When Jody looks back on Pukekohe High School’s B Grade win at UNISS, she remembers the progress that made it possible.
One player, Vahn Waitai, stands out. Throughout the season, they had worked on her ability to hold in the shooting circle. By tournament week, that work was paying off.
“Vahn Waitai was a player that I can say made the most progress I’ve ever seen in one season,” Jody says.
“We worked hard all season to get her to hold and by the time we got to UNISS, she was a key player.”
The title belonged to the whole team, with everyone contributing to the result. For Jody, it remains a reminder of what patience, encouragement and shared effort can achieve.
“I look back with pride on how much progress can be made with positive belief.”
It is an approach grounded in a strong connection to home.
“Pukekohe is my home and is where I grew up and went to school, as have my children. I also work at Pukekohe Intermediate, so it is important to me to give in my own community.”
Jody began coaching while she was still at high school. Since then, her involvement has stretched across school, club and representative netball, supporting players at different stages of their development.
Among her highlights was being involved in the pilot programme that introduced Future Ferns. Watching young players get more touches on the ball and become more involved in the game reinforced the value of creating opportunities for everyone to learn.
That commitment continues with older players. Jody wants young people to feel proud to represent Pukekohe and recognise that playing locally can be part of a pathway towards higher honours.
She has seen local players progress into franchise environments and National Netball League programmes, achievements she connects to years of investment in their development.
Her own learning has continued alongside theirs.
Jody recently completed her Performance Coaching Qualification, following three years of modules, practical observations and assessments. One of the biggest influences has been learning about a constraints-led approach, using game-like activities to develop skills.
Understanding the research behind the approach helped her connect coaching practice with how players learn. The qualification also prompted her to consider how she communicates with athletes.
“I also have grown my ability to be able to give feedback,” she says.
She thinks of it as “feed forward”: helping players understand what they can do next to improve.
There is a tactical side to her coaching too. With a love of mathematics, Jody enjoys analysing close contests and working out adjustments that might influence a game. During her involvement with Pukekohe High School, the Premier team followed its B Grade title with an eighth-place finish in A Grade the next season.
Alongside full-time teaching and coaching, she has also completed a Master of Education. Connections with other coaches, sharing ideas and learning from their experiences remain valuable parts of her development.
Through it all, relationships keep her coming back. Coaching gives Jody the opportunity to contribute to her community, but also the satisfaction of working with players who are motivated to grow.
For anyone wondering whether they know enough to begin, her advice is reassuring.
“You will always gain from giving to others, and netball is about doing fundamental skills well, so don’t worry about not knowing anything ‘fancy’.”
