Netball
I noticed in the past few weeks that the word "netball" has been the most commonly used search term that has brought people to my blog. Hmmm….. Does that mean I’ve been talking about netball a bit too much????
I do apologise to those of you who have no interest whatsoever in netball if I have. There’s only 1 game left for this season so it’ll be all over soon (for a while).
The only game left is the GRAND FINAL!!!! And yes, we are IN it!!!! We WON our game yesterday. I use the term "we" rather loosely because I’m not sure how much I actually contributed to the win.
Nonetheless, it was VERY exciting to be a part of it. I got some very encouraging feedback from a couple of "netball stalwarts" that were watching too which was nice.
Farmboy took some photo’s and in honour of our win, I’m going to do something I never thought I’d do - publicly share photographs of me in a less than flattering netball uniform. 
Here is an action shot of me (WD) and my opponent (the green WA). The first time I played against this particular player, she totally intimidated me. She’s a reasonably strong and aggressive player. While there is still plenty of room for improvement (isn’t there always?), I did feel I fared a little better against her this time.
This one shows me lining up to take a pass from outside the court (at least I think that’s what I was doing).
Here’s an action shot of sorts. Farmboy had trouble trying to get any action shots because it was too fast. He was hoping to get me throwing the ball here but instead you can see my team mate receiving my pass. The lady in the white top is one of the umpires. She’s an excellent umpire.
Thinking about the upcoming Grand Final next Saturday made me realise something about myself.
I REALLY want us to win.
I didn’t think I was all that competitive.
Turns out that I AM competitive. I just tend to have low expectations as a sort of self preservation measure.
I don’t expect much from people and that way they don’t let me down. I don’t expect much from myself and that way I don’t disappoint myself.
Will we win next Saturday? I have no idea. The team we are playing has beaten us twice this season. And we’ve beaten them twice.
If you’d asked me a couple of weeks ago what our chances of winning against them were, I’d have said very good. The coach has been playing a slightly stronger team during the finals. Playing the better players more of the game and the weaker players less. I expected it to make more of a difference than it did in our first final.
Ask me now and in reality I would say it’s anybody’s game. Which should make for a good grand final game. Albeit potentially a nail biting one.
In all honesty, I would rather we’d been knocked out of the finals on Saturday than to lose the Grand Final. But as they say "you have to be in it to win it". So, we’re "in it". Hopefully we can "win it".
Is it still possible to have fun when playing in a Grand Final?
Similar Posts:
- Physical Activity
- Netball Grand Final
- Netball Grief
- Mid-week Netball Carnival
- She Came. She Played. She Conquered.
13 comments:
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I know what you mean when you say you would almost rather have lost in the semi’s than lose the grand final. Losing a grand final is heartbreaking…so close and yet so far.
Having said that I am very proud of the whole team for getting as far as you have. You are already winners in my book. To withstand the amount of juggling I have inflicted upon you and still manage to win enough to make the grand final is an incredible achievement and great teamwork.
So…this means another week without sleep for Sharon.
Hand over the v.a.l.i.u.m. and no one will get hurt….
I tried to post that like three times before I worked out that the problem was v.a.l.i.u.m.
Slow learner.
Yeah, no “druggies” allowed around this blog.
Says she who is still VERY relaxed from having to take 2 Mersyndol for a migraine last night. When you get that “warning” just hit submit anyway and your comment should go through.
As for a week without sleep, I do feel for you. But you’ve made some good decisions up to now - I have no doubt you’ll figure this one out too.
I think your netball achievements are absolutely awesome. I’m flat out getting to the gym let alone competing in any type of team sport.
Good luck for the Grand Final.
good luck for game and I think you look fab in your uniform!
Now what would you be telling your kids about this………… lol
Win or lose, coming runners up for the season is still GREAT!! and you were part of that and have a lot to be proud of yourself for!
Isn’t it funny how that’s what we tell our kids, and we all say it, but do any of us REALLY mean it?
Don’t get me wrong. It’s a fabulous achievement to make a grand final. Especially for this team of 11 players that I (as the coach) have rotated and rotated and then rotated some more. Everyone has had a fair amount of court time but it’s very rare to have someone play a whole game. This is very unsettling and means people often play several positions, so the fact that they have adjusted to that and STILL made a grand final is testimony to their adaptability and teamwork.
Having said that, no one wants to come second in the grand final. This is the big one. It’s heartbreaking to lose when you’ve come so close. I know. I’ve been there too many times to count. And it doesn’t matter how many times some nice person assures you that you’ve done an awesome job just to make it, it doesn’t make you feel any better.
So, just in case we do lose, I’m telling you now that you HAVE made an awesome achievement to just get there. Especially you Jodi, you have made some HUGE steps forward and I’m just so so very proud of you.
Congratulations!!! And netball uniforms aren’t really flattering, unless you’re about 15 years old and slim.
All you can do is your best next week - no more, no less and everything else will take care of itself. Saying that, I hope your team wins
Tess - thank you. It helps that I have some good friends around me supporting me as I learn.
Planning Queen - thanks
Claire - thanks. You’re too kind.
Bettina - yeah, thanks. Appreciate the pep talk.
Sharon - thank you.
Michelle - indeed. If only our centre realised how beautiful she looks!!! Good figures are wasted on teenagers!!! They’re never happy.
Hope u girlys win lol
go team go!
hope you girlys win lol
go team go!
That is very impressive to make the grand final. Good luck for next weekend.
And Michelle is right, no one looks good in a netball uniform.