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The players formed a group at the Silver Ferns training camp in Wellington last week.
A frustrated lady Noeline Taurua is hoping five players sent home from Silver Ferns’ warehouse due to unsatisfactory fitness standards will be a timely wake-up call.
The Ferns have a smaller group of players to choose from for the four Constellation Cup games against Australia in March after five players failed their mandatory yo-yo fitness test last week.
A group of 26 players, including Silver Ferns, members of the development team and three U21 players, gathered in Wellington, five failed to meet the minimum standard of 16.3.
Taurua declined to pick the five players but said it would become apparent if some weren’t named when the Ferns ’12 were revealed against Australia on February 24th.
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Stuff knows that the Ferns could be easy on the defensive against the Diamonds with several players failing the rules.
Fitness is no longer negotiable for Taurua since he took over as national coach from Janine Southby in August 2018. Unless the players were able to meet the minimum yo-yo standard of 16.3, they were not eligible for selection.
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Dame Noeline Taurua says the silver ferns’ fitness standards are still in the works after five players were sent home for failing a yo-yo fitness test.
The strength and condition of the ferns had improved enormously under Taurua’s observation was a decisive factor for winning the title of the Netball World Cup 2019.
While 21 players met the standard at Wellington, Taurua admitted it was disappointing that some were still struggling.
“At the end of the day, these athletes are their job,” she told Stuff.
“If you have signed a contract with the silver ferns and the route to the silver ferns is via the ANZ [domestic premiership]You are an athlete and that is your job. “
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Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio spoke to Monica Falkner at the Silver Ferns training camp last week.
Taurua has repeatedly stated that the 16.3 standard isn’t particularly strenuous and if it had her way it would be raised to 17.
Midcourters cover a significant area during a netball game, and most hit the 18+ mark within the ferns, which was required for high performance.
The yoyo testing requirement was to prevent injury and ensure that players could cope with the burden of playing multiple games in several days that they face at international series and top-class events.
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Silver Ferns selectors Adrianne Hayes (left) and Jo Morrison watch from the sidelines at last week’s training camp in Wellington.
Under Taurua, the Ferns wanted to play a fast-paced, explosive style of play in which high standards of conditioning were crucial.
“All it is is the ticket to the party. It’s opening the door to choose from,” Taurua said.
“It’s a constant measurement that we’ve been taking since I was head coach. I think it’s pretty good for us around us and it shows once again that we have some work to do. “
The five players who failed the yo-yo test, Taurua, Fern’s strength and conditioning coach Guy Mothersole, senior physical therapist Mark Overington, and their respective exercise bikes met for a conference call to discuss the improvements needed.
Some players were close to reaching the mark while others were far away, which had been a recurring theme. Return from injury had been a factor in several failed tests, Taurua believed.
“The idea [around the call] is very clear about the goals. What is the support in and around this person and how are we going to shift it so consistently that there is no problem in achieving these fitness goals? “
Strength and stamina at the ANZ Premiership level could always get better, said Taurua.
The New Zealand U21 and secondary school teams had minimum standards for selection and Taurua was optimistic that the bar in New Zealand netball was slowly going to be across the board.
Players had to work hard with Premiership-level fitness from the moment they stepped into the high-performance environment, she said.
“The ANZ [Premiership] is an elite competition and we have the best local players involved in this competition. I think fitness is 101 and should be part of the criteria so that they can play and perform week after week. I think we can be stronger in these aspects. “
The Ferns squad would meet in Wellington on February 10 for another camp before the Constellation Cup.
The series’ opening game takes place on March 2nd in Christchurch.
