Senior national netball team head coach Julene Meyer says there is a united drive to uplift, develop and grow the sport code in Namibia, after 40 local netball coaches converged in the capital to attend the first-ever netball skill development courses for coaches.
Scheduled from 10 to 14 July, the courses are currently being conducted at the Windhoek Gymnasium courts.
Speaking to Desert Radio recently, Meyer said in terms of developing netball in the country, the best way to start is to assist and upskill local coaches.
“That is why this week we are combining a national training camp with a skills’ development course for the coaches, so that we can use the national team players, as well as those who are in the training camp.”
“We can use them (players) and can actually demonstrate the skills that we need to teach, and these coaches attending can actually practise with these national players.
“As to the new skills that we are going to teach, we are looking forward to and it will be a very busy week alternating between the players’ training camp and the skills’ development course for coaches,” she said.
Meyers expressed her excitement about the programme, noting that this is the best way to reach all players in Namibia so that every coach attending can go back to their respective programmes.
“They can integrate and implement and grow their own programme, including developing themselves.
“It’s the first time we are hosting it, and we plan to have it move around where the demand is and teach the skills development and upskill coaching programme.”
The national head coach, who will conduct the skills’ development course, said there were a lot of requests submitted but they opted to have a reasonable number of participants because of the quality and practical execution needed.
“We want them (coaches) to practically do it, you can have a level one or two coaching qualification but when you are at the netball courts, you are not confident to do it. We want to ensure coaches get the practical exposure and can actually be confident and go back with confidence.”
She said interest for a similar course came from Erongo and other regions, and already the Khomas region has submitted an application for a second course.
“It seems like local coaches are hungry to learn and share their knowledge and are excited about the opportunity to get the exposure and the needed growth.
“We are happy to share what we know with the coaches. It will be a jam-packed programme, starting with attacking skills and to ensure that these coaches – who are from primary and high schools, clubs and high performance level – know to actually teach these skills the best way possible for the appropriate age, whether at the beginner, intermediate or advance level.”
She said the course will also touch on the technical aspects of the game, like basic movement skills, landing, turning, passing, catching, space awareness and decision making.
“We want everyone to train effectively and at high intensity at whatever level they are working at, to get those players that they are working with to their full potential as quickly as possible,” she reiterated.
She said if the system runs smoothly, the under-19 and 21, including the senior national team, will benefit from this programme, as well as coaches who can and apply what they have picked up to their respective clubs and the various levels.
MTC NETBALL PREMIERSHIP
Meyer said though the MTC netball league started on a slow note in the first leg, with huge score margins recorded, the league has nonetheless progressed positively, judging from the score margins in the second leg.
However, the coach is worried about the consistency of the teams, considering comparisons between the first and second leg.
She said the MTC netball premiership is a good platform to get exposure for the players.
“I have seen talent that I am interested in and will possibly extend an invitation to start training with us.
“The growth of netball is heading in the right direction, last year we had four regions, today we have nine regions with active netball regional netball leagues.”
Meyer said she will soon travel to the northern regions to scout for talent.
