

For many kids, there’s no greater joy than being part of a team. Whether it’s basketball, soccer, netball or any number of ball-related sports, they all have one thing in common – Saturday morning time slots.
When I was a kid, there was nothing better than hitting the bitumen in a fresh pair of sneakers, breathing in that crisp Saturday morning air and playing netball. But after shuttling me to hundreds of games over my 13 years of education, I’m not sure my parents would agree.
It’s too early. It’s cold. Sometimes it’s wet, and it invariably involves a number of dramas, such as shorts that weren’t washed, lost shoes and having no idea where the match is actually taking place.
But one thing we can agree on is that playing sport comes with many benefits, and not just for your physical health. Learning to problem solve, communicate and work as a team are all skills that I still carry with me into my adult life.
