Netball: When life off court is great

By JULIE ASH

When Adine Harper was asked as a youngster what she wanted to be when she grew up, her answer was always the same - a Silver Fern.

If you asked the 24-year-old what she wanted these days, a world title would be the likely answer.

Harper and the Silver Ferns are in Jamaica preparing for the world championships, which start today.

"The team feel really good, everyone is so excited and committed," Harper said.

These world championships will be her second. She watched from the sidelines last time when the Silver Ferns suffered that heartbreaking 42-41 loss to Australia in the dying seconds of the final.

"I remember being so gutted. But one good thing about netball being semi-professional is that you do have another life. I remember going home and going straight back to university.

"By having something to do you got on with life, which I think was a big help. If netball had been everything I would have found it a lot harder.

"And I was so young - that was my first year in the Silver Ferns - so it was such a big thing just to be there.

"The game I was most nervous about was the semifinal against Jamaican. I was sitting on the bench and I thought I was going to be sick. I was so nervous."

The teams are expected to meet again in the semifinals, and Harper admits she will probably be just as anxious.

"They are going to be a huge threat. You can compare it to Stadium Southland which we say adds 10 points ... playing at home is going to add at least 10 goals to the Jamaican team."

Harper's netball career started at Hawera Primary when she was eight.

"I was right into sport," she said. "I loved athletics, touch rugby, softball and basketball.

"We were always cruising to sport on Saturday mornings."

It was no surprise since her dad, Peter, is a former Taranaki rugby representative and her mother, Annette, and older sister Leah were also handy with a netball.

Adine Harper's talent was recognised early on when she was named in the Taranaki team when she was just 15.

She represented the province for three years before moving to Dunedin to study law and physical education, and was immediately welcomed into the Otago side.

The move helped catapult her into the Silver Ferns and she made her debut against South Africa in 1999, as goal shoot.

"I was just telling someone the other day that I have played every position on court except goal keep in either the National League, for the Silver Ferns or in the Star Series [a one-off North, Central and South Island competition in 1999].

"I played wing defence in the Star Series. In the semifinals of the National League I played at goal defence for the Rebels, and for the Ferns I have played at centre, wing attack, goal attack and goal shoot.

"I am really enjoying this year concentrating on wing attack."

Not that she has entirely given up shooting.

"They tell me I am the Silver Ferns' fifth shooter," she said. "But there would have to be a few injuries before they throw me on. However, I definitely practise my shots because I think it is important for me to keep that in my game. I think it is good to have many strings to your bow."

Her versatility has helped her connect with her team-mates on court.

"You appreciate how much you get whacked in the circle. I am quite glad I am on the outside now," she laughs.

Like all of the Silver Ferns, netball has been the focus of Harper's life for the past year.

But after the world championships Harper, who has just moved to Christchurch with partner Jeff Wilson, a former rugby and cricket international, will hang up her shoes until next year while she concentrates on her studies.

Her degree is all but complete (she has three law exams to sit and one paper to do extramurally in physed) but she has decided a break is in order.

"I am going to go up the mountain for the whole month snowboarding in August - that is my goal," she said. "And I can't wait."

Adine Harper

Born: Hawera, June 8, 1979.

Occupation: Law and physical education student.

Height: 1.80m.

Positions: Wing attack, centre, goal attack.

Caps: 29.

Debut: 1999, against South Africa in Auckland.

Career highlights:

1999-2001, 2003: Silver Ferns.

2001/03: Southern Sting.

1998/00: Otago Rebels