By Aaron Goile

Former Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic coach Noeline Taurua is helping develop the game in the Cayman Islands.

While she has no official position at this point, Taurua recently spent four days in the Caribbean after being invited to help them put structures in place.

“I know people, obviously, and they know people, and it just sort of married up that the timing was right,” she said.

“Where they’re at at the moment is doing up a strategic plan as to what they want in regards to netball. Basically at this stage there’s no position attached to that.”

Now Taurua is helping write the report which will outline the way the country – which does not even have an international ranking – will progress. Following that, she may be employed in some sort of role.

“It’s huge that they’ve even got to this stage and [are] looking at furthering netball in the country.

“They haven’t got much structure, to be honest. The only thing that they have which is positive is they have women that love the sport. So they’re starting really basic.”

The country has a primary school competition running from September to January, along with 10 other clubs.

“So it’s just looking at their infrastructure and looking at the gaps,” Taurua said. “They’re not rich, obviously, and it’s just looking at what they have there, what other resources they can tap into and just increasing the profile of netball in that country.”

After 11 years as coach of the Magic, Taurua has been keeping herself busy with netball consultancy work and short-term contracts, including setting up a Monday-to-Thursday academy in Rotorua for developing players.

“It’s more using the sport as a vehicle towards positive activity, more the social side, increasing fitness, nutrition, hydration, just things that any individual needs to survive at a really high level,” she said of the academy.

Taurua is also part-way through her two-year online Masters of Science and Performance Coaching through Scotland’s University of Stirling, which will give her a level four British coaching qualification, for which there is no equivalent in New Zealand.

Along with all of that, she has been keeping an eye on the Magic.

She saw their first few games, missed the past few, and will be in Hamilton as part of the Sky TV commentary team for tomorrow night’s game against the Northern Mystics.

“I think they’re doing brilliantly. And I’m looking forward to actually seeing them live,” Taurua said, adding that her stepping down had been the right call.

“I think there always comes time where you need just a bit of a difference, and something new.

“And I think the time was right. Sometimes you can just regurgitate the same old thing and get the same old product.”

While Taurua steps into a commentary role again, it’s not something she’s set her heart on.

“I’m not committing myself to a lot of things. Because I’m not committed to any contracts as such, people just make contact if they want my help, and either I’m available or not.

“I’m doing a variety of things and learning at the same time. And it’s quite exciting just to get different perspectives from things I haven’t experienced before.”

Photosport STEPPED DOWN: Noeline Taurua is no longer in charge of the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/sport/9958117/Noeline-Taurua-helping-out-Cayman-Islands