Each week Varsity Netball introduces one of the eight talented coaches in the competition. This week it’s Jenny van Dyk of UP-Tuks. She is a former learner of Oos-Moot High School which is the same school where Chantelle Swart, a current Tuks goal attack, matriculated.
Van Dyk, the youngest coach in Varsity Netball, is already a vastly experience coach with 16 years under her belt. She started coaching at Tuks in 2006. She took the U19’s in 2006 and 2007, the Young Guns between 2008 and 2009 and at age 27 was appointed as head coach of the first team in 2010.
What position did you play in your playing days?
Wing attack.
What is the highest level you played at?
I played for the SA U21 team and was twice selected for the Proteas squad.
What made you decide to go into coaching?
I always had a passion for coaching. I just knew that was what I wanted to do.
What coach has played the biggest role in your coaching career?
Elize Kotzé (former Protea, North Gauteng and Tuks coach) and more recently Norma Plummer (former Australian and currently Protea consulting coach).
Which was the very first team you coached?
As a student I coached the Grade R’s of Elarduspark. By the end of the season all of them knew exactly how to play netball and I knew exactly what age group I preferred…. students!
What’s your biggest accomplishment as the coach of Tuks?
Playing in six consecutive USSA finals and winning four of them.
Who are the players that you have coached at Tuks that have since become Proteas? Melissa Kotze, Lindie Lombard, Lenize Potgieter, Shadine van der Merwe, Izette Lubbe and most recently Jeanie Steyn.
Most memorable win in Varsity Netball until now?
The match against UJ in 2014 in Pretoria. We just missed out on a 100 that day (the 98-26 drubbing is still the most goals scored by a team in a match and is the joint second biggest win in the competition’s history).
And what’s that one defeat that still gives you nightmares?
I am a very good sleeper; there are not a lot of things that give me nightmares.
How do you try to stay up to date in terms of new netball strategies and coaching methods?
I try to develop new drills, tactics and strategies on a daily basis. It keeps me creative and thinking. I watch and analyse international matches, attend national training camps, workshops and clinics and furthermore I learn from opposing coaches.
If you were asked to come up with one new innovation for Varsity Netball, what would that be?
We have our hands full with the power play as it is; no need for more innovations thank you…
