Netball: Hodson swaps whistle for coaching job

By JULIE ASH

Netball in the Auckland region has received a further shakeup with the appointment of Joan Hodson as the Diamonds for the national league next season.

Hodson's appointment came just a day after Yvonne Willering was confirmed as coach of the Diamonds rivals, the Force in the National Bank Cup.

A Silver Fern from 1986 to 1993, Hodson switched to umpiring after her retirement and acquired her international umpires badge in 1997.

Hodson said she had wanted to coach ever since she gave up playing and now she had achieved most of her umpiring goals her focus had turned to coaching.

"I want to be seen as a coach able to develop a potent, dynamic style of netball that will attract back Auckland players who have gone for whatever reasons to other regions," she said.

"But I am not closing the door entirely on umpiring. It is still a very important part of my life."

As well as coaching the Diamonds, Hodson will work fulltime with the two major stakeholders in the Diamonds franchise (Auckland Netball and Netball Waitakere).

The Auckland Diamonds last made the top four in 1999 and the board wanted to appoint a fulltime coach who was able to work all year identifying talent.

Former Diamonds coach Georgina Salter, who lives in Oamaru, was keen to coach the Diamonds but not full time. Salter also has coaching commitments in the Cook Islands.

"Georgie has done a fantastic job for us,' said Diamonds board chairman Phil Holden.

"It was a hard decision to make. Joan has got a lot of mana in the Auckland area.

"She has a good technical understanding of the game and as a player and as an umpire she was committed to being the very best she could. She brings that enthusiasm and commitment to the table."

The only franchise in the Auckland area yet to appoint a coach is Counties Manukau. The side finished bottom of the heap this year under new coach Jan Lundon.

But the big question is what now for former Force coach Maria Lynch, who moved to New Zealand from Australia to coach the side three years ago.

Extremely disappointed to have missed out on the Force job, Lynch will finish with Harbour after the national provincial championships where she is the coach of Netball North.

"I am probably going home," she said. "It is tough to make a decision this week but I finish up here on September 30."

Under Lynch's guidance, the Force finished third in this year's competition.

"It is the board's prerogative to hire and fire, and who wouldn't want a former Silver Ferns coach. But it is very disappointing. I put a lot of time and effort into the team."

Lynch said she would stay if an opportunity arose in New Zealand.