Netball coaching is not only all about educating your players to be skilful it is also about teaching them that possession is the name of the game.
Southern Steel, a team that represents the lower most region of the South Island in New Zealand, are playing copy book patience in the attack end.
Robyn Broughton, Coach, has been quoted on the sideline as using the word ‘Clinical’. This is a great word and very difficult to achieve.
After following the ANZ Championship closely, Southern Steel would have to be the most improved team of the season. They have improved from week to week and in all areas of the court. Their most impressive area of improvement would have to be their patience to get that ball to their shooters. Megan Dehn, a former Diamond and who was also muted to join the Firebirds this year, decided to stay in those bitterly cold conditions in Invercargill, New Zealand and remain with a team that seems to show ticker and discipline.
Their approach to the game is dissected down to basics and possession. Their ability to put on a defence zone on and change to one on one is a communication between all seven players. Watch their centre passes with Megan, GA, taking nearly every centre pass allowing the speedy WA to take the next drive on the head of the circle. This is opposite to the Australian way of the WA taking centre passes then involving either the GA or GS as the next option.
If you get a chance to see this team in action, watch how they pass behind if there is nothing on in front. They have been taught to take the pressure off their front line and let each other regroup so they can start their strategy again. Throwing back allows the whole attack end to sort out their attacking drives and get the human backpacks off them so they can attack their circle again and find a shooter.
Also notice the way the Centre and WA take the pressure off the shooters and give them ball that doesn’t turn the shooters inside out before they put a shot up.
To compare Steel to the other sides in the comp, take note of the attack ends. As coaches we can learn by watching and for me Southern Steel have been the dark horse and if they stick with Robyn’s game plan the finals are theirs for the taking.
Patience is so important. Seven attackers, seven defenders and all seven require ‘Patience’.
