Netball Tour to Spain – An Unforgettable Experience
It was a very early start when the alarm clock went off at 3:15 am, as we set off for Spain with 26 Year 8 and Year 9 students for a five‑day Netball tour. Thankfully, everyone arrived on time, including our coach driver, and, most importantly, everyone had their passports! A positive start to the trip.
After a smooth journey to Heathrow, the girls moved efficiently through check‑in and passport control in their travel groups with Mrs Purgavie, Miss Phillips and myself. We even had time to grab some breakfast before boarding our flight to Barcelona.
Following our arrival in Barcelona and navigating the new immigration procedures, we boarded our coach and headed into the city centre. The students enjoyed a walk around some of Barcelona’s highlights, including Gaudí’s famous architecture, Las Ramblas and La Boqueria Market.
One of the standout features of the tour was the impeccable behaviour of the students throughout. They represented both the school and themselves with maturity, kindness and an excellent team spirit, exactly what you would expect from a Netball squad.
After a scenic 90‑minute drive along the coast to Salou, we arrived at our hotel in time to check in, enjoy some well‑earned time in the pool, have dinner and get an early night, much needed after such an early start to the day.
Coaching and Competition
Day two began with breakfast followed by a Netball coaching masterclass. All students trained together in one venue, enjoying a high‑quality session that was both challenging and rewarding. The girls learnt a great deal and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
After returning to the hotel for a late lunch and some recovery time in the pool, we went for a walk around Salou, finishing the afternoon with ice cream and a little shopping.
Day three brought another early start as we split into two groups for tournament play. The Under 13 A and B teams headed off with Mrs Preya and Miss Phillips, while the Under 14 team travelled with me. Excitement was high – and the day certainly lived up to expectations.
Outstanding Results
The tournaments were a huge success:
Under 13 B narrowly missed out on a semi‑final place by just one goal.
Under 13 A went on to win the entire tournament – an incredible achievement.
The Under 14 team competed in a league of 10 teams, playing nine matches. They finished second overall, losing only to the eventual winners. All players took part in every match, demonstrating excellent teamwork and squad spirit throughout.
Umpires awarded votes for Most Valuable Player (MVP) in each match, which were totalled at the end of the tournaments.
Under 14 MVP: Bella K
Under 13 A MVP: Amy C
Under 13 B MVP: Michele O
While these individual performances were outstanding, every single player across all three teams should be extremely proud of their contribution.
Final Days and Return Home
Friday provided a well‑deserved break from Netball with a trip to PortAventura Theme Park. The teachers bravely volunteered to guard the bags while the girls tackled some of the more daring rides! It was a fantastic day filled with sunshine, laughter and great memories.
On Saturday 11 April, we packed our bags and departed at 12:15 pm for the journey back to Barcelona Airport. The return journey went smoothly, and we arrived back at Notre Dame School at approximately 7:30 pm, tired but extremely happy.
Thank You
A huge thank you to all parents and families for trusting us with the girls on this tour. We thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them and were incredibly proud to see how much they have developed, not only as Netball players, but as supportive teammates and role models. Competing so successfully against schools from across the UK made the experience even more special.
Here’s to the next Netball tour! 🏐✈️
All of the photos have been uploaded to Firefly and can be seen by clicking on the link below:
