Coaching Netball - A Teaching Journey

I'm into my 2nd year of coaching a team of 8 year old girls how to play netball. I am fortunate that I don't ever need to encourage them to be more interested, because they just can't get enough court time!

I have watched them develop as a team from the first day they took the court last year (not knowing where to go, how to catch, throw or move around the court - or ever get a ball even near the hoop) to now (confident and passionate). Tonight we played our best game ever. I was so proud that even at half time the girls could even 'talk the talk'. I asked them what they thought they needed to do - hands went up instantaneously with chanting of "we need to get in front of our players".
I replied with the standard "well, how is the best way for us to do this on the court".
Again without hesitation they stated "we can either use a dodge or take the players back and then run forward".
It was at this point that my heart felt so proud that not only are the girls starting to put it all into practice - but they are also really understanding the 'academics' of how to work on a netball court.

My girls are amazing and I love each of them. They each hold get talent and have so much to give to each other and to the whole team. My favourite part of netball is when someone arrives for netball training, or the game and every girl just runs over to give them a hug (doesn't matter that I could be mid sentence on a new skill!!). The reality is at 8 I want the girls to come back next year with as much enthusiasm as they have this year. They will go far with so much love for the game.

Go ROCKETS!!!

Another Term

Well, Term 1 is over and Term 2 has already started. I managed to get 1 day off between finishing my first EPL and starting Residential School.
It was wonderful to catch up with friends and make a few more. I'm looking forward to a full on term with 6 assignments to get through, EPL 2 and my Internship in Term 4 (school term). I'm already tired - don't think I have actually really recovered from a full on Term 1, spending 6 weeks sick during EPL 1 and continuing to work part time.

But, putting all that aside I am very excited about the term ahead. I feel very blessed to be offered a position for my EPL 2 and Internship at The Lighthouse Christian School in Rockhampton. Today I met with my Mentor Teacher and the school Principal and had the opportunity to look around the school, hear about the school program and decided on the days I will be attending next term. It will be a very different experience from working in a Education Queensland school but I am looking forward to the challenges ahead.

I feel that not only will I get a wonderful opportunity to teach in a small school - I have a combined class of years 6 and 7 - with 20 students, but I am already feeling the presence of God on my life and that he will draw me closer to him during my time there. This is truly a wonderful blessing for me and I look forward to meeting the students and sharing my life with them and being part of their life journey.