Netball: 40 years later... and much has changed

New Zealand netball matriarch Lois Muir got a shock the other day when she was reminded that it was 40 years since she played in the inaugural world championship.

She hadn't forgotten the event, but could not believe four decades had passed since the 1963 tournament in Eastbourne, England.

The reminder came from Lynette Ferreira, who played for South Africa then alongside present South African coach Maureen Wagner.

"She said, 'Forty years ago you and I were feeling nervous like them'," 68-year-old Muir said at the 11th championship in Kingston.

"Forty years ago. I thought, 'My God, I don't believe it. I don't feel like that'."

Firm friendships were forged at the tournaments of old because the players had much more to do with one another, she said.

Teams had breakfast, lunch and dinner with their opponents, and the flags of all countries participating were on each table.

After the championship, the South African and New Zealand teams travelled around England's Lakes District together as they waited for their respective ships to arrive to take them home.

During that time firm friendships were forged - Muir and Ferreira still exchange Christmas cards and catch up at tournaments.

The New Zealand team took a month to get to England by ship and they were there for a month before the trip home.

Muir believes that although much has stayed the same with netball during the past 40 years, a lot has changed.

"You played hard, played competitively, but there wasn't the gamesmanship," she said.

"You forgot it when you got off the court a bit more. But I don't say that's wrong or right. Countries are a lot more involved. There's a lot more money invested in teams to do well and there are a lot more political pressures on players."

Wagner said today's game was much faster, and height in the goal circle was more important.

"It just seems much more challenging on court, and there are beautiful movements now, which is generating much more energy on court."

Ferreira believed there were fewer injuries back then, which she attributed to players knowing how to land properly.

"We just used our body weight to land correctly. We protected our bodies against the impact of landing ... and didn't rely on our shoes, so we did not need that much of physios and doctors.

"But obviously today it is needed and it's wonderful to have all that assistance."

Both South African women have fond memories of the first world championship, which they travelled to on the Capetown Castle.

A fence was put up so the team could train at sea, but five balls were lost overboard.

The crew took the court against the team each morning.

"It's very exciting [to be here]," Ferreira said. "We think a lot about what happened at the first world championship in comparison with now. It's much more professional and the game is a bit changed, but still we've got happy memories and we are very glad to be here."

And the result of that first tournament? Muir reluctantly admitted that Australia beat New Zealand by one - a result which, despite the friendships, obviously still rankles.

- NZPA