Netball NZ dispute shows lessons still unlearned in women’s sport – Alice Soper

THE FACTS

• Netball New Zealand’s handling of a player-coach communication issue has sparked public discussion.
• The decision to open applications for the Silver Ferns head coach role surprised fans.
• The Silver Ferns managed a clean sweep against South Africa.

I have to say, I’m kind of surprised we aren’t better at this by now. It’s not like women’s sports haven’t had their fair share of practice. Gymnastics, rowing, cycling, rugby and now netball, all going through the same process of complaint, escalation and review. The cause of the dispute is reportedly a communications issue between players and their coach within the high-performance environment. But it’s Netball New Zealand’s response that is taking centre court.

The heat in this issue started simmering last year, when Silver Ferns head coach Dame Noeline Taurua was last asked to fight for her job. Netball NZ took the surprising decision to open up applications for the role and Taurua decided to reapply. They all spoke in joint statements at the time. The need for that united front revealed the governing body understood that this was an unusual move.

After the disappointing results at the World Cup, you could perhaps understand why Netball NZ wanted to test the market. It may not have realised it was testing its fanbase too.

This move was out of step with what researcher Toni Bruce, a University of Auckland professor, has described as the ethics of care of netball fandom here in New Zealand. These fans champion the well-being of all those involved in our women’s national game. Professional as the sport may be, this felt heavy-handed to some. Particularly when they ultimately reappointed Taurua anyway.

This is the backdrop against which we now see these events unfurl. It already placed Netball New Zealand and its head coach at odds before the player complaint even came to light. The push and pull between the establishment and its coach continued as Taurua successfully advocated for the inclusion of Grace Nweke into the national side. The U-turn on eligibility rules was celebrated by fans, coaches and players alike.

All of this to and fro has piqued interest in the power play between coach and governing body. The building tension is emblematic of the wrestle for the game’s future. It is for that reason that this employment dispute remains in the headlines despite generic press releases deferring to the process. That Netball NZ failed to see this interest coming and manage the situation accordingly is the most baffling part, particularly when you consider it has had the better part of this year to put the matter to bed.

Silver Ferns players at training last week. Photo / Photosport

In this case, the sport was given a head start with the proper channels working properly and the issue escalated behind closed doors. It’s only the subsequent handling, leading to a deadlock in mediations, that has forced the complaint into the open.

Again, Netball NZ has got itself offside with the public. Off-court disputes are overshadowing the on-court action. The clean sweep in the series against South Africa was eclipsed by these tensions.

Telling people to trust the process is really asking them to trust your management of it. Given Netball NZ’s recent track record, it’s no wonder that this trust is fractured. The longer this drags on, the longer the silence from official channels; the longer the list of voices from outside stepping forward to fill the gap. All of this noise is ultimately a distraction from the netball itself.

Resolution will eventually come. It will shuffle into a joint press conference, having accepted someone’s resignation before repeating the signed-off script about committing to the generic list of recommendations. To get to that point, Netball NZ would do well to learn from its fans and employ their ethics of care for all who love this game.

Alice Soper is a sports columnist for the Herald on Sunday. A former provincial rugby player and current club coach, she has a particular interest in telling stories of the emerging world of women’s sports.