Refentse Scott, a 17-year-old netball player from Midrand's Reddam House Waterfall school, has made a remarkable recovery from a serious injury to earn a spot in the South African Under-17 netball squad. Three months ago, Scott collided with a pole during a game, suffering a concussion and temporary vision impairment. Despite the setback, she has fully recovered and is now part of the team that won silver at the recent Confederation of Students Sports of Southern Africa (Cossasa) Games in Zimbabwe.
Scott's journey to the national squad required discipline, focus, and dedication. She has been playing netball since grade 1 and tried several sports growing up before settling on netball. According to Scott, netball was the most fun and fulfilling sport for her. Her path to selection involved several layers, including ordinary school trials, six rounds of trials to determine the Gauteng team, and a final round of trials to narrow down the group to the national squad.
Scott's injury occurred during a district tournament in early June, where she chased a ball out of play and ran into a pole while looking up to tap it back into play. The collision left her with a concussion, impaired vision, headaches, and tension at the back of her neck. Doctors kept her out of school and sports for three weeks while she underwent rehabilitation, including strengthening exercises for her back muscles and cognitive skills.
With support from her mother, school, and friends, Scott was back on court by the end of June, in time for the Gauteng schools netball tournament. This enabled her to participate in trials for selection to the South African U-17 netball squad. Scott's school provided academic support, allowing her to catch up on her studies once she returned. Her mother arranged regular physiotherapy appointments during her recovery.
Scott's hard work and determination paid off when she found out she had made the national squad. She was one of 35 players selected from the SA Schools Netball tournament, and her focus on technique, particularly intercepting the ball safely, contributed to her success. Scott plays goalkeeper and captains her school's first team.
The SA Under-17 team, which included Scott, won silver at the Cossasa Games in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, in mid-August. Scott was the only pupil from Reddam House Waterfall selected for the squad, and her school fully supported her participation. The school reassured her that they would help her catch up on her studies when she returned.
Balancing school and elite sport remains a challenge for Scott, who hopes to study health science and become a biokineticist. She aims to continue playing netball through matric next year and ultimately make the Spar Proteas team, South Africa's senior national team. Scott's long-term goal is to make a career out of netball, and her recent achievements have brought her closer to realizing her dreams.
Key points
- Refentse Scott overcame a concussion to earn a spot in the SA Under-17 netball squad.
- The 17-year-old player aims to make the Spar Proteas team, South Africa's senior national team.
- Scott's journey to selection required discipline, focus, and dedication, as well as support from her school, family, and friends.
