Embarrassed and disappointed.
Those are the emotions expressed by former top netballers after the stunning announcement that Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua has been stood down ahead of this month’s Taini Jamison series.
Sixteen-Test New Zealand midcourter Margaret Foster told 1News she felt embarrassed for the sport due to the way things had unfolded so dramatically.
"[It’s] really disappointing," she said. "This is Dame Noeline Taurua we are talking about here – one of our most successful coaches in our sport."
Discussions are ongoing between Netball New Zealand (NNZ), Dame Noeline, and Silver Ferns management concerning proposed changes to their High Performance programme and environment.
Netball NZ said it had been unable to resolve the issues in time for the Taini Jamison Series, which starts on September 21 in Auckland.
RNZ reported yesterday that it understood two players approached the NZ Netball Players Association on behalf of a larger group of up to seven players, who raised concerns about Dame Noeline's communication style.
The Players Association later formally raised the players' concerns with Netball NZ management.
After unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issues "in-house", the players requested that an independent review be carried out.
Foster, a former Silver Fern, believed a breakdown in the relationship between players and staff may have contributed to the fallout.
"It looks like potentially that the players association might have more say [and] are rolling with the narrative."
She suggested that if this were the case, then the governing body had likely handed too much influence on the players association.
"In most other sports, the players association ...They communicate with maybe the governing body, but they don't have any say in a high performance environment of what goes on there," she said.
"They shouldn't be dictating at all in that environment."
Foster also pushed back against any criticism of Dame Noeline's coaching style, saying she believed the coach had struck the right balance.
"From my experience from being in that environment and seeing what she does on a daily basis with the leadership group and her innovativeness with it and her authenticity – perhaps that maybe one thing an athlete may not like – reality.
"Sometimes, as a coach, you've got to be able to work the kindness, and also some athletes do need reality checks," Foster said.
"For you to improve, to be out of your comfort zone, to push your body physically and mentally at that level – my gosh, surely that’s the pinnacle.
"We’re not secondary school coaching here, we’re coaching the world's best."
Former captain Laura Langman was also upset with NNZ’s move.
"The decision to stand down Dame Noeline Taurua as head coach of the Silver Ferns is the saddest decision in New Zealand’s proud netball history," Langman said on Facebook.
Langman – who played under Dame Noeline's guidance for most of her career, including when they won the 2019 Netball World Cup – said she was "devastated and bewildered" by the situation.
"We know Noels throws curveballs in her coaching. There were plenty of time as players we’d ask: 'What does she want from me?'" Langman said.
"But her style is bold, exciting and innovative.
"She’s tough when she needs to be, but always compassionate and fair – open, inclusive and honest."
Langman continued: "After spending 12 years at the Magic under Noels, I can say, with hand on heart, every time I went into the preseason, I was nervous. Had I done enough? Was I prepared enough? No season with her was the same. She is the most innovative coach I’ve ever played under, and she’s always honest – on the level with you about where you stand and what’s expected of you.
"Her high standards are for your benefit as a player, helping you to perform under pressure and take your game to the next level."
The centurion said it was "gutless and selfish" players who were unhappy with the coach and hadn't specified the issues publicly.
By Bonnie Jansen
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