Netball Inspiring future generations

Since England’s gold medal winning moment at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, netball has enjoyed increased interest and, alongside football, is the most participated in women’s sport in England.

A sport for all age groups, netball is thriving at BGS where pupils from Year 3 enjoy the fun and competitive nature of the Bee Netball programme whilst the Senior and Sixth Formers compete in Nationals Schools competitions. However, the most important aspect of any sport at BGS is to mix fun with technical development, so students are able to strengthen skills, be part of a team and develop wider friendships.

The School is privileged to have its own Head of Netball who leads an outstanding programme across the school. Four-time Netball Superleague Champion, Miss Josie Huckle, continues to inspire aspiring netballers on and off the court. After impressive performances as a Goal Keeper with Wasps in the 2022 season, Miss Huckle was signed up by Manchester Thunder initially as a Training Partner. However, following an unfortunate injury to Yasmin Roebuck, Miss Huckle claimed the 12th spot in the squad.

Miss Huckle reflected on her netball pathway: “I started playing netball at 13 (actually playing with BGS Head Rowing Coach, Mrs Victoria Reeves). I continued to progress through the county pathway programme and represented the Mavericks NPL before signing for the Senior Mavericks Squad in 2011. I then signed for Surrey Storm for the 2014/15 season and was delighted to win back-to-back Superleague titles.

“I was lucky enough to sign for the Wasps franchise when it formed in 2016 and won two consecutive titles in the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons. I have been honoured to represent England across the U17, U19 and senior age groups. Most notably my first senior cap was in 2018 when England won the Netball Europe Competition.”

Whilst competing at an elite level, Miss Huckle decided she wanted to coach to help develop the next generation of netball stars. Miss Huckle reflected: “I was drawn to the BGS community following a conversation with the then Director of Sport, Mrs Jane Axford. I had already been an external netball coach at BGS during my time at university, and after graduating as a PE teacher I worked for a school in Dunstable before joining BGS.”

Miss Huckle continued: “I remember teaching my first netball lesson at BGS; the students were changed, ready and eager in the Sports Hall within four minutes! They worked incredibly hard on the drills and carefully listened to my coaching instructions, leaving red-faced, smiling and sweaty. I knew I had found the perfect fit! The students wanted to learn and worked hard; it was a testament to the positivity created by the PE department.”

Miss Huckle enthusiastically explained how her netball experience helps ensure every student at BGS reaches and exceeds their potential: “I am incredibly lucky to have been guided by so many top-level coaches and former England players throughout my career. Competing in an elite environment has helped me have a greater understanding of how drills, skills, tactics and set plays work, as well as how to adapt to help others understand and learn. I am able to translate these skills to our lessons so that our students receive consistently high levels of teaching, in classes and through our extensive co-curricular programme. I want them to enjoy every moment on the court.”

Miss Huckle’s ethos is definitely paying dividends, with the School regularly hosting regional and county competitions and playing a minimum of 35 squads on any one day across all age groups. The 2022/23 season has once again been very successful with our U11 Juniors excelling nationally. After finishing second in the East Region England netball finals in late January, the U11s competed in the National IAPS Netball Finals on Friday 17th March at Rugby. The team claimed a bronze in the bowl competition, which placed them in the top 20 nationally.

Miss Huckle concluded: “I am thrilled that participation in netball is so high at BGS from such a young age and that we continue to achieve great success. I firmly believe the more netball you can play the better, the wider exposure you get to different players and styles the more it will strengthen your own game. So, I am always pleased to see students turn up for all of our co-curricular clubs and holiday training camps, as well as representing their local clubs or participating on regional development programmes. Their enthusiasm, passion and commitment reminds me of the start of my career and makes my role at BGS so very rewarding.”