiring young girls to be active, giving them confidence & helping them learn the meaning of ‘being a team’. 

Newbridge was incredibly supportive, organising entry to tournaments at weekends, having extra practices and buying new equipment. 

I even remember a Children in Need match against the teachers where all the school came out to watch and support. I’m not sure they’d get away with that now!!! 

Our first year of school netball saw us enter into the local schools tournament against teams a year older. I’m not sure if we were entered into the wrong age group or if that was the only one we could enter. We were absolutely trounced throughout but apart from remembering coming last, all my memories are positive. We had such a great time despite the results - Miss Sherrington set us mini targets that we all achieved, we clapped and applauded like we’d won the World Cup when we actually scored one goal & I can just remember being really grateful we were there! 

A year later we were back at the same tournament, against our own age group, with a year’s more worth of training and match play and took home the winners trophy! 

Funny thing is I remember the first year far better! 

To have the opportunity to go back to Newbridge as a ‘Grown up’ and fully fledged, qualified Netball Coach is right up there with everything I have achieved! 

As well as being passionate about netball I am also really passionate about children having opportunities to be active and all the benefits that come with that - confidence, empowerment, health and wellbeing. 

To visit Newbridge today, in the middle of their Sports Week, to see and feel the passion, commitment and enthusiasm for sport that I first felt their so many years ago, was really inspirational! 

If I can inspire some of their pupils from September, not only will I be doing my job, it would have taken me full circle!