The ACT 17/U team concluded their national campaign with a commendable 6th place finish following a series of hard-fought matches. We had the opportunity to sit down with Head Coach Kate Durham to gain insights into the team's performance throughout the week and what lies ahead for them.
Let's talk about the Tasmania Semi-Final game: What came together during this game that saw ACT get the win by 10 points?
We went into this match confidently. Looking at the round game which we lost by 8, we were able to turn the ball over, but we were not able to convert it to goals - 19 opportunities went missing. We also made a lot of unforced errors such as footwork, held ball etc, so we were confident if we could minimise these, we would be in a much better position second time around.
We were also able to use footage from our round game to simplify our game plan and to refine our structures and set ups that we needed to implement for the full 4 quarters. It was so satisfying that it all came together at the right time, and we were able to finish the game with a convincing win (in the end).
Our amazing cheer squad were also inspirational, and their support really made a difference. We were the loudest and proudest state by far!
Can you highlight any standout performances or breakthrough moments from individual players during the tournament?
Each player showed improvement throughout the week, but ultimately it came down to the right combinations clicking at the right time. We had standout moments in every match, with individual players stepping up. Sophia and Ash stepped up as leaders both on and off the court, displaying great dedication and leading a relatively young team. The game against SA was a game-changer for us in the competition. Despite the loss, we were able to gain confidence in our abilities, especially with our set-ups and structures. Positive feedback from spectators and opposition coaches, including former Diamonds Coach Lisa Alexander, also motivated us for upcoming matches.
What role did the team's chemistry and camaraderie play in their success, and how did you foster a positive team culture?
Before Nationals, we put a lot of effort into improving our team culture. However, it wasn't until our camp in Sydney, where we had a disappointing performance against NSW, that things really started to click for us. We realised that we needed to put in the work both on and off the court, and ensure that everyone was being held accountable if they weren't doing this.
Under Krystle's guidance, the athletes worked incredibly hard in the gym and in gruelling fitness sessions to improve their conditioning. I am proud of how the girls stepped up, addressed the issue, and showed significant improvement in their fitness test results. This improvement was evident on the court last week.
During the Dress Presentation, you emphasized that the team wasn't merely attending nationals to make up the numbers, but rather to win. Could you elaborate on the strategies you employed to instill and maintain this winning mindset among the players before each game?
We were open and honest about this from the start of our campaign and to achieve this we focused on our strengths such as being able to train as a group each week. We set benchmarks and targets in each match which really helped the group to take one game and 1/4 at a time. We celebrated when we achieved and hit these targets (win or loss) and addressed "the why" when we didn't.
It is such a big week away with a big preparation phase and many underestimate just how hard it is both physically and mentally to compete at the level. I am so proud of each of the girls and how they improved over the week. Now it's time for them to take this experience of Nationals back to district teams as we need to improve the standard of netball being played in our state league competitions. Bring on next year!
