Our journey through the Excel Pathway
"Our journey to the England Excel trial this season started a few years back. We were both playing netball in the Chelmsford and District Junior League (Megan Clark for Chelmsford Junior Netball Club and Holly Sims for Tegate). Our coaches, recognising that we had talent, put us forward for East Essex County trials. We were both successful!"
Holly attended U14 Satellite Academy in September 2008 and then the following year 2009 progressing through East Essex County trials, Tri–County trials and to Regional Academy trials where she was devastated to learn that she had not quite made it into the Academy but was a reserve. As such, Holly was invited to train with the Academy girls at a newly formed Regional Excel Extension Centre twice a month and to a couple of the Academy sessions. In the Spring of 2010 a lot of the Academy girls got invites to England trials in April 2010. Holly was gutted not to get one but this made her even more determined to want to go further. She worked so hard she went to any training session that was available to her. She was a body for coaching sessions, played as many matches as she could and after junior training at Tegate she stayed and trained with the Regional Squad.
Meanwhile, Megan was selected for the Satellite Academy in Sept 2009 at the age of 14. The hard work paid off again for both and in the Spring/Summer of 2010 Megan (Yr 9) and Holly (Yr 10) both successfully progressed through East Essex County, Tri–County and Regional trials and exceeding expectations and goals for that year, making it all the way to Maverick Youth Trials!
"We couldn’t believe it when our names got called for the Mavericks Youth squad - we were so excited but then we found out that because there had been so many talented players and some girls missing there would be a further selection in September 2010 at the first training session where the final squad would be named. We were now desperate to get selected into Mavericks Youth and couldn’t bear the suspense."
Whilst they waited, Megan sadly said goodbye to Chelmsford Junior Netball Club and joined Eastwood Netball Club where she was invited to join their Senior Regional Squad and Holly was invited into Tegate’s Senior Regional Squad.
"The day of the second Mavericks Youth trial came. There were so many talented players and we were even more nervous than we had been before but we just went out and played the best netball that we could during the skills and match play and hoped that we had done enough to impress the coaches. When we found out we had made it we were so overjoyed all the hard work and effort had paid off! It meant everything to us both. We both started training with Mavericks Youth at the start of the season, a big and exciting step up for both of us! After many great training sessions and a few quarters of match play each, we have had an amazing season learning from the coaches and older girls at Mavericks. We also continued training at our Regional Excel sessions twice a month and the increase in training and standard of play benefitted us hugely. In December 2010 we were completely shocked to find out that we were both invited to England Excel trials. What an honour!"
Unbelievably Megan had recently injured her ankle and was out of action and Holly was away on a Christmas family holiday so neither could attend.
"We were devastated! We never gave up hope and after such a great season, we were keen to progress as far as possible, and were so excited when we got the opportunity of a second trial for the England Excel, Megan for U17s and Holly for U19s, in March 2011. The trials were during a hectic weekend, we both were selected to play for Mavericks Youth in Newcastle on the Saturday, and after an exciting win against Team Northumbria we made the long journey back down to Bath where the trials were held on the Sunday. Despite our trials being at separate times, we managed to see each other in between for some good wishes and a hug! We went in with no expectations, looking forward to enjoying the experience and learning from the trial environment. The trials were very nerve racking, with many other girls who had been in the system before taking the lead in the warm up, before the introductory speech by Jan Crabtree, the National Excel head coach. After one tricky drill practice, we spent the remaining few hours of the trial in match play, where we both gave it our all to secure our places in the squad. It was then a nervous 24 hour wait, and a website crash made the wait even longer! When we found out we both got in, we were so excited and happy, and nervous for Easter camp!"
"Easter camp was held over 5 days in Sheffield during the Easter holidays, and was such a brilliant experience where we both learnt a lot and made lots of friends. When we first arrived we were very nervous, but the fun team building games we played were a real ice breaker, and before long we were all laughing together, and making friends. We had early morning training which consisted of fitness, wall work and skills sessions, as well as match play and education sessions when we were taught about injury prevention and time management. Of course our favourite part was saved for the afternoons, ice baths! It was very tiring as the long days were action packed with training, but it was worth it as we had such a great time! We will both be training hard for Summer Camp during the summer holidays in which we will be trialling to remain in our squads. It has been a fantastic experience so far and we have formed such a great supportive friendship along the way with each other we both hope to progress to as high a level as possible, and are very excited for our futures in netball!!"
Megan Clark and Holly Sims