Pulse London U19 Netball Squad Selection
We recently spoke to Grace R, Year 13, about her selection into the Pulse London U19 netball squad and how RHS has enabled her sporting career alongside her academic studies.
“I’ve always loved netball; even before I joined the school and every year since I’ve participated in the A teams of all age groups. Luckily, Miss Adams offered me many opportunities, starting off my real interest in the next stage of the sport. She put me forward to trial for county in Year 7.
I spent the next four years progressing through the stages of the county pathway until I decided to improve my standard of play by trialling for London Pulse. The first year I trialled I was actually unsuccessful, but this drove me to work hard, which though sometimes tedious, it paid off as I knew I wanted to be on that side. With a few years of working hard, progressing through the stages at Pulse and coaches seeing the potential in me, I was selected for the NPL U19 squad.
Aside from this pathway Miss Adams also gave me the opportunity to play in the first team in Year 10, of which not many do, which was an honour. In my final year at the school Miss Adams asked me to captain the squad, which was an opportunity I could not decline and I’m very grateful for everything she’s provided for me and the team I have captained.
On the club side of the sport, I play with Eastwood, a club near Southend. In our previous season we played in the East Regional one division which enabled me to implement all the skills I had been taught by my coaches. My aims in the years to come are to play U21 NPL which, if I get selected, will mean I’m playing nationally. After deciding to take a year out to concentrate on sport and my fitness I will return to education, hopefully at Birmingham University, where I aim to play in their first team, whether it be as a fresher or in my last year. Progressing with my life I cannot see me stopping netball and I want to pursue the sport as far as I can.
If I was to give advice to any athlete that wants to pursue netball at an elite level, it is to trial for a franchise like Pulse as soon as possible; the longer they have to see your improvement the more opportunities open to you. Nevertheless, it is vital that you also enjoy the training, give yourself a reason to play, and a reason to train.”
We wish Grace the best of luck in the Pulse U19 squad and her future sporting endeavours.
