Pre-season event sees Tigers ready for 2022

THE Torquay Netball Club has started its 2022 campaign with a bang after opening Round 1 against Ocean Grove and a fruitful team building event providing a service to the region.

All six of the Torquay senior netball sides took part in numerous team-based activities prior to the start of the season, organised by new head coach Sonia Harris and ran by an external company.

Tigers players constructed bikes in teams which were then presented to kids from high-risk homes, kids who have never had the chance of owning a bike.

“Some of these kids when they were pulled out of homes would have had nothing except whatever was in a plastic bag,” Harris said.

“So, for us to be able to build these bikes and then present them to the kids was absolutely fantastic.

“The girls got a lot out of that in recognising the privileges they have and where they play and live.”

The idea to hold the pre-season event arose from an array of reasons, primarily the mixture of a bunch of new players and the lack of social team events over the past two years.

COVID-19 has made the two last Bellarine Netball League seasons a logistical nightmare evidenced by the fact a premier has not been crowned since 2019.

“We really wanted our squads to get to know one another and bond ahead of the season,” Harris said.

“It might sound silly, but we just wanted to get some fun back into the group.

“I feel a lot of people probably felt just a bit hesitant to get back into a routine, because we have all been doing our own thing over COVID.

“It’s important to remind our players why we play. The communal, fun and achievement parts of the game.”

Harris drew the details of the pre-season event from her time coaching Victorian Netball League side City West Falcons.

The Falcons host numerous camps enforcing notions of teamwork, leadership and resilience, all traits Torquay’s new head coach aims to preach in 2022.

Torquay’s senior netball and football sides conduct their respective home openers this Saturday when Barwon Heads comes into town.