Plummer: finding the hidden gems
July 26, 2015
New Zealand Netball fans have a love-hate relationship with Norma Plummer but there can be no denying that the new South African coach always lifts the game into the spotlight –and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
It was just one line which set the tone for Norma Plummer’s relationship with Netball fans in New Zealand.
In one of her first acts as Australian coach she was famously quoted as calling the Silver Ferns “a bunch of scrubbers” – something she insists was taken out of context in a remark made off the record.
It hit the headlines and immediately made Plummer public enemy number one whenever the two great netballing nations went into battle.
Plummer chuckles about it now and says that line “comes with the territory these days”.
Join the Silver Ferns on the road to NWC2015 – secure your seat to see them take on the SPAR Proteas!
She holds little back when talking about the game she loves, raising the ire of some – but the hard-nosed coach is far from deterred and admits this side of the ditch is one of her favourite places to visit.
“You know if I’m anywhere in the world and someone comes up to say ‘Hi Norma’, it’s always a Kiwi,” she says with a laugh. “Everybody knows you which says a lot about the profile of Netball in New Zealand and that is something to be envious about. I really like New Zealand.”
She hopes Netball around the world will one day enjoy a similar profile as it does here but that begins with lifting the level of the game, which is where Plummer believes coaches like herself – and a number of other international mentors – can help.
“I’ve always felt that we’ve got a sensational game but it needs to go further doesn’t it?” says Plummer. “If people like myself don’t get out and share our knowledge then that’s going to be sad for the game.
“There will be some good young coaches there who could pick up giving them a bit more knowledge and that’s often all that’s needed to make some of these other countries really competitive.”
Read more: Norma Plummer Part 1
Read more: Norma Plummer Part 2
Read more: Norma Plummer Part 3
The talent across the globe is barely being tapped, she says.
Plummer got quite a shock when arriving in South Africa to find out what their playing numbers actually were.
“One of the media guys at a press conference said ‘Norma, you know we’ve got 4.2million players’ and I actually had to ask twice to confirm it,” she laughs.
“I was blown away – we’ve (Australia) only have about 1.3million and you guys (New Zealand) probably have less. When you stop and think about it, they are missing out on a heck of a lot of talent.”
Plummer pointed to the lack of infrastructures, academies and netballing institutes in nations like a “playing numbers-rich” South Africa, although the country had just established a new league to give more players exposure at the top level.
“I have no doubt there are a few gems hiding away there – we just have to find them.”
Next: What Norma Plummer thinks of the new-look Silver Ferns side and the challenges the defending world champion Australian Diamonds face at next month’s Netball World Cup in Sydney.
Want more great insights like this, PLUS cool videos and special offers? Join the team and become a SilverFan today!
It was just one line which set the tone for Norma Plummer’s relationship with Netball fans in New Zealand.
In one of her first acts as Australian coach she was famously quoted as calling the Silver Ferns “a bunch of scrubbers” – something she insists was taken out of context in a remark made off the record.
It hit the headlines and immediately made Plummer public enemy number one whenever the two great netballing nations went into battle.
Plummer chuckles about it now and says that line “comes with the territory these days”.
Join the Silver Ferns on the road to NWC2015 – secure your seat to see them take on the SPAR Proteas!
She holds little back when talking about the game she loves, raising the ire of some – but the hard-nosed coach is far from deterred and admits this side of the ditch is one of her favourite places to visit.
“You know if I’m anywhere in the world and someone comes up to say ‘Hi Norma’, it’s always a Kiwi,” she says with a laugh. “Everybody knows you which says a lot about the profile of Netball in New Zealand and that is something to be envious about. I really like New Zealand.”
She hopes Netball around the world will one day enjoy a similar profile as it does here but that begins with lifting the level of the game, which is where Plummer believes coaches like herself – and a number of other international mentors – can help.
“I’ve always felt that we’ve got a sensational game but it needs to go further doesn’t it?” says Plummer. “If people like myself don’t get out and share our knowledge then that’s going to be sad for the game.
“There will be some good young coaches there who could pick up giving them a bit more knowledge and that’s often all that’s needed to make some of these other countries really competitive.”
Read more: Norma Plummer Part 1
Read more: Norma Plummer Part 2
Read more: Norma Plummer Part 3
The talent across the globe is barely being tapped, she says.
Plummer got quite a shock when arriving in South Africa to find out what their playing numbers actually were.
“One of the media guys at a press conference said ‘Norma, you know we’ve got 4.2million players’ and I actually had to ask twice to confirm it,” she laughs.
“I was blown away – we’ve (Australia) only have about 1.3million and you guys (New Zealand) probably have less. When you stop and think about it, they are missing out on a heck of a lot of talent.”
Plummer pointed to the lack of infrastructures, academies and netballing institutes in nations like a “playing numbers-rich” South Africa, although the country had just established a new league to give more players exposure at the top level.
“I have no doubt there are a few gems hiding away there – we just have to find them.”
Next: What Norma Plummer thinks of the new-look Silver Ferns side and the challenges the defending world champion Australian Diamonds face at next month’s Netball World Cup in Sydney.
Want more great insights like this, PLUS cool videos and special offers? Join the team and become a SilverFan today!