Netball: Different views, same outlook

Leigh Gibbs (right) with Ruth Aitken. Michael Bradley / Getty Images

Leigh Gibbs could sit in her lounge and watch the sun rise off the Gisborne coast.

As one half of the Silver Ferns coaching duo, Gibbs is probably up at that time of the morning, but sitting around - highly unlikely.

After 20 years' living in Christchurch, Gibbs, her artist husband Steve and two boys moved to Gisborne 12 years ago.

"It was just one of those things we wanted to do. Steve surfs and I love being at the beach and swimming," Gibbs said before adding: "I have never been a surfie, though."

A bit further up the North Island in Paeroa, Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken has a completely different view from her lounge, looking out over acres of sprawling farmland.

Although their choices in lifestyle differ, Gibbs and Aitken share many similarities.

They were both Silver Ferns, married in the same year, have two sons and both turn 50 in July this year.

Over the next two years they share the same goals - winning the Commonwealth Games gold medal in Melbourne in March and defending the world championship title in Fiji next year.

It is fair to say at this stage that both ambitions are looking very tangible.

"I would never be so bold to say this is the best Silver Ferns team ever," Gibbs said.

"Every year the teams are different, the opposition are different, the circumstances are different. What impresses me about this group is their knowledge of the game, their love of the game and the fact they are very comfortable in each other's company."

Gibbs, who was Silver Ferns coach for five years in the mid 1990s, admits she was surprised to get the call from Aitken asking her to be her assistant.

"It was pretty much out of the blue. I knew her but I didn't know her that well."

After consulting Steve and deciding she was ready for any backlash that may follow, and it did, Gibbs accepted the job.

Now having executed the downfall of arch-rivals Australia, Aitken and Gibbs are as close as it gets to heroines in the netball world.

While there has always been some speculation as to who exactly is helming the Silver Ferns ship, the consensus is that Gibbs is the technical adviser and Aitken the visionary, decision-maker, strategist and voice - in other words, the boss.

Aitken gives the team talk before matches - "she is extremely good at that" - while at the breaks Gibbs tends to talk with the defence and Aitken the attack. But it is not a hard and fast rule.

"I certainly feel she is the head coach, there is no cloudiness there," said Gibbs.

"What is such a strength in Ruth as a person is that she is very inclusive. It is not just me as her assistant that she consults, she discusses things with all the management group."

The pair talked more than twice a week but not always every day.

"It's cool, we talk when we need to."

Gibbs said the need for communication was something she took away from her stint as Ferns coach.

"That is what Ruth does so well. I was a bit naive the first time around in that I just wanted to go out and coach but when you are a national coach there are more components to it and you have got to be alert and astute to all of those things.

"It is challenging and all-consuming at times. When I see Ruth in the role she is such a capable person. She does her homework and works on a no-surprises philosophy ... so that she is prepared for most things."

Gibbs' introduction to the game would be familiar to most netballers. At primary school, netball and hockey were the only two winter sport options, so the tallish Gibbs opted for netball and hasn't had a winter off since.

As for special moments, two stick out for Gibbs. The first as a player when she helped New Zealand win the 1987 world championships and the second as a coach when she helped New Zealand to the 2003 world title.

"Ruth and I often say we could have gone away, sat on a deck chair and had a pina colada during that final in Jamaica. We genuinely believe that ... they were so in the zone. Just so self-sufficient, just so in control."

But while those events stood out, Gibbs said they haven't been her driving force.

"My driving force is that I love the game. I enjoy watching players play the game well and having an opportunity to contribute."

So will next year's world championships spell the end for the dynamic duo?

"I don't think we'll know that until after Fiji and I mean that honestly. You don't know until you get to that point how you are going to feel."

Gibbs, who also works as Netball New Zealand's coach-development manager, admits netball has been her passion, pastime and job, and what she'll do after it is a mystery even to her.

"I often think about that. Honestly I don't know."

There will be plenty of time to ponder it while taking in that spectacular sea view.



Leigh Gibbs


Lives: Gisborne
Status: Married with two teenage sons
Career highlights:
* 1978-89: Silver Ferns
* 1986-87: Silver Ferns captain
* 1993-97: Silver Ferns coach
* 1988-93: Canterbury coach
* 1998-99: High performance manager for Welsh netball.
* 2001: Canterbury Flames coach
* 2001-06: Silver Ferns assistant coach.