KEY POINTS:
When it comes to New Zealand netball, assistant coach Leigh Gibbs has done it all.
She's been a player, captained New Zealand to a world championship win in Glasgow in 1987, and coached the Silver Ferns for four years until 1997. But five years ago, Gibbs truly found
her spiritual netball home, and she is still happily ensconced there now.
As assistant coach to Silver Ferns supremo Ruth Aitken, Gibbs could argue her position involves all care and no responsibility.
But going into tonight's final test in Adelaide against arch-rivals Australia in Adelaide, it's obvious that Gibbs takes plenty of both as she works with Aitken to find that extra edge which will lead to victory over a wily and determined foe.
Last Wednesday, Australia comprehensively outplayed the Silver Ferns in Auckland for a seven-goal win in a one-off match.
On Saturday, in the first of a two-test series in Melbourne, the New Zealanders fought back to take a nail-biter of a game 67-65 in extra time.
It's been a busy few days for the New Zealand coaching team since then. Gibbs explains just what goes on once the cheering has abated, the players have warmed down and the crowds gone home.
"Ruth and I sit down and watch the game on video, just looking at things that perhaps we missed courtside in the intensity of it all. We also have our video analyst -- pulling up the numbers, we call it," Gibbs said.
"It's a sports code computer software programme that enables us to pull out information like who gets the first centre pass, who feeds into circle, how many times a certain player might get the centre pass in the middle as opposed to wide...
"We're looking for things that might have changed a little bit that we need to be aware of."
Once the numbers have been crunched, Aitken and Gibbs take soundings from their own experience and input from the players to decide what changes -- if any -- need to be made before the next match.
"In this short turnaround we look at how we may tweak the game plan. Is the game plan the right one, or is it the execution of the game plan we need to look at?"
The process is an intense and concentrated one, Gibbs said, and can be exhausting by the end of a tour.
"We're pretty tired by then. It's not only that time spent discussing and analysing, it's also waking up early because you're thinking about line-up selections, training, all those kinds of things. It's very stimulating too, though."
With elite netball evolving over recent years to a semi-professional status, the administration and management of the Silver Ferns has also developed markedly. Conditioning and technology is more sophisticated, and players have more time to put into game preparation.
"The challenge for us as coaching staff is that, while we have more time with them and players have more time to spend on netball, we've got to ensure that the balance in their lives is there.
"It's important that we create an environment where we get that balance right, not only when we're not touring but also when we're on tour, so they feel fresh and invigorated," Gibbs said.
Having seen both sides of the equation, as player and coach, Gibbs said she prefers her position now.
"Ultimately, with Ruth as head coach, the buck stops with her. She knows she's got a great team behind her -- it's part of my role, to ensure she is able to do her job to the best of her ability.
"I've been there as well, and I actually prefer this job. I certainly don't want the head coach's job, and I don't see myself in that role in the future."
When Gibbs began coaching the Silver Ferns, in 1993, she said the job was in some ways a lot simpler than it is now.
"I got in quite early in a sense, and there was a huge learning curve happening without the support there is now. It was only in the later years that I could have an assistant coach. Team management is hugely different now.
"It's great, because these players are under huge physical pressure out on court -- their health and well-being is absolutely vital. We need to know that's spot on before we go out into a test situation against a team like Australia."
The Aitken-Gibbs philosophy of spreading the load has meant encouraging a team that takes responsibility for itself, sharing the wealth of experience and the load of leadership among the players in the squad before, during and after each international match.
"That's what is so good about this group -- they've got a vast amount of knowledge, and they're contributing really well to ways we can play this game and push the boundaries."
- NZPA
