Self Belief

DARE TO DREAM

Former Australian Diamonds netballer Sharni Norder (nee Layton) achieved more than she had ever hoped for pursuing her sporting goals. The champion athlete, who is now Head Coach and Program Manager at Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC) in Melbourne, arrived at RGS to coach our netballers with all the energy she unleashed playing in both her netball career and playing AFLW for Collingwood.

Sharni Norder hits the court, working on players’ passing techniques, setting up on defence and driving to the ball, but it’s when the training drills stop that RGS netballers gained a greater insight into the former Australian Diamonds netballer and AFLW player. Fielding insightful questions, Sharni informed the girls there is more to life than being fortunate to play elite sport. One student question was, “Would your younger self be proud of the person you are now and all the achievements you have made?” “Yes absolutely,’’ Sharni said. “I think sometimes we judge ourselves so much when we are younger. I think it made me who I was and made me push myself to who I am. It wasn’t always positive. But I achieved more than I ever could have ever hoped for or believed. You really don’t know what you’re capable of. There’s no one stopping you from doing what you want to do. “I’ve met people from all walks of life. They aren’t all nice and there’s nothing special about them. But they all work hard, some have an easier leg up than others but it doesn’t mean you can’t get there. So I would say never put a lid on yourself. It’s only your own beliefs holding you back.” Sharni said there was so much more than being a great athlete, or whatever you want to do in life, than what it just looks like on the top. “It’s really important that you find a mentor to tell you what else you can do because you don’t know what you don’t know,’’ Sharni said. Time management and being organised were also an important messages for the students. Sharni’s tip was to sit down on a Sunday and go through the week’s schedule, writing down your school programme and any sport or work commitments – not forgetting to include time with family and friends. “Have it written down so you can stick to it and hold yourself accountable for that. Reward yourself if you stick to it and there’s punishments if you don’t. If it ever got too much for me I would talk to my teachers,’’ Sharni said. Juggling training and study/work commitments since she was a teenager, Sharni also advised the students be self aware of when they were feeling rundown. “It’s important knowing when you are getting really run down and asking yourself if you need a break one night from sports training. That needs to be more accepted in sport. You can do a lot in a short amount of

“You don’t always have to get along with each other but you do need to be respectful of other people.”

Sharni Norder

time, but not all the time. It’s also important than when you do achieve things that you give yourself a pat on the back.” Reflecting on her netball career, Sharni said it was important for coaches to encourage the players, help them do the basics well and keep things in perspective. Sharni said it was also important to have selfless players in a team. “Create a safe space and safe environment to allow people to be who they are. You don’t always have to get along with each other but you do need to be respectful of other people,” Sharni said. “You have to be kind and courteous and take on other peoples’ feedback. Look at what you can do as both a coach and a player. Do everything you can to get the most out of yourself.” Sharni said it was also important to take self-responsibility for your own role in a team. “Stamp out any bullying. Enjoy the company you are with. Allow people to ask questions. Don’t shut them down. It’s about you and the team creating a vision and all buying into that vision. The vision has to be about the whole team.” When she’s not helping shape the next generation of netball enthusiasts, Sharni is back enjoying horse riding again, but doesn’t think she’ll make the Australian Olympic equestrian team now.

Sharni Norder works with RGS netballers in Duggan Hall during her memorable visit to the School in Term 1.