Silver Ferns face Brisbane heat

Thursday, 21 January 2010

For LG Mystics/Silver Ferns, Temapara George, Larrissa Willcox, Grace Rasmussen, Joline Henry and Maria Tutaia, their summer holidays have been cut short this year as they kick off their Commonwealth Games campaign with a 10-day training camp in Brisbane. Fellow LG Mystic Cathrine Latu, who has had an impressive season both with the LG Mystics and the Worlds Sevens squad, was also invited along to train with the Silver Ferns.

"It's hard going" admits Cathrine, "and the heat is just crazy at times, but you just have to push through that".

The full New Zealand squad, with the exception of injured defender Sheryl Scanlan, flew out to Brisbane yesterday for what coach Ruth Aitken describes as a "full on conditioning camp".

Aitken said the next 10 days were about setting the tone for what would be a busy 18 months ahead, including the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October and the 2011 World Champs in Singapore.

The players will take part in four sessions a day, working with a range of sports science experts from the New Zealand Academy of Sport including strength and conditioning trainers, physiologists and power specialists.

"They're in for a hard slog" said Aitken.

"It's only 18 months through to World's in 2011 so we've got that real immediacy of a campaign upon us. We want to really lay the foundations in terms of the fitness levels, skill levels and some of the tactical side of things".

On top of the physical load, the players will have to contend with the Queensland heat, which Aitken hopes will prepare her side for the "uncomfortable conditions" in India.