NETBALL JAMAICA (NJ) has acquired the services of defensive coach Rob Wright from Australia to work with the national team.
Tricia Robinson, president of NJ, told The Gleaner that the vastly experienced Wright, an assistant coach with Northern Mystics in the ANZ Championship in New Zealand, has been volunteering his services virtually to the national senior team since early January.
“He is assisting the national programme, and he is doing so virtually,” said Robinson.
“We recognised that there are certain areas of the programme that need assistance, and so he was brought on to work with the Sunshine Girls,” she said.
Robinson added that the Sunshine Girls are very excited to be working with Wright, and her association was delighted to have him on board ahead of this year’s Commonwealth Games.
This is the first time that NJ has appointed a defensive coach for the national team.
The Sunshine Girls defensive third has been a problem, especially in the latter stages of their matches over the years, and Robinson said she is now hoping that Wright will help the team to become much better in this area.
SATISFIED WITH SESSIONS
“The Girls have been working with him. They have been attentive, and they are satisfied with the sessions that he has been having with them,” Robinson said.
“This is a strategic move for the organisation, and I do believe that his experience and expertise will certainly benefit the team a lot going forward,” Robinson noted.
Sunshine Girls captain Jhaniele Fowler said she was hoping that Wright would help to improve the team significantly.
“I believe that Netball Jamaica has the team’s best interest at heart, and so they will do what is best for us, so I am feeling very good about this move,” said Fowler.
“To be honest, we have been doing really well in defence, and I feel that he will only strengthen us in this area,” she said.
“I think that any help that we can get is good, and that is going to elevate us from where we are now,” Fowler stated.