NETBALL: Increased numbers of players, a better A-grade competition and a focus on improving the quality of coaches and umpires makes Dubbo netball one of the leading associations in country New South Wales.
That’s the opinion of Karin Morgan who on Saturday led her Garden Hotel side to victory in the A grade grand final for the second successive year.
The added bonus for 2008 was that the Garden girls were unbeaten and continued that momentum with a 40-17 grand final victory over Upside Garden.
Looking ahead to the future, Morgan sees the game going forward on the back of some dedicated people across the board.
“This year Dubbo netball expanded its A grade competition to eight teams and this has been good, and I’m not saying that because my team won the grand final,” she said.
“It meant that we weren’t playing the same teams week-in week-out which was good.
“Some of the new teams struggled a bit in their first go in A grade but were still competitive and I think they will be better for the experience in the long run. Next year they will be fine.”
Morgan has been a leading light in Dubbo netball for some years and is confident the game will be in good shape in the future.
“We had A grade extended to eight teams, which as I said was a really good idea.
“We had more players this year, which again is encouraging.
“As well, the interest in umpiring and club administration are also strong points about Dubbo netball, which can only be good for the game,” she said.
“I think that has been emphasised by the quality of the grand finals here today.
“The minor grades particularly are improving all the time and in time I would like to see more teams enter in A and B grades where I think the players will improve with time.
“The structure in Dubbo netball is a strong point - particularly through the efforts of the people who run the game and those working hard to improve the standard of refereeing and the like.
“The umpiring this year have been fantastic. The training and coaching they get can only be good for everyone.
“I’ve also heard on the grapevine that Western Region is leading the State in that regard.”
Morgan said people like Katrina and Paul Hausia have been really great in this regard in the past two seasons - working and encouraging more referees and with coaching of players in teams.
Paul is also the current association president and Katrina has been working overtime in both junior and senior development.
“There have been a lot of new coaches step up this year, the teams are getting stronger and netball will in turn be stronger as well,” Morgan said.
“That will be a huge foundation for netball.
“On netball administration at association level, we have a good mix of old and new faces and that has worked well.
“We’ve also got the AGM coming up on October 20 and that will give more people given the opportunity to put their hands up and make a difference.
“I don’t know how it will go with people deciding to stay on or off the association and new people coming in, but after the meeting we will know.
“Any association and its competitions are only as strong as the people who run them, in Dubbo I think we are very well off and heading in the right direction.
“The other good thing is that they are all volunteers and that makes it even better.”
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff