Sue Schooling, head coach of UCT, might still be a newcomer to Varsity Netball, but she is one of the most experienced coaches in the competition. Schooling has being ploughing back in the game for 26 years after captaining Western Province in her days. She’s been coaching UCT since last year and is a former tutor of the national U21 and Western Province team. Her alma mater, Queenstown Girls’ High also produced Dianne Williamson, a former captain of the national netball team.
What position did you play in your playing days?
Wing defence and centre.
What is the highest level you played at?
SA top 10.
What made you decide to go into coaching?
I’m passionate about netball and want to give back everything that I learnt and develop young talent.
Which coach has played the biggest role in your coaching career?
Hantie du Toit laid the groundwork and Marlene Wagner (former Proteas coach), Doreen Liston and Marina Klussman all played a role.
Who was the very first team you coached?
The U18 team and Peninsula Girls’ High School.
What’s your biggest accomplishment as the coach of UCT?
Winning a Varsity Netball fixture (against VUT)!
Most memorable win in Varsity Netball until now?
Our victory (by 53-39) over VUT this year and match against NWU-Pukke in 2015. Although we did not win the match (going down 37-69) we played like demons.
And what’s that one defeat that still gives you nightmares?
A match against Kovsies in Bloemfontein last year where we had so many injuries simultaneously that we had no players left on the bench! (UCT lost 19-91, their second heaviest defeat in the competition).
How do you try to stay up to date in terms of new netball strategies and coaching methods?
I attend all courses possible, do continuously research on the internet, watch every game on TV and analyse in depth. I also gather as much help and information possible from others.
If you were asked to come up with one new innovation for Varsity Netball, what would that be?
I think more marketing needs to be directed at the schools and we need to be somehow more innovative when it comes to enticing them to the matches.
