When it comes to life – and sport - it’s not always about being the best, sometimes it’s just about not giving up, Warrnambool touch footballer Melinda Louden says.
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Louden, 38, has spent the past four weekends travelling to Melbourne to train for this weekend’s State Cup in Melbourne.
On March 7 she will join the Victorian women’s masters team in Coffs Harbour for the National Touch League competition.
Louden plays in a mixed team in the recently revived Warrnambool competition, but she says its a completely different experience being part of a women’s team.
“My experience in playing in women’s is that I become more involved in the game but I also get to see what I’m capable of,” she said.
Louden started playing touch football as a graduate teacher in Ballarat when she was 22 and has only recently returned to the sport.
“I’m just trying to do whatever I can to increase awareness of the sport because a lot of people don’t even know what it is,” she said.
“It’s a real strategy game.
“It’s also a game that’s reliant on teamwork. The team players can have any ability, they don’t have to be the best of the best.
“The more the team can work together, that’s where the success comes.”
Her preparation for the nationals received a confidence boost on Monday when her team won the Warrnambool competition’s grand final.
“Sometimes life is about not being the best but just turning up, being regular, not giving up and just following through,” she said.
“Success is just following through on what you say you’re going to do.”