MOUNT Gambier High School’s budding netballers were treated to a special coaching clinic on Monday morning conducted by Adelaide Thunderbirds players Cody Lange and Kate Shimmin.
The hot conditions did not deter the keen netballers as they were exposed to skills and drills from their role models.
The MGHS specialist netball program is run in the first semester as a Year 9 and 10 specific class, with students learning about the fitness, nutrition and skills for their sport of choice, along with things like injury management and prevention and game development.
With this year’s program complete, the Thunderbirds clinic was aimed at Year 8 and 9 students who will continue or start the program in 2019.
Lange – the youngest Thunderbird ever signed at the age of just 16 – originates from Bordertown, which put into perspective how players in regional areas can make it to an elite level in sport.
“I like to get out in the community and help the girls, especially for me being from the country,” Lange said.
“It is good to have those role models for the girls and to learn more skills and drills.
“Especially for me coming from Bordertown – which is only two hours away – it is cool for them to see that I came through the ranks.”
The opportunity came about after the MGHS netball program’s annual trip to Adelaide to compete in playoffs between all the specialist netball schools in the area.
As part of the trip, the class attended a Thunderbirds netball game and through the affiliation and contacts with Netball SA the chance for a clinic in their home town was offered.
MGHS netball program coordinator Abbey Duncan said it was “an awesome opportunity” for the girls to be exposed first hand to the experience and knowledge from some of South Australia’s top players.
“Just having a different perspective from elite netballers about the skills and the knowledge they will need to develop their own game is great,” she said.
“But also having that opportunity to understand the pathway of netball and if they want to get to that level, what it actually takes.
“Cody (Lange) is from Bordertown, so to see people from the country making it in the big leagues is good for the kids.
“You never know, there could be a future elite netballer among us.”
With a deep pool of talent in the South East alone, an opportunity like this is an eye opener for the young players.
“We have a huge base of netballers down here and our competitions are very strong,” Duncan said.
“Without a pathway for netball, a lot of these kids would drop off and a lot of them would move to Adelaide eventually.
“Just getting that exposure to what could potentially be a pathway for them in the years to come is great.”
Monday’s clinic saw the youngsters go back to basics during the hour session, followed by questions and autographs.
“We just tried to implement some basic skills,” Lange said.
“Kate did some more defensive footwork drills and I did more of the ball handling and attacking, just some things they can implement in their game.
“Even at the highest levels we are told we need to just perfect the basics.”
Lange said the relationship the Thunderbirds have with regional areas is a focus for the club, as they look to extend their reach to all areas in the state.
“It is a great opportunity for the girls, not only for them to learn netball skills and drills, but to ask questions,” she said.
“We are really big on that community-based partnership stuff as well, making sure we are inspiring the younger generation and building those connections, so these kids want to still grow up and play for the Thunderbirds one day.”
Duncan hopes to see the relationship continue to blossom and looks forward to future developments with the Thunderbirds and Netball SA.
“We are very appreciative of the opportunity for them to come down,” she said.
“The girls get to know them on a personal level.
“Hopefully next year when we go to Adelaide we will go to another Thunderbirds game and that relationship keeps getting stronger.”
Later on Monday a junior clinic was held at the Mount Gambier Netball Association courts.
