NETBALL: A GROUP of netballers from Solihull will be a part of sporting history when Wasps Netball make their competitive home debut at the Ricoh Arena.
Players at Solihull School’s Under 12s team will form a guard of honour for the players to run through before they take their position on court to start their game against Hertfordshire Mavericks on Sunday, March 5, at 6pm.
The year seven students were picked after impressing Wasps with their good attitude, behaviour and energy levels at a netball masterclass held at the Ricoh Arena.
Playing at least once a week, the Solihull School team compete against other schools in the West Midlands and in Solihull’s School Borough League.
Helen Smith, the school’s netball coach, also coaches the Wasps Netball Under 17s team – and is a former England U21 international and ex Team Bath netballer.
She said: “I’m really proud of the girls.
“The way they have conducted themselves and displayed great skills at the Wasps netball masterclass has been superb.
“The girls are really keen on their netball and a lot of the girls play in clubs outside of school.
“Some are trialling for the regional academies and this should be a great experience for them – maybe one day they will become a Wasps netballer.”
Bongiwe Msomi, skipper of the South Africa national team, is also set for a visit to Solihull School – to lend her advice to the Under 15s side and senior squad.
The Under 12s have been practising their guard of honour routine ahead of the Hertfordshire Mavericks fixture, and Wasps Netball’s Community Development Manager Verity Brown says it should look fantastic on the day.
She added: “Solihull School’s girls really impressed us at the masterclass day so we thought we’d give them the chance to be involved in the inaugural home game.
“It’s really important for us that we get the local netball community involved on match-days.
“The guard of honour will be a fantastic way to welcome the Wasps Netball girls into their new home, we’re hoping for a sell-out crowd to get behind the girls.”
