Chapter 24

‘Brilliant netball players never retire they just turn into an awesome coach.’ Proverb

And that is what I am about to do!

Oh… and become an umpire as well!

I was particularly sporty at middle school and played netball, becoming captain for our team in second year. Tracey my old school friend reminded me I was always shouting at the netball team to get into position. Yes, sounds like me; but with me at the helm we went from bottom to second place in the league table, only being beaten by Cross Flatts Park; our nemesis. I was told I was good enough to trial for county, but it never happened. I never quite gave up on netball though and have played on and off for many years.

When I retired, I promised myself I would devote much more time to playing netball and in my first week I joined a walking netball club in Bridlington. Walking netball is very much like netball, but you’re not allowed to run, although if you keep one foot on the ground, you can move pretty fast around the court. I move pretty fast. Not long after I started playing with Hornsea walking netball club and also joined Bridlington netball club. I also signed up for an umpire’s course, a Level 1 assistant coaching course and a walking netball host course. Having passed level 1 and the walking netball host workshop I am now looking for funding for the level 2 coaching course.

For those who don’t know, netball is a highly competitive, highly intense team player sport. Mainly played by girls and women, but boys and men are encouraged. At school and throughout my playing time I played Centre and still do today. Although I’m probably a bit happier playing Wing Attack. The Centre is the key position on the court. She is the glue that holds the team together and play can’t commence without a Centre. She is usually small (or at least was in our school days), nimble and is able to move around the court like lightening. She is bossy (sound like anyone you know?) and made of great leadership material. A Centre knows how to control the game and has explosive speed, agility and finesse, oh! and did I say…she needs to be fit.

On 3rd August, Allam Sports Centre based at Hull University hosted a Walking Netball World Cup. The Netball World Cup in Cape Town was in full swing by then and the fact that England had beaten Australia for the very first time 56-55 only heightened our spirits. It seemed apt to name teams after some of the countries competing; hence the title Walking Netball World Cup, essentially a good play on words. So, with five full teams of individual players arriving to play and England having beaten Australia; we had much to celebrate. We were raring to go. 8-minute games were manageable and gave us all a good workout. We went home happy, if a little worse for wear. We didn’t get a medal but if we had, I would have a got a bronze medal. Australia won of course with England in third place. I was in the England team, as you’ve probably gathered. Never mind it’s the taking part that counts or so they say. We hoped England was going to beat Australia when they met again in the final, but sadly it wasn’t meant to be.

Walking netball is not dissimilar to netball, other than you have to keep one foot on the ground at all times. You can take 2 steps when holding the ball, instead of one and you can hold the ball for 4 seconds instead of 3. I move very fast across the court and it can look like I’m running, but I don’t. I have been told multiple times by players that I run and quite unkindly, even by fellow team players, but I don’t. I was doing well in the tournament until someone said this and so I deliberately ran for the ball and jumped. Being penalised a couple of times, but I knew I was doing it, probably through frustration. It gave the umpires a good laugh when I admitted to my multiple indiscretions.

I asked one of the umpires about my style. She said she watched me very closely and I don’t run, so I’m happy with that. Just as our Vitality Roses England team are individual players and hence bring their individuality to the game; so, do I. It would be a bit robotic if we all played in the same way, wouldn’t it? Her reassurance helped, because I was feeling a little demotivated but I am more resilient than that. Why can’t we just celebrate diversity in all areas of life? This behaviour can’t go on can it? It needs to be challenged? To be in a position of influence however, one has to be prepared to ride the storms, question, confront and sometimes dig your heels in.

Having completed a Walking Netball Host course and the Into Officiating umpire course both held in September I am now officially a Netball Umpire in Training, a grand title. So, I get to blow the whistle against others now, instead of having the whistle blown against me.

With funding I plan to do the level 2 coaching course and climb the proverbial netball officialdom ladder, and in so doing hope to bring my influence to the table. Whatever that looks like. Let’s see where it takes me.

But first I need to be prepared to learn. Build my confidence, improve my exercise levels, develop an authoritative voice, I can’t believe someone said that to me, I bet no-one who knows me can and of course, blow the bloody whistle. Ha!