Hard work will bring good results

Pavilion View by Leslie Fernando

I used to practice over 100 shots at goal daily. It was hard work, but it paid me rich dividends to become one of the good shooters in netball. This is the game I loved most since I started as a schoolgirl at Taxila Maha Vidyalaya at Horana. "The present day players would do well follow my method to be a sharp shooter - a vital position in the game of netball," said Nanda Rodrigo a former Sri Lanka netballer who was attached to the Colombo Municipality, the top team that won the national title for eleven successive years from 1965.

The game of netball has been played for over 100 years in Sri Lanka and the game is now played by young girls in every district. First, the players should show a lot of interest in the game, maintain discipline, follow instructions of the coaches and should be in good trim.

During our time, we did not have any coaching clinics or residential camps for advanced training. The present day players are fortunate to be in Development Pools with all the facilities provided. So they should give their off their best and go ahead and make every effort to represent the country and bring honour and fame.

Rodrigo had the opportunity to play for Sri Lanka against Singapore, Malaysia, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England in the Asian and World Championships.

Nanda who was the first to win the Miss Netball Title in 1973 added that there should be unity amongst the officials of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka if the game is to progress further.

Coaches have vital role

The game of netball can improve a lot if the coaches play their part well. The coaches should engage in making the players skilful as the game is a team game and is very fast.

The players should be fast on the court. To gain mobility the players should do short sprints, jumping, balance throwing, catching, accurate shooting, said Yasa Ramachandra former Sri Lanka netball and women's volleyball captain.

Ramachandra rose to great heights in netball and attributed her success to hard training and maintaining top physical fitness. "Thanks to late Trixie Jayasuriya, late R.C.E. Perera and Nora Pate, they guided me on the correct path to reach the top, step by step." quipped Yasa Ramachandra.

In 1968 she represented Sri Lanka in netball and continued to play in Asian Championships, World Tournaments. Yasa who was also the national coach, added that our players should be given lectures by prominent personalities on physical development for netball and the mind should be set for winning and the basic fundamentals of the game should be taught to the players.

Yasa was also superb 'spiker' and also was the national women's volleyball coach. He produced good netballers and volley-ballers while attached to the CMC and Sports Ministry.

She said that there is lot of talent in the provinces and she stressed the need to educate coaches so that talent can be fostered for the future. Considerable sponsorship deals are also necessary and all the experience of coaches and players needed for a team to go places in netball.

"Netball is the most popular game in Sri Lanka for women and sponsors could get lot of publicity once they get involved," added Yasa.

Players should improve further

'The standard of netball has improved a great deal in recent times under former President of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka Thamara Darmakeerthi Herath and the present players should continue to reach greater heights with lot of commitment, dedication and responsibility. The team's target should be to regain the Asian title next year and excel at the World Championships in 2009", said Yasmin Dharmaratne who has held several key positions in the NFSL.

She was a qualified umpire since 1985 in addition to her administrative work. She is the only umpire in Sri Lanka to officiate at the World Netball Championships held in 1987 in Glasglow, Scotland.

Yasmin said that the 'Development Pools' both junior and senior are formed and the players should gain more skills in the game from the experienced coaches. The players must improve on their speed, positional play, collection, passing and shooting. The players should be tactful in defence as well as in attack.

Yasmin said that Sri Lanka found several tall players when we conducted the North-East netball tournament for the first time during Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa's period as President of NFSL. Then secretary, Yasmin added that the NFSL should also make an effect to find hidden talent from these provinces.

Joint effort needed

To take the world's top women's sport - netball, further up the ladder of success, the administrators should join hands and work as a team to promote and popularise the game. The players also should be more devoted and dedicated. Netball is truly a team sport which teaches a player to be unselfish thus making her a good person in society as well, said Trixie Nanayakkara captain CMC team, a former national player, Sri Lanka captain, international umpire, qualified coach, and a former President of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka.

At present she is the Director of Sports at the Colombo Municipal Council.

"I owed my success greatly to the CMC, true I started playing netball at Seevali Central, Ratnapura and then devoted more time after joining the CMC. Once in the municipality I played netball at the highest level. As a player, I reached the top and had a good knowledge of the game.

Trixie said that establishing 'Development Pools' is a very good idea. The squad serves as a 'feeder' to the national, junior and senior teams.

Trixie had played in Asian and World Tournaments umpired at top international matches, coached champion outfits. The NFSL should strengthen the players mentality, nutrition, skills and fitness to get good results. The NFSL also should have a systematic plan to bring the players talent to the forefront.

Finally she said that the netballers should be given the opportunity to face more international challenges and then the players will improve.

Plans to improve game

"There has been great plans drawn for the uplift of the game of netball by the officials of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka. (NFSL) The NFSL has already selected two development pools, both junior and senior and the training will commence soon," said Thilaka Jinadasa former CMS Kotte and Sri Lanka athlete and netballer - a double international.

The establishment of the Development Squad was very essential. The players were selected from all over the country. The NFSL should start with basic training, plus physical quality training with a good base. The players have to look after themselves, especially physical fitness which should be done three times a day to be fully fit.

The Development squads to be a major success, it means that the plans have to be put into action and turn them into profitable ones.

Finance urgently needed. The Sports Ministry and supporters should come forward to support the netballers and Thilaka.

She said that the present standard is a little bit down. True, we have won the Asian Junior and Senior titles but to come up to world standard, says to be among the top ten, will take a couple of years.

"If the players show commitment and dedication, success could be achieved quickly," said Thilaka.

Thilaka was a born athlete and a netball player, she said that to come up in sports, one has to put every thing to the sport and success will naturally come.