Netbal Kaptein. In ons gewilde reeks oor sport kapteins, gesels Schools That Rock vandag met Caitlin Weber. Caitlin is die kaptein van Hoërskool Bellville se 1ste Netbalspan. Caitlin teken vandag die derde doel aan in ons reeks vanjaar oor Netbal Kapteine van hoërskole in Suid-Afrika.
“Ek het in Graad 2 netbal begin speel. Ek is baie lief vir die sport. Netbal is my passie, al van kleins af. Dit is uitdagend, soms baie hard en kompeterend op verskillende vlakke en dit verg ook slim-dink en speel. Ek geniet die fisiese uitdaging en die opwinding van ‘n wedstryd. Ja, ek neem ook aan ander sportsoorte deel. Aksie netbal is ook vir my baie lekker, en ek neem ook aan atletiek en landloop deel. Verder is ek ook ‘n tuimel gimnas en ek het ook aan akrobatiese gimnastiek deelgeneem.
Die posisie wat ek tans speel is senter en soms ook verdedigende vleuel. Ek het op beide laerskool en hoërskool letterlik al die netbal posisies, behalwe doel, gespeel.
Voorheen was ek ook netbal kaptein, ek dink dit was in graad 5 of 6.
Ek sal sê ons onlangse wedstryd teen Hoërskool Outeniqua was die wedstryd wat ek, as netbal kaptein, die meeste gestres het. Die telling was letterlik die hele wedstryd so naby aan mekaar. In so ‘n wedstryd wil jy nie ‘n fout maak nie. Een fout kan die verskil tussen wen en verloor maak. Dit was vir ons ‘n groot en stresvolle wedstryd.
Harde werk
Van kleins af het ek geleer dat jy niks bereik deur agteroor te sit en wag vir dinge om te gebeur nie. Jy moet hard werk om resultate te behaal. My doelwit vir hierdie seisoen is om hard te werk om myself te verbeter. Ek wil ook sodoende ‘n aanwins vir Hoërskool Bellville se 1ste netbalspan wees. Dit is ook my laaste jaar en wat seker meer belangrik is, wil ek net elke oomblik geniet, wen of verloor, saam met al my “awesome” spanmaats en vriendinne. As netbal kaptein wil ek graag ‘n voorbeeld wees vir die jonger meisies en ek hoop ook ek kan een of twee meisies inspireer die seisoen. Ek het altyd daarvan gedroom om vir die eerste span te speel. Ek het letterlik elke eerste span wedstryd bygewoon en my “heroes” na wie ek opgekyk het, ondersteun.
Na skool gaan ek beslis nie ophou om netbal te speel nie. Ek wil graag deel wees van ‘n universiteit-span en, wie weet, miskien kan ek eendag ook vir die groen en goud uitdraf!
My sterk punte, as netbal kaptein, is dat ek altyd, maak nie saak wat nie, sal veg tot die einde. Ek het beslis nie ‘n tekort aan deursettingsvermoë nie. Verder probeer ek altyd positief wees. Ek glo jy speel hard tot die einde toe. Net een fout van die ander span of ‘n goeie onderskep kan ‘n “game” in jou guns draai. Dit is ook belangrik dat almal dit geniet om deel te wees van die eerste span! Ek bly altyd nederig in wen en verloor, en ek dank God voor en na elke wedstryd vir al my gawes en talente.
Motivering
Dit is baie maklik om jou kop te sak as jy besig is om te verloor, of wanneer jy sukkel op die baan. Maar dit is belangrik vir my as kaptein om my kop te lig, sodat ek die res van die span kan motiveer om hulle koppe ook op te lig. Dit kan moeilik wees om dit te doen as jy baie moeg is en besig is om te verloor of frustreerd is by ‘n oefening. Dit is baie belangrik om dit wel te doen. As netbal kaptein bly ek altyd positief. My Pa sê altyd vir my dat my gesindheid op en van die baan af sal ‘n rimpel-effek hê op die span.
My rolmodelle is natuurlik Bellville se eerste span afrigter, Janine en afrigter Marlene. Hulle kweek beslis ‘n passie vir netbal onder die spelers. Hulle leer ons ook om as ‘n eenheid saam te werk, mekaar te ondersteun en om nie mekaar te boelie nie. Met hulle aan die stuur van sake kan Hoërskool Bellville se netbal net sterker en sterker word. Ons kan dit al reeds sien hierdie jaar! Ek “LOVE” ook vir Bongi Msomi, die Proteas se senter. Sy is een van die mees ervare spelers in die huidige span en ook kaptein sedert 2016.
My grootste netbal nagmerrie was in ‘n wedstryd wat ons hard gespeel het en toe een van my spanmaats ernstig beseer is. Dit was ‘n groot skok, maar ons het as span bymekaar gekom, vir haar gebid en toe ons harte uitgespeel vir haar.
Spanwerk
Wat ek as netbal kaptein van spanwerk geleer het, is dat spanwerk die speelsters inspireer. Ek het ook geleer dat as elke meisie net alles gee om hulle regverdige deel by te dra, dit ons as ‘n groep, wat baie verskillende individue is, in staat stel om saam te kom om die algehele doelwit te bereik.
Daar is so baie hoogtepunte in my netbal loopbaan, maar die lekkerste vir my is om die “joy” op elkeen van my spanmaats se gesigte te sien wanneer ons ‘n wedstryd wen. Ja, ons verloor ook, maar die meisies hou altyd hul koppe omhoog. Dan begin ons weer voor die volgende wedstryd en ons gee dan werklik weer ons beste sonder om terug te kyk!
Wanneer ek sien een van my span se spelers sukkel met nuwe uitdagings, is dit “okay”! Almal van ons het al ‘n “bad day at the office” gehad waar dit dalk nie ons beste wedstryd was nie. Ons almal help mekaar en bou mekaar op. Wat “great” is van ons span, is die feit dat die hele span werk om te verbeter en om mekaar op te bou en nie af te breek nie.
Die beste advies wat ek van my afrigters ontvang het, is dat dit nie saak maak wat gebeur nie, ek moet net altyd my kop hoog hou al raak dit moeilik. Ek moet ook nooit moed opgee nie en altyd sterk staan al is dit hoe moeilik. Ek moet net speel vir die klein dogtertjie wat altyd gewens het om te wees waar ek nou is en te weet ek het hard gewerk vir dit wat ek nou het.
Lekkerste wedstryd
My lekkerste wedstryd ooit, sal sê dit is die “game” in 2022 waar ons deurgegaan het na die liga uitspeel rondtes… Ons het geweet dis ons laaste “game” as ‘n span saam en ons het werklik ons beste gegee. Die gees en ondersteuning langs die baan van al die “coaches”, ouers en skool was “amazing” en ons het die “game” geniet en almal het met ‘n glimlag gespeel. Ons het gewen nadat daar so baie twyfel was want dit was ‘n sterk span teen wie ons gespeel het. Ons het nie toegelaat dat dit in ons koppe kom nie, ons het vir ons skool en vir mekaar gespeel.
Ek is gelukkig, in die sin, dat ek van kleins af ‘n goeie balans gehandhaaf het. Ek het elke dag van 14h00 na skool tot 19h00 in die aand gimnastiek geoefen, vyf dae per week. Dit was ‘n groot uitdaging om jou sport-, akademiese en ander verpligtinge te bestuur, maar ek het geweet dat my harde werk eendag vrugte sal dra. Ek kan met trots sê dat ek aan twee Akrobatiese Gimnastiek Wêreld Kampioenskappe deelgeneem het (in China en in België). As jy hard werk en vir jouself doelwitte stel dan sal jy by al jou verpligtinge uitkom!
Ek dink my afrigter en span sal sê dat ek baie toegewyd is om myself en ons as ‘n span te wil verbeter. Ek hoop dat hulle sal sien dat ek altyd my hart uit speel op die baan.
As ek ‘n kombuis-artikel sou wees, sal ek ‘n ketel wees, want ek wil “KOOKWATER” netbal speel!!
Bongi Msomi
Die professionele netbalspeler met wie ek graag wil koffie drink, is my “idol” Protea senter, Bongi Msomi, natuurlik. Sy is al kaptein van die Proteas vanaf 2016 af. Ek wil graag weet hoe doen sy dit!
My ander belangstellings, buiten netbal, is Tuimel en Akrobatiese Gimnastiek.
Om die trots in my ouers, wat my altyd in alles ondersteun se oë te sien, is vir my kosbaar en om hulle gelukkig te sien maak my gelukkig.
Ek sal sê die woord wat by my pas is “toegewyd”. Terugvoer is vir my belangrik sodat ek as speelster en kaptein kan groei en verbeter. Ek speel en werk hard, geestelik, persoonlik en ek strewe om elke wedstryd my beste te gee vir my span.”
Netball Captain
Netball Captain. In our popular series about sports captains, Schools That Rock talks to Caitlin Weber today. Caitlin is the captain of Bellville High School’s 1st Netball team. Kaitlin today scores the third goal in our series this year over Netball Captains of high schools in South Africa.
“I started playing netball in Grade 2. I really love the sport. Netball has been my passion, ever since childhood. It’s challenging, sometimes very hard and competitive on different levels and it also requires smart-thinking and playing. I enjoy the physical challenge and the excitement of a match. Yes, I participate in other sports as well. Action netball is also very fun for me, and I also participate in athletics and cross country. Furthermore, I am also a tumble gymnast and I also participated in acrobatic gymnastics.
The position I’m playing right now is centre and sometimes defensive wing as well. I played literally all the netball positions, except goal, in both elementary school and high school.
Previously I was also netball captain, I think it was in grade 5 or 6.
I will say our recent game against Outeniqua High School was the game I, as netball captain, stressed the most. The score was so close to each other literally the whole game. In such a match, you don’t want to make a mistake. One mistake can make the difference between winning and losing. It was a big and stressful game for us.
Hard work
From an early age, I learned that you achieve nothing by sitting back and waiting for things to happen. You must work hard to achieve results. My goal for this season is to work hard to improve myself. I also want to be an asset to Bellville High School’s 1st netball team. This is also my last year and what’s probably more important, I just want to enjoy every moment, win, or lose with all my “awesome” teammates and girlfriends. As netball captain I would like to be an example for the younger girls, and I also hope I can inspire one or two girls this season. I always dreamed of playing for the first team. I literally attended every first team game and supported my “heroes” whom I looked up to.
After school, I’m not going to stop playing netball. I would like to be part of a varsity team and, who knows, maybe one day I might be part of the green and gold!
My strengths, as netball captain, are that, no matter what, I will always fight to the end. I certainly don’t have a shortage of perseverance. Furthermore, I always try to be positive. I believe you play hard to the end. Just one mistake from the other team or a good interception can turn a game in your favour. It is also important that everyone enjoys being part of the first team! I always remain humble in winning and losing, and I thank God before and after every game for all my gifts and talents.
Motivation
It’s very easy to lower your head when you’re losing, or when you’re struggling on the track. But it’s important for me as captain to lift my head so I can motivate the rest of the team to lift their heads as well. It can be difficult to do this if you are very tired and losing or frustrated at an exercise. It is very important to do this well. As netball captain, I always stay positive. My Dad always tells me that my attitude on and off the court will have a ripple effect on the team.
My role models are, of course, Bellville’s first team Coach, Janine and Coach Marlene. They cultivate a passion for netball among the players. They also teach us to work together as a unit, to support each other, and not to bully each other. With them at the helm of affairs, Bellville High School’s netball can only get stronger and stronger. We can already see it this year! I also “LOVE” Bongi Msomi, the Proteas’ centre. She is one of the most experienced players in the current squad and captain since 2016.
My biggest netball nightmare was in a game we played hard and when one of my teammates was seriously injured. It was a big shock, but we came together as a team, prayed for her and then played our hearts out for her.
Teamwork
What I learned from teamwork, as a netball captain, is that teamwork inspires the team. I also learned that if each girl just gives everything to contribute their fair share, it allows us as a group, who are very different individuals, to come together to achieve the overall goal.
There are so many highlights in my netball career, but the most enjoyable thing for me is to see the joy on each of my teammates’ faces when we win a game. Yes, we lose too, but the girls always hold their heads up. Then we start again before the next game, and we then truly give our best again without looking back!
When I see one of my team’s players struggling with new challenges, it’s okay! All of us have had a “bad day at the office” where it may not have been our best match. We all help each other and build each other up. What’s great about our team is the fact that the whole team is working to improve and to build each other up, not to break down.
The best advice I’ve received from my coaches is that no matter what happens, I just always must keep my head high even if it gets tough. I must also never give up and always stand strong no matter how difficult. I just must play for the little girl who always wished to be where I am now and know I worked hard for what I have now.
Most enjoyable game
My most enjoyable game ever, will say it’s the game in 2022 where we went through to the league playoffs… We knew it was our last game as a team together and we really gave our best. The spirit and support along the track from all the coaches, parents and school was “amazing” and we enjoyed the game, and everyone played with a smile. We won after there were so many doubts because it was a strong team we played against. We didn’t let it get into our heads, we played for our school and for each other.
I am lucky, in the sense, that I have maintained a good balance from an early age. I practiced gymnastics every day from 14h00 after school until 19h00 in the evening, five days a week. Managing your sport, academic and other commitments was a big challenge, but I knew that one day my hard work would bear fruit. I can proudly say that I participated in two Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships (in China and in Belgium). If you work hard and set goals for yourself then you will meet all your commitments!
I think my coach and team will say that I’m very committed to wanting to better myself and us as a team. I hope they will see that I always play my heart out on the court.
If I were to be a kitchen article, I would be a kettle because I want to play netball, as hot as boiling waterl!!
Bongi Msomi
The professional netball player I like to have coffee with is my idol Protea centre, Bongi Msomi, of course. She has captained the Proteas since 2016. I would like to know how she do it!
My other interests, besides netball, are Tumbling and Acrobatic Gymnastics.
Seeing the pride in my parents, who always support me in everything, is precious to me and seeing them happy makes me happy.
I will say the word that suits me is dedicated. Feedback is important to me so that I can grow and improve as a playmaker and captain. I play and work hard, mentally, personally and I strive to give my best for my team every game.”
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