Netballers Makeleta Ula and Rebekah Kalweit know all about game intensity and support.
They were the focus during coaching at a national development camp for promising players which they were encouraged to share with team mates at club and representative level.
‘‘It’s not just laying back and letting everyone else do the work but also everyone putting in 100 per cent, or even more to lift the game, or to lift everyone up,’’ Ula said.
It’s ‘‘hyping each other up’’, Kalweit said, which could include high fives and voicing support.
The pair, who both play in goal circle positions, were selected for the three day camp held last month at EA Networks Centre, in Ashburton, alongside 27 other promising players, many from Canterbury.
‘‘It was intense, but really fun because we got to know a lot of people and take in a lot of techniques,’’ Ula said.
Kalweit agreed, and said she also enjoyed getting coaching from those at top level.
‘‘I just like having all the coaches awesome skills and feedback. They were all so supportive and didn’t mind if it was messy because it was all part of learning,’’ she said.
‘‘I loved feeling of what it would be like in professional netball, the intensity of how we needed to be and how we needed to be on the court; just ready for the next thing.’’
The camp was led by New Zealand Secondary Schools head coach Pelesa Semu and assistant coach Jo Morrison, assisted by Synergy Hair National League head coaches Geni Ah Tong of Mainland and Michelle Parsons of Northern Comets, as well as support from NetballSmart staff.
Ula and Kalweit said they were grateful to have been selected, following a regional development day last October.
The camp, one of three nationwide, saw players take part in movement competency screenings, fitness testing, skill sessions, position-specific sessions and match play.
They aimed to educate, grow and challenge players and give them an understanding of the expectations of a performance netballer.
Ula and Kalweit are no strangers to competitive play and well aware of the netball talent in the district.
They were Mid Canterbury Under 16 representatives last year and spent last season playing in the Mid Canterbury Netball ACL premier 1 competition; Ula for Ashburton College and Kalweit for Wareings Methven.
They will be looking to secure spots in the Mid Canterbury Under 18 side at trials on May 10 and 12, and again play premier 1 when it starts on May 2.
Ula said, in her school and club side, ‘‘there’s quite a lot of talent coming up’’ with new year 11s while Kalweit’s Mount Hutt College school team was facing a refresh with the loss of six players from last year’s side.
‘‘(It will be) making sure all the new up and comings can really bond together, learn how our team plays and really building their confidence,’’ Kalweit said.
