With tournament season fast approaching, it’s been great to see players, coaches, and umpires out and about preparing for the demands of competition.

Over the past few weeks, Sam has been out in the community connecting with our centres—touching base in Rotorua and Hamilton during their recent tournaments. These visits have been a valuable opportunity to support teams in real time, share ideas, and reinforce key NetballSmart principles ahead of a busy tournament period. Alongside this, Sam has also been working with keen representative teams across the zone, delivering targeted workshops to support their preparation and build confidence heading into tournament play.

A big focus during these touchpoints has been on the fundamentals that make a real difference on game day:

• Quality warm-ups – ensuring athletes are physically prepared, reducing injury risk, and setting the tone for performance
• Quality nutrition – fuelling well before, during, and after games to support energy, recovery, and consistency across multiple matches
• Quality preparation – helping athletes and teams arrive ready to perform, both physically and mentally

As more teams head off to tournaments in the coming weeks, remember that preparation is performance. Keep the focus on doing the basics well, supporting each other, and building consistency across every game.

All the best to everyone competing—play smart, prepare well, and enjoy the experience!

Article by Samantha Winders, WBOP Zone NetballSmart Development Officer
Article added: Tuesday 23 June 2026