Isles netball player makes preliminary Commonwealth Games squad

Lerwick netball player Sophie May Leyland has been selected for the preliminary Scottish squad for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

A student at Glasgow Caledonian University, she has combined her first year degree studies with extensive netball training and competition. She played in the Glasgow Premier Division for Glasgow Saltires and was selected for the Scotland under-21 squad in 2011/12.

She was recently asked to train with the Scottish national senior squad and this week she received an email from Denise Holland, the national coach, confirming that she had been selected for the Commonwealth Games “long squad”.

Netball Scotland will select the national squad and Glasgow Wild Cats team from this squad for each competition in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games.

Full-time training for the whole squad will commence on 16th July until the start of university term in September, which means an early return to Glasgow for Leyland. Spread over six days per week the training consists of 19 hours of court sessions, three hours of weight training and several fitness sessions.

This selection automatically means that Leyland is now a member of the Scottish Institute of Sport and will receive support in areas such as nutrition, physiotherapy and strength and conditioning.

She has also been re-selected for the 2012/13 under-21 squad and will be released for under-21 training when required. The main aim for this squad is the World Youth Games being held in Glasgow in August 2013.

Leyland said she was thrilled at the prospect of joining the national squad but at the same time realised that a lot of hard work lies ahead. At this level, players can be added into the squad and de-selected depending upon training and competitive performance.