“ Sports teach you character, they teach you to play by the rules, they teach you to know what it feels like to win and lose – they teach you about life.”– Billie Jean King
Sports are one of the most important things to stay involved in, as they add encouragement, self-belief and confidence to life. They are the modes of mental and physical growth. Sports teach us to stay strong amidst victory and defeat. They give us opportunity to grow in life.
Netball is one of the most popular sports among schools in Sri Lanka. Netball was first played in Sri Lanka in 1921 while the first game of Netball was played by Ceylon Girl Guide Company at Kandy High School. Since then, this sport has come a long way spreading its wings throughout the schools of the country.
Netball requires a number of skills, both physically and mentally.With that on mind, the Rotaract Club of University of Kelaniya organized a Netball coaching session centering three schools in Galle District on the 9th of October 2019 at the Zonal Grounds , Galle Fort.
The project involved the Under 15 Netball teams of Hapugala Maha Vidyalaya, Bonavista Maha Vidyalaya and Ginthota Maha Vidyalaya in Galle.Together with almost 40 players from the three schools, the session ran from 1.00pm to 5.00pm. The session contained many different activities which were all focused on enhancing the skills of the players.
With the guidance of the coaches Mrs.Jayani Abedheera and Mrs. Thaloja, the session started with a simple warm up and ended with an actual match. The players were also taught to improve their technical skills in attacking, defending and shooting as well as their teamwork.
“The Sports Day- A Netball Coaching Camp” is an initiative by the Sports and Entertainment Avenue which came into a reality with the guidance and the persistent efforts of the Co-Directors, Rtr. Tharushi Ileperuma and Rtr. Vimukthi Sameera along with the participation of the Rotaractors of the Sports and Entertainment Avenue especially, Rtr.Chalani , Rtr.Malith, Rtr. Gayan , Rtr. Ranula, and our Team leader Rtr. Supipi Sachintha who relentlessly worked hard to make this project a success.
The project was mainly sponsored by the Ceylon Steel Corporation Ltd.
Oruwala , Athurugiriya. A very special ‘thank you’ to their Deputy General Manager- Marketing
Mr.Ajith. We would also like to thank Mr. K.D.Imbuldeniya,
Senior Branch Manager of Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC (176,Main Street,Galle), Mr. Sasanka Yaddehiwatta of
City mother & Baby Care
(71/c wakwella Rd; Galle) and Miss. Chathurangi De Silva for sponsoring our project!
The session concluded with the distribution of a netball and socks to each school and a souvenir mug for the coaches as a token of gratitude for joining hands with us in executing this project.
Though it was exhausting for the players and the coaches, their genuine smile and sincere gratitude made us realize that it was worth the while.
Written by Rtr. Charuni Herath