MO’ONIA GERRARD

POSITIONS: GD, WD

DOB: 15 NOVEMBER 1980

HEIGHT: 1.80M

NICKNAME: MON, MG

CLUB: Adelaide Thunderbirds

How did you feel receiving the Liz Ellis Diamond (Australia's highest individual award) last year?

It was a great honour and a nice reward for all the hard work put in over the year.

What is your best memory of the 2007 World Netball Championships in Auckland?

It has to be winning the World Cup final against New Zealand, and then being able to celebrate it with my family and friends.

What was your happiest moment in netball?

One of my happiest moments was in 2005 when my brother Mark and I made our debuts representing our country in the same year. I was playing netball and my brother for the Wallabies (Australian National Rugby Team).

What does your pre-match routine look like?

I don't have a routine other then having to braid my hair and keep myself busy, away from netball.

How would you encourage players who have sustained injuries and have to take a break?

Knowing the frustration of being injured, I surround myself with people that support me and make me laugh, otherwise I would go nuts! I then have to channel that feeling into my rehabilitation so I come back bigger and better.

What keeps you passionate and dedicated to the sport?

The thing that drives me is knowing that I haven't reached my full potential and that I still have the chance to keep working on ways of perfecting my game.

What do you do to relax?

I often go to the beach, listen to music and spend time with my little cousins.

What would be your advice to aspiring defenders?

Recognise your strengths to create your own style on the court. Look to add some X-factor at the defensive end using your strengths, for example in your speed, jump, agility and/or intimidation.

Have you been to Singapore? What are you working on for the 2011 World Netball Championships?

No, I haven’t, so firstly I am looking forward to working hard to be selected so that I can enjoy the experience. I think it is important to work on the cohesion on court with the new members of the Diamond squad, particularly the defensive end so that come 2011, we are working as a tight unit.

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NADINE BRYAN

NADINE BRYAN is known for her hard work and great reach as a midfielder as well as the vice-captain of the Jamaica National Netball team. She has been a Sunshine Girl for more than a decade and plays an integral role in helping Jamaica maintain their position as a top netball team. Her first outing for Jamaica was in 1995 and she has not missed a single major championship since.

She has been selected for the West Indies Netball Team, the Americas Federation Netball Team and has been awarded with the Carreras Foundation Award for being part of the Bronze medal team at the Commonwealth Games and World Championships. She has also received a Carreras Foundation Special Award for individual perfomance.

POSITIONS: C, WA

DOB: 18 DECEMBER 1976

HEIGHT: 1.65m

CLUB: JAMALCO NETBALL CLUB

What do you look forward to each time you participate in the World Netball Championships?

I look forward in playing the Semi-final & definitely the finals!

What does your pre-match routine look like?

Basically warm up at medium pace stretching, ball skills and going through game plan.

What are some of the qualities midfielders should possess?

They must have quick legs, able to operate under pressure & take pride in making good decisions.

What do you do to relax?

I try to relax by watching television.

What was your happiest moment in netball to date?

Winning the bronze medal for the first time at the 2002 Commonwealth Games!

What keeps you passionate and dedicated to the sport?

I would truly say my love for the game, along with the competitiveness that the sport brings. Coupled with the fact that it’s an opportunity to represent my country.

What would be your advice to aspiring midfielders?

You must be able to assess the game and make good decisions and adjustments, in addition, to being an excellent passer and very quick off the mark.

Have you been to Singapore before? What would you look forward to for the Worlds in 2011?

I’ve never been to Singapore, however, I am definitely looking forward to their dynamic culture and cuisine.

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KAREN ATKINSON

KAREN ATKINSON co-captains the England National Netball Team and is noted for her speed and powerful drive through the court. She performs consistently and diligently on court, benefiting the teams she represents with her high work rate. Karen has achieved 100 international caps (with more to come!) and was selected as one of five English netball stars to compete to in the ANZ Championships last year. She has been awarded the The Lucozade Sport Chairman's Award in the UK.

POSITIONS: C, WA

DOB: 7 June 1978

HEIGHT: 1.68m

NICKNAME: Kaz, Nipper

What do you look forward to each time you participate in the World Netball Championships?

I look forward to the competition against the other countries and helping England to improve their ranking and status in World Netball.


What was it like playing in the inaugural ANZ Championships with the West Coast Fever team? Did you have to change your playing style?

Playing in the ANZ Championships was a fantastic experience.  Living in a completely new country has its challenges but I thoroughly enjoyed the training and the match play.  Whenever you play for a new team you always have to change your style of play slightly in order to work in with your new team mates.


Does your coaching (job) inform or influence your play and vice versa?

I see my coaching job and my playing job as two completely separate things.  It is nice to be able to give back some of the things that I have learnt as a player to new, up and coming talent.  Coaching as a job definitely makes you analyse your game a bit more and you tend to work out how you can break down skills in order to create fun/interesting ways to coach them.


What does your pre-match routine look like?

I am quite meticulous with my pre-match routine.  Generally after my morning training, I like to take an ice bath in order to give my legs an extra wake up.  I then like to have a sleep after lunch.  After my sleep, I will have to pack my kit bag in a certain way before heading to the courts.  At the courts, I generally keep to myself, focusing on the game whilst listening to music on my iPod.


What are some of the qualities midfielders should possess?

A good midfielder should have good speed – speed of movement but also of decision making and pass.  They need to be able to get free in small spaces and have precise, accurate passing. 


What do you do to relax?

I like socialising with friends and family, going out to dinner, to the cinema or to watch live music.


What keeps you passionate and dedicated to the sport?

I enjoy challenging myself and working hard.  I like to learn new skills and test myself against the best players in the world.


What would be your advice to aspiring midfielders?

Keep working hard – particularly on the basic skills.  Having solid basic skills as well as good fitness levels is definitely a great starting point!

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IRENE VAN DYK

IRENE VAN DYK is the world’s most capped Netballer, and it’s rare for van Dyk to attain less than 90% success in the shooting circle. Her average shooting percentage in the ANZ Championship for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic was 92.8%. She had three 100% games in the 2008 season. Irene made her international netball debut as a shooter for South Africa in 1994, and played 72 tests for her birth nation. She moved to New Zealand in 2000 to play for the Capital Shakers in the National Bank Cup and in 2000 Irene made her debut for the Silver Ferns, playing against her former side. Irene was named New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year at the Halberg Awards in 2004 and people’s Choice Sportswoman of the Year in 2005.

POSITIONS: GS, GA

DOB: 21 June 1972

HEIGHT: 1.90m

NICKNAME: I’s

What do you look forward to each time you participate in the World Netball Championships?

Catching up with people I’ve met at the previous World champs, and obviously the competition and the opportunity to win.

 

How was playing in the inaugural ANZ Championships last year? (and shooting at 92.8% accuracy!)

The netball season was full on and was very long, although I loved every minute of it, practice harder than what you play!

 

How did you achieve the focus and precision that you possess?

Practice makes perfect and as I said in the previous one, practise or train harder than what a real netball game is like!

 

What does your pre-match routine look like?

Make sure I hydrate enough, eat enough and go through all my moves metally and making sure I have nothing to worry about once I hit the court!

 

What do you do to relax?

Spend time with Bianca, read a book.

 

What keeps you passionate and dedicated to the sport?

My teammates, the fact that I can spend time with people I like and playing the sport that I love!

 

What would be your advice be to aspiring shooters?

Shoot as much as you can from different positions and make sure you are tired when you shoot, game situation. Practise makes perfect!

 

How do you manage your time between your family, work and netball?

I have a very understanding and supportive husband!  and with Bianca growing up it gets easier each year!

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CATHERINE COX

CATHERINE COX has been a member of the Australian Netball team since 1997. She was a key member of the 2007 World Netball Championship Team and has won several prestigious awards for her Netball skills and team personality. Last year, she captained her team NSW Swifts to victory in the first season of the ANZ Championship and won “Australian Player of the Year”.

POSITIONS: GS, GA

DOB: 24 May 1976

HEIGHT: 1.87 m

What do you look forward to each time you participate in the World Netball Championships?

The hard work paying off!! I'm a firm believer of the saying "you get back what you put in". I don't think there was any doubt in the minds of the 12 players who represented Australia at the 2007 World Champs that we won't win. The challenges along the way are the parts that really test you.

 

How did it feel to win the finals of the World Netball Championships in 2007?

I don't know how I could even start to describe it. Elation like I've never felt before, relief, pride, relief, exhaustion, relief!! I say relief so many times as I was the only person who knew Liz Ellis had just played her last game and I so desperately wanted it to go the right way for her.

 

You were captain for the NSW Swifts in the ANZ Championship, was it a natural progression for you to move from player to captain?

It actually was fairly easy. I have always been a vocal player so really that side never changed. Obviously having an official title then puts you in front of the media, etc and you kind of become the face of the team so that was a little different.

 

What did you learn from previous captains and what advice would you leave to the next one?

Funnily enough you do learn a huge amount from the captains that go before you but it's not always good. I've seen the job done in so many different ways and learnt the good/bad and effective/not so effective ways of doing things from each and everyone of them. I think the most important thing I worked out throughout my first season as captain was that every player is very different and therefore need to be approached differently. It's harder to change people than it is to find ways to work with them.

 

What has been the funniest thing as captain you have had to deal with?

There's been plenty of funny stuff happen throughout my time as captain with the Swifts… …and I wouldn't have it any other way. A happy team is always going to be a successful team (in one way or another). We've had bad hair days, dress up days, you name it…

How do you interact with the coaches in team lines and training, as a captain?

I'm very fortunate to have such a great relationship with our Swifts coach, Julie Fitzgerald so that part of the job is easy. She will always ask me how the girls are feeling and we often discuss up coming sessions and their content to make sure they are appropriate etc. (in relation to how we are feeling etc). The trust in a captain/coach relationship I believe is vital. The coach/player, captain/player relationships are just as important. All players in our team know they could discuss anything with either of us and it won't go any further than that.

 

What keeps you dedicated and passionate about the sport after 11 years?

I still love it!!! The day I stop enjoying the ride will be the day I give it away. To dedicate yourself to something 6 days a week there really needs to be that joy. Joy in challenges, traveling, playing, and being with your team mates… …something, somewhere!!

 

What would be your advice be to aspiring shooters?

"You always miss 100% of the shots you don't take!" I've never been the kind of shooter that obsesses about shooting stats and consequently am probably one of the few that still likes to shoot the long bombs. If you miss, you miss!! But… …what if it goes in!!!