Joan Harnett again to coach Canterbury

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34151, 12 May 1976, Page 16

Joan Harnett again to coach Canterbury

cessive vear, the former New Zealand repbeen appointed Canterbury's senior netball Mrs Harriett began coaching in 1965 because the Sacred Heart club had no

until Mrs O’Rilev went to England in 1975. Mrs eligible to coach fur Canterbury. was appointed to Mans coaches say it is not easv to coach and plav but Mrs Harnett say s it is, in some ways, easier to coach when an active player. Often, as a player, she found she could put

her finger on what was going wrong Coaching from the sideline means retraining herself. says Mrs Harnett. Asked what she and her fellow-selectors. Mrs Thelma Southam and Miss Jill Murray, were looking for in players, Mrs Harnett said: “First of all dedication. Little of this is left in today’s senior players. In the main, it comes from the older ones who form the backbone of the team.” The selectors are also looking for the thinking player, the netballer who can turn play to advantage bv seeing ahead. Catching, looking ahead and passing to set up piay is needed at this level.

In Mrs Harnett’s first year as provincial coach, Canterbury came through to second place at the national tournament with only two experienced players in the side. , However, it is gratifying to see the younger players in that team have come back looking strengthened from their representative experience. Players such as Genae Katae, Natalie Hall, Pauline Flynn, Robin Foster and Sue Erasmuson are playing better than ever. This year. Canterbury will be strengthened by the addition of the New Zealand team players, Frances Grainger. Maxine Blomuist and Chris Pietzner. The national tournament

this year will be held in Invercargill in August and Cantrebury will be out to avenge its defeat by Auckland. It is expected the strongest opposition will be Auckland, Wellington and North Shore. The Canterbury team trialists will be announced at the week-end and the following should form the basis of the final team:— Goal shoot: Robin Foster (Technical). Carol Honeybone (Teachers’ College). Goal attack: Frances Wing attack: Sue Erasmuson (Teachers’ College). Centre: Chris Pietzner (Hagley), Sandra Richards. Wing defence: Phillippa McLean (Sacred Heart), Haze! Brown (Burnside). Goal defence: Maxine Blomquist (Technical). Goal keep: Pauline Flynn (Sacred Heart). The captain will probably be Grainger or Pietzner.