Kate Heffernan writes new chapter off court
23 May 2025
Kate Heffernan is inspiring the next generation of netballers through the pages of a book.
Together with fellow Silver Fern Maddy Gordon, the pair have joined forces with Jason Niles to launch My Sports Notes – sport-specific planners designed by athletes to help to guide thinking and processes to enhance performance.
“It’s just something different and we both thought it was such a cool idea so we wanted to get involved,” Heffernan said.
With the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel co-captain sidelined for the opening rounds of the ANZ Premiership after a recent knee injury, it reinforces the importance of athletes pursuing opportunities outside of their sporting endeavours.
The Netty Notes journal stemmed from the elite Ferns environment where the concept plays an integral role.
“We all love using our Ferns book. It has a lot of questions we answer, a lot of tips and key advice the coaches want us to know and focus on,” Heffernan said.
“We recognise the importance of it as athletes and realised how valuable it would be for young aspiring netballers to have so they can start developing those goal setting and reflection skills early.
“It wasn’t really until I was in the Ferns that I used a notebook and it took me a while to get the hang of it, but once I did, I found out how helpful it was.”
Growing up in a digital world where technology reigns supreme, it merged old-school techniques with a modern vibe.
“We’ve grown up with phones and all that technology so it’s just nice to still have that skill of writing things down. It’s a great way to learn and remember things but also to have something to refer back to.
“I know it would have been a great skill to have developed earlier instead of having to learn it later. I remember writing things down when I was younger but it didn’t stick as well until I got into the Ferns and had this resource available to me in that space. There was a real motivation to use it.”
All facets of sport were incorporated.
“There’s lots of sections in the book and it’s like a journal if you want it to be. Everything is covered – from food to the highs and lows of sport and all the little boxes that need to be ticked if you want to get to the top level,” Heffernan said.
“It’s about being aware of all of these things and developing good habits which will enable you to really push for the next step in your career.
“It’s a great wee tool for aspiring netballers and gives them something to refer back to.”
Even when tough losses or injuries strike, it had a role to play.
“Instead of keeping things to yourself, you can write it down, dump it and move on. That’s really important when you hit those bumps in the road in sport.”
The journals are available online at www.mysportsnotes.com
The Steel will be hoping for plenty of positives to write about when they take on the Northern Mystics in Dunedin on Monday night. Tickets are available online from www.iticket.co.nz.
