As the netball season draws to a close I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with two of my friends Nina and Alice who play the game.
What made you want to play netball?
Nina: I had watched netball on TV a couple of times and it looked so much fun but challenging at the same time.
Alice: My parents wanted me to play a sport, so they chose netball. I did some programs before I played real games with a team, and I’ve grown to really enjoy it.
What team do you play for?
We play for Marrickville Allstars.
Where do you play?
At Heffron Park in Botany Bay.
When do you play?
On Saturday mornings.
What position do you play?
Alice: I usually play Goal Keeper, but sometimes the coach swaps me around.
Nina: I was usually a Wing Attack but this year I was moved to Goal Attack.
How hard is it to play?
Alice: It’s a bit hard to understand the rules of netball at first, but once you get to know the sport, it’s really quite easy and fun (most of the time). You have to be fit and run around a lot, that usually makes me tired.
Nina: When you get the hang of it, it’s not too bad but it’s really hard not to step with the ball and to keep a three-feet distance from your opponent when they have the ball. But once you get past that it’s really fun.
Where is your team in the competition?
Alice: For the last two years the teams I was in have done quite well, but this year, not so much. I play in Division 2, but this year they were going to put me down a grade. Luckily they didn’t but unfortunately we haven’t got the best team this year. We’ve only won one game so far, so we are not in the semi finals.
Nina: If I’m honest I also think this isn’t our best team. We have had much better but Alice and I are still learning from every training.
How much do you have to train as team?
We train for an hour every Tuesday afternoon.
Have you made friends from playing netball?
Alice: The first year the team I was in wasn’t very nice, but the last two years my teammates have been quite friendly.
Nina: Last year everyone in our team were our friends but unfortunately we all split up but this year everyone was friendly too and we occasionally bump into last year’s teammates.
Will you play it next year?
Alice: Yes, I definitely will play netball next year, it’s such a fun sport, I love it!
Nina: So would I, because I don’t know what I would do in my spare time without it!
