VOLUNTEERING

Outside of my academics and working career, I was also a volunteer netball coach during 2021 and 2022 for the Under 13A and Under 15 teams at Buninyong Football Netball Club. Coaching was unlike anything else I have ever done before, and I firmly believe it laid the foundation for myself as a leader. I remember thinking at the beginning of this role that I would be more than capable because I played netball and had good knowledge of the sport. However, I later realised that this was not the case, and in fact, I would need to learn how to lead the players and earn their respect.

 

There are a number of different approaches to take when coaching. Although at first I wasn’t sure which style would fit me and the team best, I soon learnt that taking an empathetic and understanding approach would be the best way to teach and lead the players. I had personally had coaches in the past who had been stern, strict, and harsh at times, however, I knew that overall, this was not going to be the best way for me to engage with the players. I remember reflecting on past coaches who I had looked up to and had the greatest respect for. These were the people who I saw as leaders, and thus, I knew that by emulating their leadership qualities, I too could have this relationship with the players. I decided the most important quality that I would display was hearing what they had to say. By allowing the players to tell me what they wanted to work on, I could see their confidence building and their respect for myself as a leader grow. This has been so helpful for me in later years to build on this skill and ensure I am always hearing and actively listening to the ideas and perspectives of others to show my leadership.

 

It was also important to me that I would practice what I preached to the players. I would remind players often that respect is of upmost importance. In that context, I explained that respecting the umpires and their opponents was extremely important. I would also reflect this when playing netball myself, as I knew I had these young players looking up to me. However, I can now see that respect is also a largely important aspect of being a leader. Having respect for others means in turn, gaining their respect towards myself. Particularly with young people, I found the best way to do this was to treat them as equals, not as though I was above them and they needed to listen to what I say without having their own opinion. I have taken this into future roles when working as a support worker, as well as being a PASS leader, and ensure that no matter who I come across, I am treating the with respect. I feel as though the respect that I show for all people, no matter who they are or the roles they have, is a key component in what makes me a good leader.

 

As I reflect on my coaching experience, I look back fondly and can appreciate the countless lessons I learnt as a leader. Importantly, I realised that being a leader is something I am good at, as I previously didn’t have a lot of experience in the area. I have been able to take these skills and build on them over the duration of my studies at Deakin and use them to shape me in the person I am today.