Saints Netball: an amazing on and off court experience
Sally Sandison (MA 2020) was already passionate about netball when she came to study at St Andrews and joined Saints Netball. She describes here how belonging to the club has developed her both as a player and as a person.
From Shetland to St Andrews
Coming from Shetland, St Andrews was the perfect University for me: the friendly small-town atmosphere, beaches and traditions made it feel very like home. But it was when I visited the University and saw the amazing facilities at the Sports Centre that my mind was made up!
Netball has always been a massive part of my life. I was very fortunate that in Shetland we have a fantastic netball programme on the Islands that begins in primary school and carries on through various clubs and through the annual intercounty netball match that the Shetland Junior and Senior netball teams play against Orkney each year.
My netball career has not always been easy. As a young player, I really struggled with a bad pain in my foot and it was discovered that two of my bones were joined together. In December 2014 I had an operation to get this fixed. The following June I had my second last chance to make the Shetland junior intercounty team. I didn’t succeed that year, but the year after I trialled for both the Senior and Junior teams. I was the youngest player to be in the Senior squad and was awarded player of the match. I was also chosen to captain the Junior team who went on to beat Orkney for the first time in eight years.
Four months later, I started studying at St Andrews. I was definitely not expecting my four years of Saints Netball to be as amazing as it turned out to be, and I do not believe that any other university netball programme could have given me as much support both as a player and as a person.
As a player I was encouraged, supported and pushed to play my best at every single training session and match. The coaching from Heather and Lois as well as the Strength and Conditioning training improved me as player in every session in ways that I would have never thought possible before.
As a person my confidence as a netball player – something I had really struggled with before – improved.
Opportunities on court
During my time at St Andrews I was lucky enough to play against (and beat!) some amazing netball teams including Sheffield Hallam, Loughborough and Durham. I’ve also had the chance to play directly against some super league players, which was an incredible experience.
I was encouraged to trial for the Scottish Student Sport Netball team. I played with them for three years. This in turn led to me playing against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin and against England and Wales in the Home Nations Tournament. Without the support I received from the Athletic Union, my coaches and my team members this just wouldn’t have been possible.
Opportunities off court
Saints Netball has also given me some amazing off-court opportunities. Through the club I have gained both my level 1 and level 2 UKCC coaching awards and I am also currently undertaking my level B umpiring award. In addition, I gained many transferrable skills through being on the committee for three years.
But perhaps the best opportunity and experience of all was the chance to volunteer for six weeks to coach netball at Rietenbosch Primary School in Stellenbosch, South Africa. I coached daily and helped to organise a youth Day Tournament towards the end of the six weeks. It was just amazing to see the girls improve in their netball play during my time there and it taught me so many skills which I then took back and applied in Saints Netball. This experience would not have been possible without being involved in the Saints Netball Programme and I will forever be thankful to the University for this.
Looking to the future …
I am currently back home in Shetland where we have just started training again now that Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted. It has been fantastic to get back on court for the first time since my last training session at Saints Netball just before lockdown!
I have joined the Committee of Shetland Netball and have taken on the role of Wellbeing and Protection Officer, which I love. The skills and confidence I gained as a player, a committee member and a person through Saints Netball have enabled me to make a positive contribution to these roles.
I plan to stay in Shetland for a year or so and then move back to the mainland to pursue a career related to my degree. One thing is certain: I will continue to play netball wherever I go and I hope to use the coaching certificates I gained at St Andrews to progress as a coach.
The experiences and memories I have gained and the friends for life I have made through Saints Netball have made my time at St Andrews unforgettable.