Netball: Change is in the air as Ferns enter new four year cycle

Silver Fern Laura Langman. Photo / Natalie Slade

For Silver Ferns midcourter Laura Langman, part of what made losing the world championships so heartbreaking was knowing that the group of 12 will never be together again.

Some like Irene van Dyk and Temepara George are in the twilight of their careers and may feel at the beginning of a new four-year cycle the time is right to step down. Others may take the opportunity to start or extend their families.

"I think we're still in the grieving process. But, man, I'm super proud to be in a team like we have developed over the last four years, it's certainly one of the best I've been involved in, so the more that can carry on the better," said Langman.

Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken also has some decisions to make over her future. Her contract is up at the end of next month and she is yet to indicate whether she will seek another term in charge of the team after 10 years in the role.

Aitken said she was not willing to make any decisions until the dust had settled on the loss and she had time to reflect on whether she was up for the challenge of leading the team through the next phase.

"I've just said to the girls and reinforced that this is not the time to be making decisions. Our heads are just spinning really. We just need to get home and reconnect."

Aitken, who last week not only became New Zealand's most-capped coach, but also the world's, said her enthusiasm for the job has not dwindled over the past decade.

But it will come down to whether Aitken still feels she has more to offer the team, or if she is ready for a new challenge.

Netball New Zealand may also come under pressure to freshen up the coaching line-up with Aitken having led the Ferns through three world championships and three Commonwealth Games campaigns.

Van Dyk said she was keen to stay on - she is already talking about the England and Australian test series at the end of the year.

But she said she still needed time to mull it over at home.

"I desperately want to carry on. Once you stop playing at this level you can never come back - so I just want to enjoy the last couple of years as much as I can."