The behavioural change that led to my high-performance selection

Breaking into high-performance netball programs is hard. With over three hundred thousand registered players in Australia alone, success requires hard work, perseverance, great coaching, unwavering passion, and a thirst for continued growth.

My pivotal realisation during my junior career came down to one thing: the realisation of intent and effort. I wasn't lazy, but I had coasted through training sessions relying on natural ability and only intensifying my performance on game day.

The turning point came at my first Victorian State Netball Trial. The intensity and fitness requirements were significantly higher than what I had experienced. I felt exhausted after the sessions and didn't make the selection that year. The non-selection became my wake-up call.

I needed to work harder and smarter by lifting my work rate during existing sessions, rather than simply adding more training. The principle was simple: train the way I wanted to play. The shift transformed my on-court performance. The improved fitness let me hold concentration longer and execute precise passing and movement.

My message to athletes heading to your next session is to commit to giving 100 percent effort. It benefits not only your individual performance but also lifts your teammates as everyone rises to meet the challenge of competing at higher intensity.