This will not come as a surprise to those who know me well; in fact my boyfriend is probably rolling around laughing right now, but I’m just not built for sport. I do, however like having fun and meeting new people, and for the past twelve months I have being playing at the Ladyhawks Netball Club Back to Netball (B2N) sessions.

Recently we’ve had some new people come to sessions who looked as terrified as I did my first time, which got me thinking that it might be a nice idea for me to share my experiences as a new netball player. Those who already play for the club can have a laugh at my expense, and those who are new can hopefully be encouraged to come along – so this is a new idea I’m trying out. Feedback is welcome; constructive criticism accepted if it’s offered alongside a biscuit.

So to start, this first blog is just a little bit about me, and how I came to B2N. I’ll turn 29 this year, I work in Marketing, and until last March had not picked up a netball since the days of high school. High school netball still sends a shiver down my spine and evokes memories of massive gym knickers and freezing cold afternoons. I was not a favourite with the P.E teachers – I was short and bordering on chubby with a pathological fear of, to quote Clueless, ‘balls flying at my face’. I was involved in lots of music clubs rather than sport, and far more interested in what was in my lunchbox than any kind of activity that involved sweating. As soon as I could, I dropped P.E quicker than you can say ‘offside’. It was only when I got to University that I lost some weight and began to understand the importance of fitness and diet.

I kept up my aversion to team sports for a little while longer though – I much preferred slogging it out in the gym or at a fitness class. It was only after I took up running a couple of years ago that I realised that I needed a bit more from my exercise regime. I really enjoy running and even did the Manchester 10k – which for a chubby kid who previously struggled to run for the bus was a mahoosive achievement – but it knackers my knees, I had to go to a physio because my terrible core strength was putting pressure on my back, it requires hellish amounts of motivation – and there is absolutely no interaction with other people.

After a bit of internet research (Google, but other search engines are available), I stumbled across a Back to Netball class in Crewe, run by the Ladyhawks Netball Club. Ok I figured I wasn’t so much ‘back to netball’ as ‘never really started in the first place’, but what the hell! At first I had my doubts – when signing up and asked for my preferred playing position from school, I didn’t really like to say ‘in the changing rooms with my coat on’ – but I felt the fear and did it anyway, and the rest, as they say, is history.

I expected to get a bit fitter, meet some new people and re-learn some much-forgotten skills . What I didn’t expect was how much fun I’d have doing it. All the ladies (girls? Ladies? Women? Delete as applicable) I’ve met through netball have been friendly, smiley and welcoming, and it seems we spend as much time doubled over from laughing as we do actually developing our skills.

A year on, I’m now officially a ‘regular’ at B2N, play in proper matches with umpires and everything (!) and I run the website for the club. Ok, I will never play for England, unless they’re looking for someone who routinely crashes into other players unintentionally (more on that to come readers!). But then that’s not really the point is it? So if you’re anything like me and just want to have fun while you get fit, come and join us – we are all lovely.

Until next time!
Vicki x