Netball: Harry Potter bigger than mum's Silver Ferns coaching job

By JULIE ASH

Although their mother had just been appointed coach of the Silver Ferns, Ruth Aitken's children, Michael and Jamie, had much more important things on their mind.

The family had come to Auckland from Paeroa for the coaching announcement.

But while their mother faced the media, 10-year-old Michael and Jamie, 8, and their father Grant were off to see the Harry Potter movie.

"They were delighted I had got the job, but the big highlight of the boys' day was going to see Harry Potter," Aitken said.

"It certainly helps to keep your feet on the ground."

Aitken's playing career began in Thames Valley, where she represented the region in the second division of the national provincial championships from 1971 to 1973.

She moved to Auckland and was named in the Auckland under-21s and then the Auckland seniors.

She then represented North Shore and North Harbour for 11 years, captaining the side for seven years.

She was a Silver Fern in 1979, touring Jamaica and England and competing in the world tournament in Trinidad and Tobago, which New Zealand won.

Aitken's coaching career began with the North Harbour tournament team before she moved on to the Shore Rovers and then the Paeroa College A team and Thames Valley.

She coached the Counties/Manukau Cometz in the Coca Cola Cup from 1998 to 2000 and Waikato in the national provincial championships, in which they were finalists in the past three years.

For the past year she has coached New Zealand A, who beat England and won a tournament in Singapore in that time.

"'I think this year with New Zealand A I have played the Silver Ferns eight times, so I believe I probably know them as well as anybody," she said.

"I am very aware of our strengths and weaknesses.

"I know what an opposition coach will be looking at and I can use that to my advantage."

In comparison, Yvonne Willering became the Silver Ferns coach in 1997 after the most successful provincial coaching career in New Zealand netball history.

A New Zealand player from 1974 to 1983, Willering coached Auckland to 10 straight national provincial titles from 1986 to 1995.

She then crossed the bridge and coached North Harbour to victory in the national provincial championships.

After success with Waikato and the New Zealand A side, Aitken felt the Silver Ferns job was an achievable goal.

"I believe it is another step in my career and one I am really looking forward to, but I am very mindful of the responsibility and the expectation that goes with it."

And her immediate goal for the Silver Ferns?

"I want to provide that winning culture and take them on to success at the Commonwealth Games and at the world championships.

"I think on a good day we can beat any team in the world, but what I need to provide now is that consistency and the mental toughness so we can put together that winning game more often.

"You do that partly through preparation, so we have to prepare well physically, mentally and tactically, and then it is providing that belief in themselves and in each other and that is something I really enjoy."

She said she was not too worried about the closeness of next year's Commonwealth Games and the following year's world championships.

"I think it is very challenging, it will certainly stretch us all and test us.

"But I don't do it on my own, it is really important that everyone in the team takes a step up."

She said major changes were not needed for the team to be successful.