2010 FIFA World Cup™ - and netball
What have we learned and what does this great event have to do with netball?
Oh you have to be so proudly South African at the moment! Hosting this big event has given us a deep sense of pride and once again united us as a nation. Viva South Africa!
I have so far watched all the games up to 29 June 2010 and more than often found myself comparing netball and soccer (all sport for that matter) reminding me of basics, ball skills, the will to win and playing by the rules.
Netball and soccer similarities
The target of both netball and soccer is to get the ball in the net. The difference is that in soccer you use your feet (unless you are Thierry Henry!) and in netball you use your hands.
Netball and soccer are played with a similar size 5 ball (younger netball players sometimes play with a size 4 ball). Yes, the rules are different, but at the end of the day it’s about the game that is bigger than any individual.
Sponsors
The importance of 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and FNB Netball Classic Clashes sponsors is invaluable. We salute you FNB, National Supporter of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ as well as Netball Classic Clashes. Thank you for helping South Africa and netball shine.
Organisation
No tournament or challenge can be successful without good organisation. Here we can compare the great work by our LOC and our friends at FNB Classic Clashes. Well done, you make it happen.
Players
We all anticipated that the individual soccer stars will do it for their teams. Yes, they do, but at the end of the day it is a team effort and team players create stars. It brings us back to coach Lynette Ferreira’s tip about making somebody else look good. Give me a team of seven passionate netball players any day vs. individual stars.
Supporters
Without supporters at our FNB Netball Classic Clashes it would be really dull and uneventful, so thank you to teachers, parents and school friends for coming and supporting your teams. The support Bafana had during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ was amazing, even after their exit in the first round. They did us proud.
Coaches
A number of coaches have come under the spotlight during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, good and bad, but at the end of the day it is mainly up to the teams to make things happen.
You have to admit that Argentina’s coach, Diego Maradona, shows incredible passion and it surely rubs off on the team.
Referees/umpires
After a number of controversial decisions everyone is calling for the use of technology in soccer and maybe it’s time to relook this issue. If we lived and played by the rules in a perfect world we probably would not need technology. According to netballonline.com there has been a plea to tidy up netball rules to create greater umpire consistency in Australia and New Zealand. Who knows, maybe on day we will be calling on the use of technology in netball?
Basics
Ball handling skills.
Players who show excellent ball handling skills, whether soccer or netball, will ultimately win the tussle. The more tricks you can do with the ball, the better.
Training vs. match situations
You have practice players and you have big time game players. Make sure that you have real match situations in your training sessions.
Getting back on defence
The Brazilian soccer team is a good example of players who not only attack, but defend like crazy. As netball players we need to focus on switching from attack mode to defense mode when we lose the ball. From goal shooter to goal keeper, everyone needs to defend.
The best example of all has to be Argentina’s Carlos Tevez. His job is to attack, but wow, does he defend, like a Trojan!
Gamesmanship vs. sportsmanship
The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ has once again highlighted the difference between gamesmanship and sportsmanship.
In short, sportsmanship is about winning with honour and gamesmanship is about winning for gain and glory. I came across a good quiz regarding gamesmanship vs. sportsmanship using a livestock show as an example. Click here and see to which one you subscribe.
http://extensioneducation.tamu.edu/Quality%20Counts/gamesmanship.doc
In the end, it’s extra effort that separates a winner from second place. But winning takes a lot more that that, too. It starts with complete command of the fundamentals. Then it takes desire, determination, discipline, and self-sacrifice. And finally, it takes a great deal of love, fairness and respect for your fellow man. Put all these together, and even if you don’t win, how can you lose?" -Jesse Owens (American track and field athlete who won four gold medals at 1936 Olympics)
Netball snippets
Congratulations to the Spar South African Netball team. They won both tests against Samoa in June.
Commonwealth Games October 2010 to take place in Delhi.
World Netball Championships 2011 to take place in Singapore.
The Brumbies rugby team was spotted taking tips from netball to improve their agility and footwork (Source Canberra Times).
SA Schools Netball Tournament 6-9 July 2010 taking place at EG Jansen, Gauteng.
Wishing all FNB Netball Classic ‘Clashers’ participating at SA Schools a wonderful tournament.
Until next time
Pass it on
Netty
A reminder that the following games will be televised, so don’t miss it:
Voortrekker vs Witteberg Bethlehem 17 July
Diamantveld vs Noordkaap Kimberly 1August