KEY POINTS:
The Northern Mystics have stepped up their pre-season training in a bid to shake off the unwanted tag of being an unfit and poorly conditioned side.
Concerns were raised over the Mystics' fitness this season, with many commentators blaming poor physical preparation for the Auckland side's disappointing showing in the first year of the competition.
Determined to silence their critics in 2009, the Mystics have placed a high level of importance on fitness in the off-season, with the franchise implementing a rigorous strength and conditioning programme.
The Mystics have appointed two physical trainers and a nutritionist to ensure the team will be fighting fit come the start of next season.
The team are doing three or four group sessions a week, with the players also going on with their individual training programmes in their own time. The Mystics also have a camp in Mt Maunganui next weekend where they will be put through their paces by New Zealand sevens coach Gordon Tietjens, who is renowned for his brutal training sessions.
Mystics coach Te Aroha Keenan said the emphasis on fitness was a necessary move if the club was to succeed as the sport became increasingly professional.
For many players in the team's set-up, it will be the most intense pre-season programme they have ever been involved with, and Keenan admits for some it has been a bit of a shock to the system.
"They were a wee bit stunned with how much was expected of them early on, but they've all got on board," said Keenan.
While there have not been any drastic changes in her side just yet, Keenan said she is confident the results will be evident come the start of the 2009 ANZ Championship season.
"Time will tell how much of an impact it will have. They're putting in the effort and that's all you can ask for really."
One of the big success stories of the new regime is shooter Cathrine Latu, who has been doing her own individual programme for the past 12 weeks. Latu, who holds aspirations of playing for the Silver Ferns, has markedly stepped up her training from previous years and is said to be looking fitter and stronger than ever.
With the players' contracts not officially kicking in until January 15, Mystics chief executive Mark Cameron said the players had been giving up their time to train voluntarily.
"These girls want to be better, they want to take that next step up, so we're really pleased by that," said Cameron.
"Some of the girls are turning up at 6:30 in the morning, because they have to go to work after training, and they're giving up their weeknights and weekends, we can't force that upon them, it's just voluntary."
Cameron insists the new approach was not in response to the flak they copped this year over their fitness - criticisms he claims were "unwarranted".
"We were always going to take advantage of a longer off-season as we build in to 2009 - we didn't have that luxury in 2008. I can still remember this time last year, we didn't know who our players were," he said.
"So we're a step ahead, but then so are all the other franchises, so we just have to make sure we work extra hard."
The Mystics have finalised their management staff with NPC coaches Paula Bailey (Auckland Waitakere) and Natalie Milicich (Netball North) joining the side in the role of technical analysts.
