Although the major event in the past few weeks of Perth life was obviously the two pre-season shootouts against GIANTS Netball, I know that there will be PLENTY of time to talk netball in the coming weeks. So instead, I wanted to tell you a little about last week’s tourist behaviour. I took a trip to Fremantle Prison which was pretty awesome but I also went to two comedy shows at Fringe Festival. One was an improv show which was pretty rubbish to be honest but the other, ‘The Art of Dil’ at the State Library of WA was a cracker. The stand-up comedian Dilruk Jayasinha had me lolling from start to finish and I came away with a little bit of face ache.
Although a slightly contentious issue, a theme which he referred to throughout the show was an article from 2016 that referred to opposition against immigration. Without getting at all political on you the comedian felt that this was largely due to a fear of the unknown and made a variety of links to scenarios in his life where this fear had caught him out and left him red faced. The reason that I make this tenuous link, other than to let you know what I have been up to, is that the fear of the unknown is precisely where I think I am right now with respect to Suncorp Super Netball.
Now I know what you’re thinking… in my previous blog I remarked about enjoying the unfamiliarity that is my new Fever environment BUT let’s be honest, it’s all fun and games when you’re in the training arena. With our Round 1 derby against Adelaide Thunderbirds on the horizon, I would be lying if I said that there isn’t a bit of fear starting to creep in. I’m only human after all.
Self-doubt can be crippling, and ultimately stop you from achieving what you are truly capable of. Everyone has that inner voice that chirps up to tell you you’re not good enough, strong enough or capable. I think an athlete’s inner critic is a different kind of beast and my inner voice is a real negative nelly at times. However, you’re given a variety of tools as an athlete to deal with the fear/negativity/self-doubt so that you have the opportunity to perform to the best of your capabilities. In recent years I have become a firm believer in living in the present, having been a person who used to view the glass as half empty, I began to worry about not embracing the opportunities that I was being given, keeping my emotions very internal and reflecting on the negative aspects more often that the many positives.
When I was a young child, I recall that at the end of a family day out my mother took me aside and told me off for ruining the day through having appeared to have been miserable. I burst into tears at the scalding and responded that I had had a lovely day and was ‘smiling on the inside’. This is a direct quote and yes, I was that emotionally suppressed child. I remember my mum laughing so hard at me and her continually throughout my childhood wishing that I enjoyed things more and encouraging me to take life less seriously. Thanks mum!
29 years old and I’ve had it cracked for a few years now. I choose to embrace the fear and the opportunity that is Suncorp Super Netball and I will continue to live in the present and treat this as one of the most important tools that I have at my disposal moving in to Round 1.
The reality of being a defender is that you will fail for much of the game. The opposition will score goals against you, it’s expected. You just have to try your damndest to limit the amount of times that they do. In my head I can stop every goal (imagine my constant disappointment) but I live in the moment and relish the continual opportunities to deny the opposition a goal. These days on court you may even see me crack a smile!
So here we are, in the week before our first Suncorp Super Netball game… eek!! All 10 players are finally home and the mood in camp continues to shift knowing that this weekend we begin our 2017 campaign.
Make sure to keep reaching out to the whole team throughout the coming weeks across the various social media platforms. Although we aren’t playing at home until Round 3, it is great to know that we are well supported whilst on the road!
As one new adventure begins/continues, another is almost at an end. This week I have the final lesson of my six week beginner’s salsa course. I’m happy to let you all know that I’m allowed to advance to the intermediate level and my ‘Dancing with the Stars’ dream remains alive and kicking. Stay tuned for a video showing you all what I’ve learnt (making an absolute fool of myself)… maybe!
Frank x
Instagram/Twitter: @SycyJyneFrancis
Tickets for the first three home games at Perth Arena are on sale now and you can find out how to get yours here.
