Tuks head coach Jenny van Dyk has done her homework ahead of the 2021 Varsity Netball tournament.
Tuks will be aiming to defend the Varsity Netball title they won in 2019 when the 2021 tournament begins at Stellenbosch University’s Coetzenburg Indoor Centre on Saturday, 21 August.
If they do contest the final on Monday, 30 August, most of Tuks’ players will have a few days of respite before representing the Jaguars in the Telkom National League.
The Telkom tournament will be played in two 10-day bio-bubbles, which makes things slightly challenging as the student players will play in the USSA (University Sports South Africa) tournament in between. Some players could end up playing 35 games in 40 days.
Van Dyk is the general who has to master her troops over these three campaigns. She knows things could get challenging and has watched hours of international netball to help her strategise.
‘There are still so many facets of the game I need to unravel,’ she says. ‘I will always be a student of the game. The day you think you know it all is the day defeat will become a reality. I know that as a coach, I need to work harder. That is what motivates me.’
Van Dyk has earned a reputation as a hard taskmaster. She expects 100% effort from her players but also gives 100% herself.
‘Hard work beats talent every day if talent does not work hard’ is a phrase Van Dyk often uses to motivate her players.
‘The Covid pandemic made last year challenging,’ she says. ‘Due to all the uncertainty about whether the Telkom National League would take place, when there was no time to work on a specific game plan, the only focus was to get the players to gel as a team.
‘I’ve now had time to formulate a specific game plan and we have worked on certain set plays. But it is also crucial that the players take responsibility for what happens on the court. A game plan is only a guideline. I expect the players to be able to make changes amid any quarter of play.
‘One of the things we worked on was Varsity Netball’s Power Play. Some players have never experienced a Power Play as they were at school in 2019.’
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Van Dyk regards Kovsies as the team to beat.
‘It is basically the same team that played as the Crinums during last year’s Telkom National League, so they have no shortage of experience. NWU and Maties are also contenders for the final.’
– Article courtesy TuksSport
Photos: Reg Caldecott
