Category Archives: Club

A month or so ago, a lifetime for this my rookie squad, we were celebrating that we had found an attacking formation that worked. And in the course of a match, we were able to move from a low single figure score in a match to double figures. An injury to our centre, Kacey, soon after meant that we had to look again. Today Kacey was able to return for a quarter or two to test things out. Saffron Hawks turned out a top team against us and, with our attacking formation of Mileina, Grace and Ruby C, we matched them goal for goal until another injury to Kacey meant she had to come off. Our reorganising took Molly out of defence into a shooter role and this worked reasonably well for the attack, but the accompanying reshuffle in defence made it difficult for the first-time combination in defence. But fair play to Alessia, Evie and Ruby M for keeping at it from start to finish.
Kacey was able to come back on and we were able to show how effective we can be as an attacking unit. We were able to net 18 goals, our highest this term, against a good Hawks side. But it’s early days for this squad, and while we have produced an attack of some quality, we do need to concentrate on our defensive capabilities next season as the scoreline of 18-48 shows.

POM voted by the Saffron Hawks Squad: Grace
Coach POM: The whole squad: Grace(capt), Ruby Mc, Ruby C, Mileina, Kacey, Evie, Molly and Alessia.
Thanks to Jackie for her even-handed, safe umpiring throughout the term and her encouraging words at half-times. And the parents for supporting and celebrating with this new rookie squad.
A special thanks to Marion for instigating and co-coaching our meetings with a horde of girls who came from Passmores with Aislinn and from St Marks at Stewards this season and helped to turn them into a squad, which we entered in the Summer league. First term over. What a roller coaster ride! Our wins — very sweet. Our defeats — good learning points for the squad and me.

Points to take away from the season:
1. Keep fit and active over the summer – swim, run, dance, play physical games.
2. Be prepared to be flexible in playing different positions on court
3. Make friends in netball and enjoy your time with them
4. Celebrate your team spirit.
5. Be fearless
6. Develop your listening skills and try to put into action what you have learned.

We knew our last game of the season against Turnford was going to be tough – they always bring a strong physical component to their play. On the day we were down to a bare seven to play with Rhiana turning up to support the team nursing her injured wrists. It turned out to be six-and-a-half with Darcey feeling really unwell but gallantly turning out for a couple of quarters. That really says it all for this squad, a together bunch, who always turn in a spirited performance and play for the team.
We were able to show some of the undoubted improvement in the squad’s play over the season, particularly in getting into the attacking circle with Hannah and Izabelle showing how to play in mid-court against a top team, and in the defensive circle where Casey and Juliette refused to let Turnford run away with scoring freely and we held them to a respectable score-line, in the circumstances, of 5-20.

POM: Hannah Voted for by Turnford
Coach POM: Darcey, Millie, Gracie and Rhiana, for dealing with difficult conditions.

Our Squad: Kacey(capt), Juliette, Darcey, Hannah, Millie, Izabelle and Gracie(vice-capt) (and Rhiana).
Thanks to Louise for her ever-present coaching and for keeping me sane on match days. Thanks to all the parents for their support on the day and throughout the season. Thanks to this squad, for their never-say-die attitude. Thanks to Pat for her cheerful reliability and always fair umpiring.
It has been a worthwhile and a learning journey on my first season back with Crosskeys to have this special squad to coach with Louise and Joan. Sadly, we say a fond farewell to Juliette (and Celine and Jon) and to Hannah (and Katie and Tom) and wish them the best of luck in the future.
Points to take away from the season:
1. Keep fit and active over the summer – swim, run, dance, play physical games.
2. Be prepared to be flexible in playing different positions on court
3. Make friends in netball and enjoy your time with them
4. Be fearless
5. Develop your listening skills and try to put into action what you have learned

Crosskeys U14 Squad June 2018
Molly Mollie Niamh Caitlin Beth Freya Jen Imogen Lucy Meg

8 June at 21:36
Julie Moore:
U14’s
Well Done!
Div 2 Winners
And for winning the trophy for the yr 9 Sportsmanlike Team voted for by all other clubs

What a difference a week makes. And finding a formation that works on court in match-play. We could be forgiven for thinking that every club in this league is a top club, and our previous experience of Cheshunt is that they are. But our newly formed squad of four weeks turned in a barnstorming performance in the first quarter, which left me at a loss for words except repeating enthusiastically, “That’s good netball Keys”. Our attack of Ruby C and Grace in the circle and Mileina WA and Kacey C simply just clicked. And our defence of Molly GK, Elani GD, Kiara WD and Kacey stopped the Cheshunt attack in their tracks. The squad swept into a 9-2 lead!
However, after the start of the second quarter, with an unchanged formation, we were thrown by Ruby C having to come off. We quickly rearranged the formation to put Mileina in at GS (a position she hadn’t played before) and Ruby Mc came on as WA. We held on in the second quarter to draw 1-1.
What was going to happen? After a long talk at half-time this squad, with Ruby C in support on the sidelines, showed their spirit, raised their game and turned in a sterling performance to win the third quarter 12-2. And although we faded in the final quarter — we shaved it 4-3 — the squad turned in an outstanding overall performance to secure their first league win ever: 26-8!
POM voted by the Cheshunt Squad: Kacey— deservedly for seeming to be everywhere in the right place, demonstrating so consistently how to get into good space to receive a pass.
Coach POM: Ruby C for her good heart in dealing with her disappointment and cheering the squad on, and Grace for turning in an outstanding performance at GA. Congratulations to all the squad for throwing themselves into this game with good heart, commitment and fighting spirit. We are not the finished netball article by a long way but we are showing some signs of winning at life. Let’s roll some more.
Our Squad: Grace(capt), Ruby Mc, Ruby C, Mileina, Kacey, Kiara, Elani and Molly.
Thanks to Cam for jumping in to help with coaching on Wednesday, you made a real difference, please come back again any time – we had 30+ girls on two courts — Jackie for her even-handed, safe umpiring and her encouraging words at half-time. And the parents for supporting this new rookie squad and celebrating with them their hard-earned, first win.
Points noted from the match for next training session:
• Celebrating team spirit.
• Passing: timing, movement and thinking — for every session.

Crosskeys U11 Squad May 2018

Last Match of the Winter Season against top of the league. A big ask for this squad and they gave me plenty of answers, courtesy of Hatfield.
In the first half we played some quality netball against a very good side. Our movement and passing were consistent against a well-drilled defence and our defending circle pair, Kacey and Juliette, held out against an attack that is used to scoring a lot of goals. The game was fast and furious and we managed to create enough shooting chances to think we were players in this game. Many shouts of, “This is good Netball Keys”. Half-time score 10-5 to Hatfield.
The second half was a different story. It seems to me that our commitment to all-out effort, particularly when chasing determinedly to regain possession in the first half, had tired us out and we were making too many unforced errors. Tiredness and losing possession in passing and receiving go hand in hand; the more possession we lost the more we were chasing the opponents and the game and the more tired we got. The exception to this was our defence who steadfastly managed to break down many of the attacks. They are certainly one of the strongest defences in the league.
We have to find a way to improve our fitness and so retain a better level of possession. An interesting statistic supplied by Tom was that we scored 5 goals directly from 15 centre passes overall; but 4 goals from 8 centre passes in the first half. Something to work on here! Final score 25-7 to Hatfield.
As usual, the matches against the top teams give us food for thought, and point us in the direction to become one of the very top teams. In the winter league, we have finished at least 4th out of 10 and possibly 3rd depending on other results. A commendable result for our first full league adventure.
POM voted by Hatfield Squad: Kacey — deservedly for double-figure interceptions in the defending circle.
Coach POM: The whole squad for their sticking with it and determination not to give up.
Our Squad: Kacey(capt), Juliette, Becky, Izabelle, Millie, Gracie(vice-capt) and Rhiana.
Thanks to Joan for coaching on the day, Louise for her coaching on Wednesdays, to Carol for her help, and Tom for recording some stats for me on the match, which will help with coaching next week and to Pat for umpiring. What a team! Thanks to all the parents for their support on the day. Praise is due for all the team’s spirited efforts.
Points noted from the match for attention and practice in next training session:
• Fitness
• Timing and movement to drive into the pass to retain that elusive possession
• Coordination in the attacking circle

The new U12 White Squad

Crosskeys have launched a second squad, U12 White, in this summer league to give more of the U12 girls an opportunity to play competitive club match netball and thereby raise the standard of play in the junior club. The Turnford League, a local league which we have entered, is one of the toughest in the country – the U16 National Champions come from this league. So we are in at the deep end. Our players, except one, have not played competitive match netball before and they are up against teams who have played in this league for two years or more.
Today’s match gave us some hope that we will progress and make our way in this league with our peers and emulate the success of the U12s Purple. We had a squad of 11 today and everyone played their part. We did show that we can move the ball fluently down the court, accompanied by encouraging shouts from the coach “Well done Keys, that’s good netball”, which bodes well for our future involvement. We are still developing formations and encouraging our players to try different positions and combinations with a few worried looks; but there is a good spirit and an air of resilience in this squad. A work just starting but in progress. We lost to a good Rangers team 42-10.
POM voted by Rangers Squad: Grace — deservedly for being the glue that held the attack together.
Coach POM: Kacey for boundless energy and never say die attitude at Centre, and Ruby M for emerging from timidity and stage fright in the first quarter, into a go-getting attacking player.
Congratulations to all the squad for throwing themselves into this venture with good heart and commitment. Let’s roll.
Our Squad: Grace(capt), Ruby M, Ruby C, Melaina, Kacey, Kiara, Bronte, Evie, Molly, Alessia, Zara.
Thanks to coaches Wendy, Lisa and Marion for taking on the extra work for this venture, and Jackie for her even-handed, safe umpiring. And the parents for supporting the squad in this new venture.
Points noted from the match for next training session:
• Passing: timing, movement and thinking — for every session.
• More importantly, winning at life.

Crosskeys U11s Netball Squad April 2018

My first Tournament with the U11s – a bit of an up-and-downer. My daughter once said to me that playing netball for some length of time was like winning at life. Today’s experience gave me some insight into what she meant!
The first Match we drew 3-3 in fair style and, allowing for us to get used to 2 halves of 4 minutes, we seemed set to do ok. The 7th and last match we won in blistering style, with the squad really switching on and doing consistently in that match a lot of basic play: good passing — made possible by good movement away and driving into the pass, that really pleases the coaches and entertains our parents and supporters. Also, the interplay between Gracie and Rhiana in and out of the circle as twin GAs paid off. It’s so good to see that they can all play that well and coupled with the determination in this squad, bodes well for the future.
I think it’s true to say that in our group of 7 only one team outclassed us and the squad picked themselves up from this defeat to turn in an astonishing performance in the last match. And drawing and losing other games was our not coming good with the basics, rather than the opposition outplaying us.
Final Results Won 2, Drew 2, lost 3
Coaches POM: Kacey.
Squad: Kacey(Capt), Juliet, Darcey, Becky, Hannah, Gracie(Vice-capt), Rhiana, Ruby, Lily.
Thanks to Louise and Joan for taking outside training sessions in between matches to try to ground some of the ideas of good play. And to the parents for their good-hearted support. And finally a big thank you to the organising committee for putting on such a successful and enjoyable tournament.

The first match of the summer league and we had to take on a number of unexpected mishaps. Our umpire, Pat had to contend with her car breaking down but still managed to arrange to be available to be picked up so that we arrived just in time. Two of our usual squad had withdrawn previously. But unfortunately, and for good reasons, two of our squad couldn’t make it on the day. So we took to the court with just 6 players playing in an untried formation. But this squad is a spirited bunch. And fought hard for every quarter. We improved every quarter losing by a couple of goals in each quarter but got it together to win the last quarter 3-2.
Our defence of Kacey and Juliette, without the protection of a WD, were outstanding and showed how they have developed as a combination and how well they play under pressure. And how well they manage when decisions go against them. Milly, Darcey, Ruby and Rhiana eventually were to prove an effective attacking combination. Final score: we lost 9-15.
Thanks to all the parents for their support in the struggle on the day. Praise is due for all the team’s efforts.
POM voted by Cheshunt Squad: Milly — deservedly in only her second match for Crosskeys.
Coach POM: Rhiana showing such determination.
Our Squad: Kacey(capt), Juliette, Milly, Darcey, Ruby and Rhiana.
Thanks to Louise for stepping in to organise the team, for her coaching and encouraging the team in unusually difficult circumstances, and to Pat for her resourcefulness and her even-handed, cheerful, umpiring.
Points noted from the match for practice in next training session:
It has to be:
• How to manage and overcome feelings of frustration and disappointment, with a depleted squad, and when many decisions go against you and still maintain your game and your determination to play your best in a game.
• Passing: timing, movement and thinking — for every session!