Old Colfeian, Sam King has just returned from the Tri-nations Championships in South Africa as part of the England Women’s Indoor Netball team – despite only playing this version of the game for just over a year. Sam, who graduated from Colfe’s in 2000, said school had really set her on this path; encouraging her netball playing and her love of sport generally. Sam, who is currently Head of Girl’s games at Bethany School in Kent, said, “I have always loved playing netball and when someone suggested that I went to trials for the indoor version, after watching me play 'normal' netball, in true Colfeian spirit, I was happy to give it a go. I was delighted when I was selected for the England squad. I have just got back from the Tri Nations in South Africa where the team played well but got knocked out by Australia in the semi-finals.”
This isn’t the first time Sam has played sport at National level “When I joined Colfe’s I was lucky enough to receive a Rank Foundation Scholarship for sport as I was playing many different sports at different levels as well as representing England in Latin Dancing.”
Indoor Netball, thought to be the fastest and most furious form of netball played today, has many of the rules of usual netball but is played inside a high tension netted court so the ball never goes out of play; creating a faster pasted game which can be played in two formats either 6 players a side or 7. 32 year old Sam said “Being in the England squad is a massive commitment. We have 4 hour squad training sessions in London and Reading, and in addition we have a programme to follow when not training as a squad. This includes a lot of fitness and skill based work. But I am enjoying it. I currently have 10 Caps and hope to add to this in the test series against South Africa later this year.”
Sam often visits the school to support her cousins, Elspeth and Freddie who are in the prep school. Sam feels Colfe’s is a really important place for her “Although I was only at Colfe’s for two years in the 6th Form, I did as much sport as possible and made use of every opportunity given to me including Netball, Hockey, Rounders, Waterpool and Swimming. I have many fond memories of Colfe’s and I truly wish that they had accepted girls at that time in the 3rd form when I was 11 years old. I made some lifelong friends at Colfe’s but if I was to pick a few memories it would be collecting my sports prize for netball at speech day and camping on the side of a mountain in Wales for A-level PE with Captain (now Major) Cherry in charge!
“I would encourage young Colfeians who enjoy playing 'normal' netball to play fast netball as the skills are transferable to indoor and listen to your coaches/ teachers. For all Colfeians, I believe that there is a sport/ activity for everyone but you just have to find out what you love to do.”
Sam King, Colfeian, England Netball Team (front row, last on right)