Plan aimed at developing toplevel coaching skills

NETBALL New Zealand will put its five ANZ Premiership coaches to work for the Silver Ferns, New Zealand A and Fast5 Ferns teams for the coming international season.

The move is designed to help build toplevel coaching depth across the county.

Southern Steel coach Reinga Bloxham will get the opportunity to renew her partnership with newlyappointed Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua.

The pair worked together at the Steel in 2016 and will join forces when the Silver Ferns take on the Australian Diamonds in the Constellation Cup, which starts next month.

Taurua said it was important for her to be working alongside New Zealand’s ANZ Premiership coaches.

‘‘They have the players for such a large amount of the season, so it is crucial to our success that they have a strong involvement with the national programme,’’ she said.

‘‘Their involvement not only gives them an insight into the Silver Ferns programme, it provides opportunities for professional development.

‘‘The time we spend working together in the international environment will help strengthen the relationship when the players are back in the ANZ Premiership.’’

NNZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie said it was exciting to provide ANZ Premiership coaches the opportunity to be involved with the game at the next level.

‘‘The alignment between zones and the Silver Ferns is crucial to the success of our high performance programmes,’’ Wyllie said.

‘‘An area that was highlighted in the recent review was the need to help grow our New Zealand coaches.’’

Former Northern Mystics coach Deb Fuller has been named the Silver Ferns assistant coach.

She will work alongside Taurua.

She will also coach the Fast5 Ferns and will be assisted by current Mystics coach Helene Wilson.

The Fast5 Ferns will compete at the Netball World Series in Melbourne from October 2728 where they will meet Australia, England, Jamaica, Malawi and South Africa.

The NZA coaches have also been confirmed.

Pulse coach Yvette McCauslandDurie is set to guide the team along with Northern Stars’ Kiri Wills, who will act as assistant coach.

Both have been in the international arena before.

McCauslandDurie was the former Silver Ferns assistant and Wills was at the helm when the New Zealand under21 team won the Netball World Youth Cup last year.

The duo face a challenging campaign.

NZA is set to take on South Africa, Australia and England in the build up to the Netball Quad Series and Constellation Cup.

Meanwhile, Tactix coach Marianne DelaneyHoshek has been called in as a second assistant for the Silver Ferns in this month’s Netball Quad Series, to work alongside Taurua.

DelaneyHoshek has completed her first full season in charge of the Tactix and took them to the ANZ Premiership Finals for the first time.

She has also been in charge of NZA and the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in the past.

The Netball Quad Series, which includes The Silver Ferns, England Roses, Australian Diamonds and the South Africa Proteas, starts in Auckland on September 15.