VJNB

Okay so my biological clock has rewired itself such that i can't sleep even when it's past midnight and i'm not even stressed or anything! Great excuse to get on facebook and start blogging:)

If you don't know already, I've been going down to my old school, VJC aka the best school in the world, to help out with my juniors in the netball team ie. VJNB (victoria JC netball). Honestly, i'm not much of a netball coach (and i'm a really terrible umpire too, i went for this umpiring course and they told me i'd find some upper primary games a challenge to umpire - that's how terribly low my standard is!) but i figured my juniors just need someone to be there, and we can work things out together. Anyway they've a certain level of experience and expertise so i was sure they'll have an idea of what needs to be done, what they need to work on. Thus i was constantly asking them what they want to do for the next training, and of course i relied heavily on my teacher i/c for advice even though she's also known as the busiest woman ever (try taking charge of 5 CCAs - it's no joke!). I guess it's rather natural for a diplomatic person like myself to be open to suggestions, and especially when I've not too much confidence in what I'm doing!

It's really not my style to be domineering or aggressive in how i coach, or lead - thinking back on how i fared as a netball captain, i really was kinda "soft" in a sense, i didn't like to force or push anyone - and sometimes i think if i was harder on the team then, displayed and expected more discipline, my netball experience would've been richer than a dim feeling of what could've been. No doubt we didn't merely train just to win, but the fact that we were closer to our own classmates rather than each other, being team mates, left me with that nagging sense that i could've, should've done MORE to bring the team together, bonding, share more of our lives on and off the court.

To my 08 netballers, may there be opportunities yet for us to get to know each other better, to share more than just the name "team mates" . May we not lose this friendship we first forged under blazing sun, soaking rain, and even the starry night sky:)

This team that i'm coaching now (or as an acting coach of some sort, yes literally acting sometimes) is a real close knit group. Though far from being the ya-ya sisterhood kinda close (impossible with 12 people), these girls have taught me first hand what it means to be a unit, a Team. Different personalities, characters, mindsets - yet brought together by a common purpose to excel in their chosen field of sport. Always, they impress me with their never-say-die attitude, endless encouragement, and their ability to stay cool under pressure. The jovial atmosphere and peals of laughter that accompany each training session just shows how much they enjoy each others' company - just as i enjoy theirs!

My dear juniors, the reason why i came back to help wasn't merely to enjoy your company, or sustain my interest or involvement in netball. The reason was to let you know that it's pointless to chase after achievements, which many do and find it satisfactory - but only for a little while. Even the close friendships forged now may not last, because human love disappoints; ironic that i should say that because i know many times we push ourselves to the limit so as not to let the team down. But far from being cynical or pessimistic, i want you to know that there's more to life, something bigger, on a grander scale than we can ever imagine - a purpose worth living for, a love that's worth dying for.