Do Your Time*

*On the Bench

We all hate it. Maybe you’ve been benched for a game, been on the bench all season and never made the court, or maybe you didn’t even get selected for the competition squad. We all hate not being selected as one of the 7 on the court. But I’m here to tell you that it’s good to ‘do time’ on the bench!

If we look back to the VNSL season there have been lots of new, young players that have been able to shine on the court after a teammate has been unavailable for a game. Jada Pechova (London Pulse) and Ruby Parker (Manchester Thunder) were both brought up form their U19 NPL squad and made their debuts this season for Superleague. They both shone, but they also both did a lot of bench time before they were handed a bib. 

Coaches correct me if I’m wrong, but I feel that there is sometimes a attitude of entitlement on the court and some player believe that it is there right to be on the court, without necessarily thinking that they need to be putting in the hard work themselves as well. 

Netball is first and foremost, a team sport. That means that certain playing combinations might work well for one game and be disastrous in another. Because we are part of one team, we need to pull together to support one another whether we are on the court or not. We train and win as one regardless of who is wearing the bib. 

That said, it never gets any easier if you are the one on the bench. But instead of storing up all that anger and resentment, use it as your fire! 

When you are given the opportunity on the court, whether that be at training or at a game, give it all you have got and show your coaches what they have been missing. Take any advice you can, work on it in your own time and that your performance into your own hands. That way, when you are given the opportunity to shine, you will! 

If you are interested in programmes designed specifically for you, why not take a look at our ‘Private Online Coaching’