Every now and then, you have one of those weeks where you have to pinch yourself and think, “How lucky am I?” This weekend was definitely one of them.
I had the absolute privilege of hitting the road with Leigh Gibbs CNZM – Silver Fern #64, former Silver Fern captain and coach, 1987 World Champion, Netball New Zealand Life Member and one of the most influential people in our game. And, she is also a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit – so you could say I was travelling with netball royalty!
But what makes Leigh so special isn’t just the incredible list of achievements. She is incredibly down to earth, has a wicked sense of humour and is incredibly generous with her knowledge, experience and passion for netball. She has a wonderful ability to make people feel comfortable while challenging them to think differently.
And so began our Great Netball Roadie…
First stop – Clarks Beach and Waiuku
Our first stop was Clarks Beach, where the lovely Kim and Russ Voight opened their home and hosted us both, along with my good friend, co-coach and Coach Developer for Waiuku Netball Centre, Rachel Brown-Cole.
Rach and I probably should have been a little nervous because the following morning Leigh was going to observe us both coaching. But instead of worrying about it, we ate some great food, shared plenty of laughs and listened to some awesome stories. It created exactly the kind of relaxed atmosphere we needed – and we felt incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to learn from someone with Leigh’s experience.
The next morning, we headed off to Waiuku Netball Centre where our Team West Coast Phoenix were pretty excited to see Leigh – and, if we’re completely honest, so were we!
Leigh sat alongside us, observing, listening and asking questions. She provided some really valuable feedback and ideas, and Rach and I were buzzing afterwards.
There was absolutely no way the Silver Fern legend was going to get away without a few photo opportunities either! One of our players was so excited she said she was “going to cry with joy.” That pretty much summed up the morning.
From there, it was morning tea with the Life Members of Waiuku Netball Centre, who shared stories and history from the Centre’s past, followed by a catch-up with Eleanor, one of our wonderful umpire Coach Developers. With Leigh’s cup already filled, we jumped back in the car and headed towards Netball North Harbour territory.
Next stop – Carmel College
Our very own Brian (BJ) Keepa, Netball Northern Coach Development Officer had more than 20 enthusiastic coaches, along with the Carmel College Prem team players, ready to embrace Leigh’s knowledge and wisdom.
The session, ‘The End Game in Mind’, challenged coaches to start with the bigger picture – what do we actually want our players to be able to do in the game? Rather than simply building a series of drills, the coaches explored Game Sense activities that put players into realistic situations where they have to observe, make decisions, solve problems, communicate and adapt.
It was about creating learning environments where players aren't told what to do – they are given opportunities to work things out, understand the why behind their decisions and transfer their learning into the game.
An hour and a half later, everyone was pretty pumped, and it was fantastic hearing coaches talking about how they intended to take what they had seen and put it into practice.
Then it was time for a quiet and relaxing dinner – although with Brian Keepa and Dr Michael Lauren at the table, there was plenty of conversation and reflection on a great session!
Home to the whānau
It was a real privilege to have Leigh stay with my whānau. Before her visit, I explained to my moko that the “Queen of Netball” was staying and that they would need to do their best bowing and curtsying.
They did not disappoint!
There were a few laughs, and I think Leigh thoroughly enjoyed being welcomed into our whānau for the night.
North we go – Whangārei!
The next morning, we headed north to the not-so-winterless Whangārei, stopping at one of the city's iconic landmarks, the Hundertwasser Art Centre, for a quick lunch with more whānau before heading out to Huanui College.
Once again, we had a fantastic turnout of coaches and players, all ready to jump into the same End Game in Mind workshop. The engagement was awesome, with plenty of discussion, questions and those little lightbulb moments that make coach development so worthwhile.
That evening, we headed to Whangārei Netball Centre for a Game Analysis workshop.
We watched the recent U18 final and, using the information we collected, created clear and concise quarter-time talks and then designed a training session around what we had identified.
The challenge? Take that information and turn it into a Game Sense activity with the end game in mind.
Once again, there were great conversations, plenty of questions and some challenging moments that pushed us to think outside the box. And that’s what made the whole experience so valuable.
The drive back to Auckland was filled with even more chatter – not just about netball, but about life, experiences and our awesome whānau.
The final stop – Pukekohe
The next day, we headed to the Netball New Zealand offices, that evening Leigh made her way out South to Pukekohe Netball Centre to present Jody McCort with her Netball New Zealand Performance Coach Qualification.
The Performance Coach Qualification is a significant step in a coach’s development, supporting coaches working with representative athletes through advanced learning, practical tasks, a portfolio and observations over a three-year period.
It was a pretty special way to finish what had been an incredible few days.
More than just a roadie
Leigh summed it up beautifully when she said that her ventures into community netty land have been incredibly rewarding.
And I think that says a lot.
Because while Leigh has spent much of her career at the highest levels of our game – from Silver Fern player and captain to coach, administrator and mentor – she still sees enormous value in getting out into our communities, sitting alongside coaches, talking with players and sharing what she knows.
For me, this roadie was a reminder of what makes netball so special. It isn't just about the game. It's about the people, the relationships, the stories, the laughter, the learning and the willingness to share what we know so that others can grow.
And I certainly couldn’t have done this roadie without the amazing people who helped make it happen.
A huge and heartfelt thank you to Kim and Russ Voight, Rachel Brown-Cole, Brian Keepa, Dr Michael Lauren, Eleanor, the Life Members of Waiuku Netball Centre, the coaches and players at Waiuku, Carmel College and Huanui College, Whangārei Netball Centre, Pukekohe Netball Centre, Jody McCort, my whānau and everyone else who opened their doors, gave their time, provided the kai, organised the sessions and embraced Leigh so warmly.
You all helped turn a few workshops into something much bigger – a few very special days of connection, learning, laughter and plenty of netball kōrero.
Leigh, thank you for jumping in the car, sharing your wisdom, laughing with us, challenging us and reminding us why community netball matters.
It was one heck of a roadie – and one I certainly won’t forget!
