Silver Ferns Get Down to Business
It’s been years in the planning and with the 2014 ANZ Championship season done and dusted, focus for the players in the Silver Ferns now turns to the biggest event on the international Netball calendar this year, the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
The team fly out to the United Kingdom on the evening of July 14th, and head straight to the English city of Bath for a week’s acclimatisation before making the journey north to Glasgow.
With three weeks until their bags are zipped up, the team are now deep into preparation mode, having gathered for two four-day training camps in Auckland.
With three Ferns players in Kia Magic now released from ANZ Championship duties, the New Zealand team and management have no more disruptions as they prepare to defend their two-time Commonwealth Games title.
When competing in any Commonwealth Games, all athletes including the Silver Ferns become members of the New Zealand team and are officially called the New Zealand Netball team.
It’s been a time of working on combinations and new tactics with the bulk of the team returning to the Silver Ferns fold after a successful tour of the UK in January. Returning recruits Anna Harrison and Liana Leota are back in the fold following family commitments while debutant Ellen Halpenny is learning the ropes of what it takes to be a part of the Ferns set-up ahead of a pinnacle event.
Logistically, Silver Ferns Operations manager Esther Molloy has been working overtime to ensure a smooth transition as the team prepare to fly half way around the world.
As well as organising the needs of the team including flights, transports and training venues, Molloy has had to organise the two camps and everything leading into and during the event. It’s not until the curtain comes down on another Games campaign that she will be able to relax.
Many of the players’ families are travelling over to Glasgow to soak up the atmosphere and watch the Netball, although they may not see too much of the New Zealand players throughout the 11-day Commonwealth Games. The players will be staying in the athletes village with the thousands other competitors and will be focussed on the prize – a Commonwealth Games gold medal.