SHS in the News

Lauren selected as U17 England Netball Captain!

Lauren Potter England Netball Captain!

Year 11 pupil Lauren Potter was recently selected not only to play for the England U17 netball team but also to captain the side in the U17 Netball European Championships held in Gibraltar. Lauren came back a very proud captain with a gold medal as the England team took the European title winning all games!

After a long selection process that took almost a year, Lauren was picked as one of the lucky 12 that will fly out on the 4th March to play in the prestigious competition. Back in March of 2008, a screening day meant that 100 nominees of the most talented players from the Regional Development squads, arrived to the trials, held at Bath University, but the numbers were whittled down to half by the afternoon and finally, 18 were chosen to make up the Talent 1 squad, a group of skilled players, which the England U17 team would eventually be picked from.
A rigorous training schedule ensued for the rest of 2008 with a four day Easter camp and a 10 day summer camp, both held at Bath University, where the girls were carefully monitored and a few disappointed girls were deselected from Talent 1. For the remaining girls, from September through to December, there were also monthly weekend residential camps.
The final trials were held in January of this year. At a weekend camp the England squad selection took place on the Saturday. The results were revealed by sealed envelopes that day and the successful girls remained on the Sunday for further training.
Opening her envelope turned out to be quite an emotional experience for Lauren, ‘I was extremely nervous when I was opening the envelope, because of how important the decision was to me but I was pleased with how I’d played as I’d done my best throughout the day. When I’d found out I was selected, I was obviously elated but it was difficult to know how to react, as those who had not been so lucky were devastated. However, once I was alone with the 11 other successful girls and our coach, I began to appreciate the enormity of my achievement and was very proud to think that I would be playing for my country.’
This wasn’t the only good news for the talented netball player from Sheffield High School. Last weekend she discovered that she had been chose to captain the England U17 team, and she isn’t taking the duty lightly, ‘This has brought many additional responsibilities along with yet more immense pride for what I had achieved. I have to ensure the team are prepared both mentally and physically, I’ll need to motivate the team, relay information from the coach to the rest of the team and ensuring the whole squad feels included.’
The team flew to Gibraltar on Wednesday 4th March and returned on Monday 9th March. They used Thursday to acclimatise and train. A positive mental attitude is vital to success, as Lauren clearly demonstrated before she left, ‘England are strong favourites to win and we are aiming to prove why, by putting into play everything we have practised. Now, I’m really excited about the whole experience – desperate to get on court and play my best for myself, the team, our coach, my family and for ENGLAND!’
And it doesn’t stop there, Lauren has also been asked to trial for the England U19s this Easter being held at Loughborough University. What an honour, what success! Well done Lauren!

Written by prefect Emily Starbuck.