This netball season Waimea College has seen a bit of sibling rivalry going on, with three sets of sisters in the same two netball teams, Waimea 9A and Waimea senior B.
Waimea 9A coach Toni Burn says she noticed after the first couple of practices this year that there were so many siblings in the teams. “I thought it was a bit unusual at the time! They definitely yell for each other at their games, the older ones definitely have some coaching tips for their sisters.” Toni adds, “it’s like a family day out! When their games clash, the girls do the scoreboards for each other.”
The siblings all agree that it is nice having their sisters there as support to help give tips, practice with at home and to vent to if they are having a tough game.
Kaitlin Sampson, the younger of the Sampson sisters, says it’s great having a family member playing the same sport, “you don’t get bored watching!”
Toni states the girls are hugely supportive of each other and their teams. “Lara Goulding and Sofia Sampson joined the Waimea 9A team when they travelled to Christchurch for the South Island Secondary Schools tournament for the under 9 and under 10 teams. Lara umpired at the event and Sofia was the defence assistant coach. We have a theme, which is Team Flamingo, so everything they use has a flamingo on it; books, shirts.. It’s a bonding thing.” Mother of Kaitlin and Sofia, and manager of Waimea 9A, Jackie Sampson, says it works out easier having the girls playing the same sport at the same place, though, “the problem is when they have their games at the same time. It is hard to see them both play!”