Optimizing the Zone

Our home run into the five final games for us was amazing. We took our own destiny into our hands to ensure we made the top three and were in contention to make the finals. With a home Elimination Final we gave it our all, but after falling short, took plenty of learnings from the game. The success of the season meant we had players and management moving into national roles. Shannon, Kate and Tiana was named in the Silver Fern Squad with George Fisher named in the English Roses. While Dayna Kaio the team manager was also called up to work with the Silver Ferns along with Steel’s strength and conditioning coach Michael Jacobs. Head Coach Reinga Bloxham was lined up to coach NNZ’s development side, NZ A however planned games were cancelled. At the end of the 2021 season, we bade farewell to our Physiotherapist Corina Ngatuere. After ten years of service to the Steel, Corina’s burgeoning private practice in Invercargill, finally absorbed her fully. Corina is a powerhouse of expertise and care. She was with our players as they rode the highs and lows of their career, becoming not only their physiotherapist but their friend. We wish to thank Corina for her diligence, hard work and sacrifice for the players she cared for.

NATIONAL NETBALL LEAGUE

Jo Morrison was re-appointed Head Coach of the Southern Blast team along with co-assistant coaches Lana Morrison and Abbey McKenzie. After an extremely disrupted 2020 season, the management and players were eager to get back out on court and compete against the other NNL teams from around the country. The Blast played eight games, finishing the season in fifth. It was great to see many of the Blast players gain opportunities to train and play within in the Southern Steel environment, with five players brought in to cover ANZ Premiership games and two taking the court. Few of us will forget the stellar performance of Grace Namana filling in for George Fisher against the Magic in Dunedin. It was great reward for the hard work these players had put in and showed a great connection and pathway from the Blast to the Steel. NATIONAL AGE GROUP PERFORMANCES

Three teams from the South zone attended the U18 National Tournament in Rotorua in July. Wakatipu, Dunedin and Invercargill displayed some excellent netball skills throughout the week with Invercargill and Dunedin matching up against each other in their last game to decide the final placings. Invercargill the eventual winners, claiming 6th place overall and Dunedin finishing in 7th. Fantastic to have two teams from the south in the top eight, this bodes well for the future. NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CAMP

NNZ in conjunction with the South zone identified a number of secondary school players to attend the National Development Camp - South Island, held in Ashburton in January 2021. Ten players were selected from around our zone to be part of a nationwide programme to provide the top secondary school players an opportunity to be immersed in a three-day programme and be considered for selection into the NZ Secondary School trials later in the year. The NDC-South Island is one of three camps being held around the country, with 85 athletes attending. The camp programme includes fitness assessments, specialist coaching, NetballSmart screening and workshops, drug free sport workshops, individual player improvement plans and match play. It is an action packed three days for both players and coaches.