Ferns vowing to fight off fatigue
Silver Ferns netball coach Janine Southby admits her side let themselves down with their off-court preparation in last year’s Constellation Cup.
The New Zealand team have resolved to ensure fatigue will not be a factor this year as they prepare for a gruelling series in which they take on Australia four times in 10 days.
The Ferns held a three-day camp in Wellington early last week before reassembling in Auckland on Monday ahead of tomorrow’s opener at Spark Arena.
Southby said the camp focused on off-court systems and on-court work.
“It was about building an awareness among the whole group about the intensity on and off the court of what Constellation Cup means to us this year given there is pretty much four tests in 10 days with travel in New Zealand and Australia in between all that,” said Southby.
“There’s not a lot of turnaround time so we need to make sure the players are prepared for what is going to be required on and off court.”
Faced with a similarly tough schedule in last season’s contest, which the Diamonds won 3-1 to maintain their virtual stranglehold on the transtasman trophy, Southby believes her side struggled to maintain their energy levels
“We certainly know we let ourselves down and I think we were guilty of doing the same things and expecting to get different results, and we’re very aware we have to stay focused and make sure we’re doing what we should be,” she said.
But whereas last year the Ferns were forced to manage several injuries in the squad, Southby said this time they have no such concerns heading into the series.
The player set to be tested the most by the schedule is versatile midcourter Kayla Cullen, who is still getting her match fitness and court