The Crest Fiji Pearls are set to enter a crucial phase of their preparations this Sunday as the team comes together for its first camp ahead of the Netball World Cup Oceania Qualifiers in Tonga.
With the qualifiers approaching, Crest Fiji Pearls, Head Coach Michelle Parsons says the upcoming camp will be an important opportunity for the players to build the connections needed to perform as one unit on the international stage.
For the players, this will be the first time the selected players come together as a complete team, making the week-long camp both an exciting and demanding period of preparation.
“The upcoming camp is a chance for the girls to come together as a team for the first time, so the focus will be on connections and learning each other’s strengths,” Parsons said.
Parsons expects the intensity of the camp to be high as the players work to quickly understand each other’s game and develop combinations across the court.
“Because the team have never played together as a group, it will be intense ‘speed dating’ type of accelerated unit and teamwork,” she said.
The coaching staff will challenge the players not only on their individual skills, but also on how quickly they can adapt to different combinations and situations.
“Players will all be challenged on their individual execution of skills as well as their ability to quickly adapt and adjust to different combinations and scenarios,” Parsons said.
With international competition demanding composure and quick decision-making, consistency under pressure will be a major focus throughout the camp.
“We will be targeting consistency and decision making under pressure,” Parsons said.
While the focus now shifts to team preparation, Parsons says the players have already been undertaking individualised programmes designed to ensure they arrive at camp physically prepared.
The preparation has been demanding, but there is a strong sense of excitement within the squad as the players finally get the opportunity to work together.
“Girls are excited to finally be able to get together and prepare as a team,” Parsons said.
That excitement will now translate into a week of intensive work as the Pearls look to build trust, sharpen their combinations and develop the consistency required ahead of their campaign in Tonga.
The Crest Fiji Pearls are scheduled to depart Fiji on September 8, with the Oceania Qualifiers taking place in Tonga from September 14–18.
