Junior netters learn from Silver Ferns

Junior netball players had two of the best in the game give them pointers during the week-long Easter holiday programme at the Telecom Sports Arena.

Nineteen keen players aged between 10 and 15 took part in the grassroots development programme where they not only learned new netball techniques but made new friendships.

The highlight for the future national netters was meeting former Silver Fern coach Ruth Aitken.

Aitken shared with the young players just what it takes to be the best netball player with the local girls soaking in all her knowledge.

The junior netballers also met current national netball coach Marg Foster who herself is a former Silver Fern.

Foster put the young girls through their paces with some alertness games to get the girls into the habit of keeping their eyes on the ball.

Netball Cook Islands development officer Luciana Matenga who ran the programme says the young players were really excited to meet both women and eager to taken in any tips and tricks they had to share.

“The girls really showed a lot of discipline, commitment and talent. Each girl brought something different to the table and they got on very well together considering they were from different netball clubs and schools,” says Matenga.

She says that after all the formal ball skills, defending and attacking plans and learning more about the role of each position on the netball courts – the girls took part in an Easter egg hunt.

“They deserved it all after a whole week of hard work,” adds Matenga.

Matenga says the programme would not have been a success without the enthusiasm of the players and funding from the Australian Sports Commission and Pacific Netball Partnership.

“I would like to thank them so much for giving these kids something they love to do in the holidays, something that I love too and to help revive netball in our community and our country.

“Thank you ladies for inspiring these young girls to grow up and one day represent the Cook Islands in netball.”

Matenga would also like to thank the parents for allowing her to spend time with their daughters and mould them with good netball habits.

Matenga is looking forward to more holiday netball programmes in the future.