Week 2 at the TWAV Girls Netball Academy and wow⌠what a cracker itâs been.
If Week 1 gently knocked on the door, Week 2 barged straight in and rearranged the furniture. The girls are officially discovering muscles they didnât know existed, and stiff, tired legs are very much the theme of the week. Totally expected, of course, after being loaded with so much netty action.
For most of the girls this is a whole new world. The intensity, even at whatâs essentially pre-season loading, has knocked them sideways. Smiles are still there, theyâre just occasionally delivered through a grimace.
Tuesday 27th Jan marked a big milestone with their first introduction to Bodyweight Strength & Conditioning (S&C) We kicked things off with a strength block featuring squats, push-ups, reverse lunges and the ever-popular wall sit. From there we moved into a power block with squats and skaters, followed by a stability block including side planks and bird dog holds.
It was all very much a gentle introduction with low reps with the main focus on technique rather than output. In theory, we were meant to finish with a core finisher of dead bugs and hollow holds but honestly, they were done after the stability block. I took one look at them, found my soft side, and decided mercy was the order of the day.
Fast forward to Wednesday 28th Jan and clearly Iâd woken up feeling a little wicked. In went their first Fitness Test. Five areas targeted: press-ups, squats, wall sit, plank hold and an aerobic test.
Now, of all those elements, the wall sit took on a life of its own. It became a personal challenge, then a competition, then something bordering on a life mission. The grimacing was absolutely hilarious as legs trembled, faces contorted and sheer determination kicked in. I eventually had to call time at 15 minutes because some of them were still holding strong âŚ. unreal!
The following day, well letâs just say a few of the girls were walking very gingerly and looking like theyâd temporarily swapped their legs for wooden ones. Ooops, note to self, maybe call it a little earlier next time.
That same evening, excitement levels went through the roof with the arrival of a brand new shiny TV. Big plans incoming. Iâm thinking âFri-yay Movie Nightsâ with popcorn and sodas once I find some age-appropriate films. Itâll also be a massive asset for filming training and matches and introducing Performance Analysis (PA) as being able to re-watch and review individual and team performances is such a powerful learning tool for the girls.
Thursday was shaping up to be fairly normal until it absolutely wasnât. On my way home to Little Okavango (known to most as Little O), we were stopped dead in our tracks by the biggest herd of Elephants, a proper pinch-me moment. Watching the Mama ellies with their babies, up close and unhurried, was completely out of this world. In that moment, I can honestly say, it doesnât get much better than that.
Friday 30th Jan saw another first as I began the IDPs (Individual Development Plans) with the first group of players. These meetings were more like informal chats, with simple questions the girls had been given ahead of time to think about.
Most of them are very quiet and gentle in nature, so speaking about themselves in front of five coaches must have been hugely daunting. But finding their voice and learning to speak to adults when they normally wouldnât is such an important life skill. I know that with time, confidence and practice, theyâll become brilliant little orators.
Every Saturday the girls complete their chores which are cleaning their rooms, the entire accommodation block and hand washing their personal bedding and clothing in readiness for the week ahead. The tenacity they apply to these responsibilities is unbelievable to observe with each girl just getting on with it with no argument or resentment. There is a clothes line but it wonât hold everyoneâs clothing so they adapt and find the only space large enough to get their drying done.
Over the weekend of 31st January and 1st February, I delivered the first Coach Education session for Group A of our Primary School Teachers / Netball Coaches. Eight coaches attended, along with our own Bernadetta, who is a Trainee Coach employed by the Academy.
The focus is on engaging with coaches from the local region and upskilling them in the basics, particularly for primary school-aged players. Ultimately, we want homegrown talent bursting through the Academy doors, and working in partnership with local coaches is key to creating a strong pathway for 10â12 year olds that then feed into the programme from the bottom up.
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the coaches and it really feels like the start of a long and productive partnership. They all seemed to enjoy the weekend too and will be back in two weeks for their next session.
To round off the weekend, I introduced the girls to Rounders a game theyâd never seen or heard of. What followed was absolute chaos in the best possible way. The antics to avoid being out, running each other out, and the very heated debates over whether someone had made it safely to base⌠honestly, I could have done with VAR because some of those calls were far too close to make.
And thatâs a wrap for Week 2.
Wobbly legs, big laughs, new challenges and unforgettable moments.