Now for the Aussies...

Hawkins with the Test series trophy

England Arrival date: 20th March 2008, two weeks later the Co-operative International series against Malawi began, running from 9-14 April. Four days to prepare an international side for an International series, not impossible, but a challenge for any coach.

Our first team meeting was different, I had just met my staff that day and now it was time to meet the players:

"Hi girls, my name is Sue Hawkins and I am your new National coach for the next four years. My goal is to take each one of you to the highest pinnacle in world netball; I am not here to play fair but to win. I hate losing and the person I want to beat more than any other in netball is Norma Plummer, coach of the Aussies. We are great mates off the court but fierce competitors on it. So who is with me?... Good. than the next few days are going to be hard, tough and a contain a lot of information for you to take in."

So how do you transform a team in four days? By surrounding yourself with switched-on staff, who are capable and able to step in whenever required. People who think outside the square and can move and shake all in the same breath.

Who understand the philosophy of winning and can do their job without having to be asked. That's who I worked with and why we worked so efficiently. The key to any job, no matter how long you have before you tackle anything, is to have open communication.

One step ahead

To set the guidelines, not rules as I always tried to break rules as a youngster and stretch the boundaries as far as possible. Maybe that's why I am one step ahead; well that's what I think

The grounding I have received from the psychologists that I have worked with over the years has taught me many things, none more important than to anticipate the "What if?s". What if this happens, how are we going to deal with it? We started planning and working out the what ifs early which enabled us to work effectively. It took no time before both staff and players were into the grove of this thought process.

We had all seen Malawi in Auckland at the World Championships last November, but the question in every mind was will they be better than they were then? Absolutely yes! They were fitter, stronger and craftier than ever before; they were organised and tactical, they were a team that could bite you quickly somewhere and then enjoy the whole occasion with a smile and a wave to the crowd. When deadling with team like this, that are physically tough, you need to keep reminding players about the Cat and mouse theory of "Catch me if you can".

The results went our way but in the third game at Wembley our start was very ordinary which made the grey hairs pop out of the coach's head. Momentum changed and the greys subsided and the appointment with the hairdresser got put back another week!

Unity

I am a firm believer in "Expose to Experience", and during the series young players were blended with experienced players on court to allow them to learn about the international scene. The unity of the 21's programme and the National programme was evident as I worked with the U21 coaches on the bench.

"Madonna" was my court side name with the inclusion of the head sets. They weren't there to make us look important but to make sure that the medical staff and the coach could work closely together during injury time outs. This is the direction for netball, following new rules introduced by IFNA and if I have to sing and dance I will to make it work!

So now we have some down-time for players and up-time for the staff. Plan for perfection, which is where we are heading. You need to plan the future and plan to win. This is the time to get organised to beat the world champions at their own game. Time to work with every coach in England and get their thoughts and ideas. We maybe in a position which others may aspire to; however we are never to knowledgeable or arrogant to learn and take advice.

And we will be constantly thinking ''What if this happens?''

More next month!