When my daughter was turning 7, like every good netballing mum, I enrolled her in our local netball club.
I had played netball in primary school and for most of my adult life – indoor, outdoor, mixed – plus I had umpired for years too – I was hoping Emily would love it as much as I did.
At the time, I thought I was signing her up for a sport.
Looking back now, I can see I was really signing both of us up for something much bigger — connection, community and growth.
That first year, I was team manager.
The next year, I was the team umpire (initially kept that skill quiet… because once a club knows you can umpire, you suddenly become very popular!).
Not long after, I was “encouraged” to join the committee.
“Just help with second-hand uniforms,” they said. “It won’t be much time at all.”
My husband was sceptical. He’d seen how netball could take over – friends’ wives were out for hours on end every Saturday during Winter.
“No,” I said. “That won’t be me!”
Fast forward a few seasons…
Second-hand uniforms turned into managing club stock (with tubs of socks stacked in my son’s wardrobe).
Umpiring turned into multiple games on a Saturday morning.
A few of us formed a team – so now I was playing (again) – and umpiring – Saturday afternoons too.
I coached my daughter’s team.
I mentored new umpires.
I became Club Registrar.
And… I was at the courts all day, every Saturday.
Here’s the bonuses though.
I get to spend time with my daughter.
I get to connect with other parents who genuinely love seeing their kids grow.
I get to work alongside committee members who have become close friends.
And I get to support young kids and teens as they step into new challenges — whether that’s playing, umpiring or coaching.
One of the things I’ve come to appreciate most is watching our teens.
I see their confidence grow as they learn to interact with coaches and mentors outside their immediate family.
I see them step into responsibility, independence and leadership.
And I see how powerful those connections are.
I didn’t realise it at the time, but this is where my love of working with teens really deepened.
Teens don’t need someone to fix them.
They just need someone in their corner.
Someone who listens, guides, believes in them.
Just as I see in my work as a teen coach.
When teens feel connected to a trusted adult – parent, coach, mentor – everything shifts.
Confidence grows.
They communicate more openly.
They navigate challenges with greater resilience.
But it’s not just about the teens.
There’s another group I notice every season.
The mums.
The ones juggling school, sport, work and family – often putting themselves last.
And just before winter sport kicks off in full swing, with everyone settled into school, sports registrations sorted out and teams formed, there’s often a quiet moment where mums think:
“It’s time to focus on me again.”
Once the season starts, life gets busy very quickly.
Early games.
Evening training.
Weekends at the courts.
When that happens, it’s easy for your own health to slip.
That’s why this window right now matters.
When you have a plan in place before life ramps up, everything becomes easier.
Meals feel more structured.
Decisions feel simpler.
Energy improves.
This is one of the reasons I love working with women through programs like Metabolic Balance ® .
It provides a clear, personalised structure — what to eat, when to eat, how to build your meals.
There’s no guesswork.
And when things feel clear, it’s much easier to stay consistent… even during busy seasons.
Because just like our teens benefit from connection and support, so do we.
When we feel connected – to others and to ourselves, to our own health and well being – everything works better.
Our communication improves.
Our confidence grows.
And our families feel it too.
So yes, I spend a lot of time at the netball courts during winter.
But it’s not just because I like contributing.
It’s because of the connections.
The ones I’ve made.
The ones my daughter has made.
And the ones our teens continue to build as they grow into themselves.
And if you’re heading into another busy season and thinking it might be time to focus on your health too…
You don’t have to do it alone.
Strong connection = stronger teens… and healthier mums too. 💛