Netbal Kaptein. In ons reeks oor sport kapteine, gesels Schools That Rock vandag met Jaime van Wyk. Jaime is die kaptein van Hoërskool DF Malan in Kaapstad, se 1ste netbalspan. Jaime teken vandag die vierde doel aan in ons reeks oor Netbal Kapteins van hoërskole in Suid-Afrika.
“Ek het begin deelneem aan netbal vandat ek met skool begin het. Dit was verpligtend om aan ‘n winter en somer sport deel te neem. Die opsies was beperk aangesien my skool slegs netbal en hokkie aangebied het as winter sport keuses. Ek het op netbal besluit. Ek is gek oor die sport. Na ‘n groot teleurstelling in my graad 8 jaar, en die keuse wat ek moes maak om voort te gaan met netbal of die sport te los, het my liefde daarvoor oor die jare net vermeerder.
Ander sportsoorte wat ek al beoefen het, is tennis. Ek het dit in my jonger jare gespeel. Ek help ook nou en dan uit by aksie netbal, maar is nie permanent betrokke by ander sport op die oomblik nie.
Die posisie wat ek tans speel is VV (Verdedigende Vleuel) of HV (Hulp Verdediger). Ek het al Hulp Doel en Senter ook gespeel, maar my sterk punt lê by verdediging.
Eerste keer Kaptein
Ek was ook al as onder-kaptein gekies in graad 7 vir die eerste netbalspan. Hierdie jaar is dit my eerste jaar wat ek as Netbal Kaptein ‘n netbalspan kan lei.
Die wedstryd wat ek, as Netbal Kaptein, die meeste gestres het, was ons onlangse wedstryd teen Hoërskool Durbanville. Die feit dat ons nie die gunsteling-span was om te wen op die dag nie het definitief gesorg vir addisionele druk. Tog was dit ook die mees bevredigendste wedstryd, aangesien die eindtelling gelykop was.
My grootste doelwit vir die jaar is om elke wedstryd tot die beste van my vermoe te speel. Ek wil dit werklik geniet en ook goeie sportmanskap wys. Aangesien dit my laaste jaar in hoërskool is, is ek meer gemotiveerd as ooit om die span se doelwitte ‘n realiteit te maak.
Ek wil beslis voortgaan met netbal na my skoolopleiding. Netbal sal altyd ‘n deel van my lewe wees. Ek dink nie ek gaan op ‘n kompeterende vlak speel nie. Bedoelend dat ek liewer vir die lekkerte wil speel. Ek dink op hierdie stadium pas aksie netbal die beste in daardie kategorie. Indien die geleentheid hom voordoen om op ‘n kompeterende vlak te speel sal ek dit beslis oorweeg.
Goeie Netbalspeler
Die dinge wat my laat glo dat ek ‘n goeie netbalspeler is, is dat ek het ‘n positiewe uitkyk op elke situasie, of ons nou wen of verloor. Jy moet bereid wees om jou foute te erken, en werk te maak om dit te verbeter en uit die goed of sleg te leer.
As Netbal Kaptein is dit vir my bitter belangrik dat elke spanlid bewus is van die waarde wat sy toevoeg en die belangrike aandeel wat hulle in die span het. Ek kyk uit vir die span se belange en maak seker dat ons as span mekaar opbou en mekaar se grootste ondersteuners is. Elke spanlid het ‘n groot verantwoordelikheid en eer om vir ons skool, afrigters, span, mede-leerders, familie en vriende te speel. Dit is belangrik vir my as Kaptein dat elke spanlid hul beste gee by elke oefening en wedstryd. Ons speel met trots.
Ek is bevoorreg om elke jaar ‘n afrigter te hê wat presies weet wat my behoeftes is vir daardie seisoen. Sy weet ook presies met wat sy my kan help om in my spel te verbeter. Daar is tog twee afrigters wat baie na aan my hart lê, my graad 8 afrigter, coach Willa. Sy was werklik een van my grootste motiveerders en ondersteuners in ‘n jaar wat ek dit die meeste nodig gehad het. Tweedens, is Nienke, by wie ek privaat geoefen het aan die einde van graad 8 en begin van graad 9. Sy het my geleer wat harde werk en toewyding is. ‘n Speler na wie ek tans opkyk is Karla Pretorius, Suid-Afrikaanse netbalspeler. Ons speel dieselfde posisies en sy bring net ‘n spesiale element na die spel.
Netbal nagmerrie
My grootste netbal nagmerrie/ ervaring tydens ‘n wedstryd, met my geluk, sou dit natuurlik gebeur met my eerste toernooi terug na Covid-19. Dit was by ‘n toernooi in die Paarl. Dit was ook ons laaste wedstryd vir die dag en in die finale minute van ons wedstryd teen Bloemhof- A. Die wedstryd was ‘n tight, harde game tot op daardie punt. Ek was op pad om die bal op te tel vir ‘n ingooi van agter af. Net toe ek dit doen skeur ek drie ligamente in my voet. ‘n 6 tot 8 Weke besering wat my toe uitsit vir die res van die seisoen.
Wat ek omtrent spanwerk geleer het sedert ek kaptein geword het, is dat netbal ‘n spansport is. Enigiets is moontlik as jy as ‘n span saamwerk. Jy kan nie die spel alleen aanpak of wen nie. Elke spanlid speel ‘n kritieke rol in die sukses van die span.
My hoogtepunt as netbalspeler was defintief toe ek WP kleure verwerf het. Dit was my grootste droom in netbal. Ek koester elke oomblik en ondervinding met die span, aangesien dit my laaste jaar van skole-netbal is en elke oomblik vir my baie beteken.
Wat ek doen wanneer ek sien een van my spanlede sukkel met nuwe uitdagings in die spel? Elke wedstryd is anders. As speler gaan jy goeie en slegte dae beleef. Dit is baie belangrik om te onthou dat jy fisies en emosioneel sterk moet bly, te werk aan jou foute en nooit moet ophou probeer nie. Aanvaar jou afrigters se leiding en kritiek met die regte gesindheid.
Afrigters
Ek het al baie van my afrigters geleer, maar een wat uitstaan is een van my huidige afrigters, Coach Heidri. “Hoe jy opwarm is hoe jy gaan speel”. Natuurlik tel dit ook vir oefeninge. En dit is so waar. Dit klink dalk simpel maar soos wat my coach sê, jy kan sien deur die manier wat ‘n speler opwarm, is hoe sy gaan speel.
Daar is nie ‘n spesifieke wedstryd wat vir my uitstaan nie, maar al die interskole wedstryde is definitief heelbo op die lys. Omdat so baie tradisie daaraan gekoppel is, is dit een van daardie wedstryde waar beide skole hul alles en nog meer gee. Dit is die element wat dit nie net lekker maak vir die toeskouers nie maar ook vir die spelers.
Hoe bestuur ek my sport-, akademiese en ander verpligtinge? Wel, dit is soms baie moeilik om ‘n balans te vind aangesien akademie en sport baie van jou tyd verg. Ek dink net om jou dag te beplan, kan ‘n ver pad gaan. Om goed uiteen te sit, om te sien hoe baie tyd jy elke dag aan iets kan spandeer. Dit is soms ‘easier said than done’ maar ek vat elke dag soos wat dit kom.
Hoe my afrigter en spanlede my sal beskryf? Direkte woorde van my afrigter, coach Heidri: “Iemand wat gereed is vir alles”. Ek kan die ligte oomblikke in situasies geniet, maar wanneer die situasie ernstig is, pas ek dienooreenkomstig aan.
Wat my die gelukkigste in die lewe maak, is my familie. Ek is verskriklik familie-vas, en bevoorreg genoeg om ‘n groot een te hê. Sonder hulle ondersteuning en moeite deur die jare sou niks moontlik wees nie.
Om myself in een woord te beskryf, sal ek sê, passievol.
Netball Captains
Netball Captains. In our series on sports captains, Schools That Rock talks to Ané de Viliers today. Ané is the captain of DF Malan High School in Cape Town’s 1st netball team. Today Ané scored the fourth goal in our series on Netball Captains from high schools in South Africa.
“I started participating in netball since I started school. It was mandatory to participate in a winter and summer sport. The options were limited, as my school only offered netball and hockey as winter sports choices. I decided on netball. I love the sport. After a huge disappointment in my Grade 8 year, and the choice I had to make to continue playing netball or leaving the sport, my love for it has only increased over the years.
Other sports I’ve played is tennis. I played it in my younger years. I also help out in action netball now and then, but am not permanently involved in other sports at the moment.
The position I currently play is VV (Defensive Wing) or HV (Auxiliary Defender). I’ve played Assist Goal and Center as well, but my strength lies with defense.
Leading as Captain
I have also been selected as vice-captain in Grade 7 for the first netball team. This year is my first year leading a netball team as Captain.
The game I stressed the most as Netball Captain was our recent game against Durbanville High School. The fact that we weren’t the favourite team to win on the day definitely made for additional pressure. Yet it was also the most satisfying match, as the final score was tied.
My biggest goal for the year is to play every game to the best of my ability. I really want to enjoy it and also show good sportsmanship. Since this is my last year in high school, I’m more motivated than ever to make the team’s goals a reality.
I want to continue playing netball after my schooling. Netball will always be a part of my life. I don’t think I’m going to play at a competitive level. Meaning I’d rather play for fun. I think at this point, action netball fits best into that category. If the opportunity presents itself to play at a competitive level, I will consider it.
Good Netball player
The things that make me believe that I am a good netball player is that I have a positive outlook on every situation, whether we win or lose. You must be willing to admit your mistakes and make work to improve them and learn from the good or bad.
As Netball Captain it is very important to me that every team member is aware of the value she adds and the important part she has in the team. I look out for the team’s interests and make sure that as a team we build each other up and are each other’s biggest supporters. Each team member has a great responsibility and honour to play for our school, coaches, team, fellow learners, family, and friends. It is important to me as Captain that every team member gives their best at every practice and game. We play with pride.
I’m privileged to have a coach every year who knows exactly what my needs are for that season. She also knows exactly what she can help me improve in my game. Still, there are two coaches who are very close to my heart, my Grade 8 coach, Coach Willa. She was truly one of my biggest motivators and supporters in a year I needed it most. Secondly, is Nienke, with whom I practised privately at the end of Grade 8 and beginning of Grade 9. She taught me what hard work and dedication is. A player I am currently looking up to is Karla Pretorius. We play the same positions, and she just brings a special element to the game.
Netball nightmare
My biggest netball nightmare/experience during a game, with my luck, it would obviously happen my first tournament back after Covid-19. It was at a tournament in Paarl. It was also our last game for the day and in the final minutes of our game against Bloemhof- A. The game was a tight, hard game to that point. I was on my way to pick up the ball for a throw-in from behind. Just as I was doing this, I tore three ligaments in my foot. A 6 to 8 Week injury that then put me out for the rest of the season.
What I’ve learned about teamwork since becoming Netball Captain is that netball is a team sport. Anything is possible if you work together as a team. You can’t take on the game alone or win. Each team member plays a critical role in the success of the team.
My highlight as a netball player was when I acquired WP colours. That was my biggest dream in netball. I cherish every moment and experience with the team as this is my last year of school netball and every moment means a lot to me.
What I do when I see one of my team members struggling with new challenges in the game? Every game is different. As a player, you’re going to have good and bad days. It is very important to remember that you must stay strong physically and emotionally, work on your mistakes and never stop trying. Accept your coaches’ guidance and criticism with the right attitude.
Coaches
I’ve learned a lot from my coaches, but one that stands out is one of my current coaches, Coach Heidri. “How you warm up is how you’re going to play”. Of course, this also counts for exercises. And it’s so true. It may sound silly but like what my coach says, you can tell by the way a player warms up is how she’s going to play.
There isn’t a specific match that stands out to me, but all the interschool matches are definitely at the very top of the list. Because so much tradition is tied to it, it’s one of those games where both schools give their all and more. This is the element that makes it fun not only for the spectators but also for the players.
How do I manage my sporting, academic and other obligations? Well, it is sometimes very difficult to find a balance as academics and sports require a lot of your time. I just think planning your day can go a long way. To outline things, to see how much time you can spend on something each day. It’s sometimes a bit easier said than done, but I take each day as it comes.
How would my coach and team members describe me? Direct words from my coach, Coach Heidri: “Someone who is ready for everything”. I can enjoy the light moments in situations, but when the situation is serious, I adjust accordingly.
What makes me happiest in life is my family. I’m terribly family-stuck and privileged enough to have a big one. Without their support and effort over the years, nothing would be possible.
To describe myself in one word, I will say, passionately.”
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