Lightening Online

Netball on Saturday ended up being a day of firsts for me.

First Number One

My first game without the regular coach.  She was our coach last year so I haven’t played too much without her around.  I felt a bit like a 5 year old on their first day of school without their mum.  LOL.

First Number Two

Said “mum” (ie coach - who’ll probably kill me for calling her mum given she’s not that much older than me ) decided in her absence to throw me into a new position.  CENTRE!!!!!  For those not familiar with netball, Centre is the position that does the most running.

In her defence, I did tell her one time that I would like to learn how to play Centre.  I just wasn’t expected it THIS week. 

It was only 1 quarter and after a mild panic at the beginning of the quarter where I couldn’t remember whether to jump into the circle before or after the whistle, I seemed to cope okay.

I think I did okay for my first attempt and quite enjoyed myself.

First Number Three

I played my first full game!!!!!

1/4 in Centre AND my first full game.  Yep, I slept well Saturday night.

Last year I played mostly half games while I was learning and this year I’ve played mostly 3/4.  We have a large team so most people play 3/4.

I played the rest of the game in WA which is also a new position for me.  I had quite a few calls of contact from the opposition so that was lots of fun after playing mostly defence where you’re always the one being pinged for contact.

Pity about the stepping problem I seemed to be having though.  By the end of the game I was throwing some really strange passes because I was so afraid of getting picked up for stepping.  LOL.  They got where they needed to go which I guess is the main thing.

First Number Four

One of my friends, who has played a lot of netball, told Farmboy that if I didn’t get picked as the best player for our team, there was something wrong.  I don’t know how biased she is but it was a nice thing to say. 

I guess with missing a couple of a our key players and a couple of our other reliable players seeming to be off their game a little, anything is possible.  But the very thought makes me laugh.

First Number Five

We got thrashed.

I’m used to playing in a team that either wins or only loses by a goal or 2.

Actually, we did lose 1 other game by a reasonable number of goals.  And that team got beaten by the one we played on Saturday, so perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised.  We drew with this team (actually, I should probably say “club” because I’m not sure the team was much the same) last time we played them.

Of course, when you play in new positions and get thrashed, there’s this nagging doubt “what if it was my fault”?  Not that you could put that big a loss down to any one player.  But, you know how it goes, yeah?

I Had So Much Fun!!!

In instances like this, I think it helps that I’m not overly competitive.  Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE to win.  Winning is awesome (particularly when it’s the Grand Final) BUT, I can still have fun and lose.

The only person I get competitive with is myself.  I want to keep improving.  And I don’t want it to be my “fault” if we do lose.  If someone else is off their game (and I think it happens to all of us), that’s cool.  Not cool if it’s me though.  LOL.  Yeah, I’m too hard on myself at times.

The girls I was playing against were so lovely.  As it turned out, they had both had jobs in the previous game so we’d been chatting and having a lovely time before we even knew we’d be playing each other.  The girl who played WD against me was even helping me along at different parts throughout the game.  It’s not a club that’s known for good sportsmanship so it was rather nice.

I think the only downside to the day was not having the coach there.  Her opinion always seems to matter to me more than anyone elses.

P.S.  Oh, and not a first because I did get one last year.  But I was awarded the incentive award this week.  A $25 Caltex card (which looks like we can use it anywhere so that’ll go toward the “big trip” ).

P.P.S. The stand in coach was lovely.  I think she was a bit down on herself that we lost by so much but well, these things do happen.  I was talking to one of the more seasoned players in our team and asking her opinion of what happened and her comment was that they were simply a better team.

P.P.P.S.  No, that’s it.  I’ve finished raving on about netball for now.  LOL.  Wish I had a photo of me in Centre though - that would have been one for the album!!!!