Ballito pupil Summer Jolie Pritchard, 14, has earned selection for four provincial teams: soccer, outdoor netball, action netball and hockey. Picture: Shelley Kjonstad Independent Newspapers
Being selected for a sports provincial team is a big deal: being selected for four ‒ and at the age of 14 ‒ is an outstanding achievement.
Summer Jolie Pritchard will represent KZN in soccer, outdoor netball, action netball and hockey.
The Ballito teen, who attends Ashton International College, said her passion for sport led her to try out all the different sports, which she emphasised was a privilege.
The Grade 8 pupil has been playing outdoor netball for eight years, action netball for four years, hockey for three years and, even though she has only been playing soccer for a few months, it has quickly become her favourite sport of the four.
“Soccer is challenging because it’s new to me and I enjoy playing. I feel it could take me a long way.”
Being selected is a tough process of competitions, through district trials and if you make the district team, provincial trials.
“Each year I get selected it makes me feel proud of my hard work and dedication. I feel like I’m growing as a sportswoman and it challenges me to push myself to improve.”
Even though she is now part of four provincial teams, and plays all four throughout the year, she said it would not be difficult to juggle school work and sport because sport is seasonal.
“Sports are played at different times of the year. They do sometimes overlap but for now they can be juggled. Most of my provincial sport training is over the weekend. But if I have school or provincial commitments that clash, both parties are understanding and a compromise can be made.
“When it comes to balancing school work and sports it isn’t too difficult for me at the moment. I am a quick learner and I don’t spend too much time studying.”
However, Summer said she had to choose between the inter provincial tours if there was a clash.
“This does occasionally happen with outdoor netball and hockey. I wish the organisers would liaise with each other so that it would allow students like me to participate in both these inter provincial tournaments.”
She said training for each sport helped her to stay fit and focused.
“The sports I’m involved in are about good hand, eye coordination, require the ability to be able to read the game and be a good teammate.
“Action netball is different to outdoor netball: the game is played with nets all around the court, the ball never goes out of play as you can use the nets to play off, it’s much faster and a few of the rules are different. I enjoy the challenge, being part of a team, trying out new things and being competitive.”
Summer hopes to be a professional soccer player, even though she has just begun her career in the sport.