How to mix for a match
IT SEEMED something of a mismatch.
IT SEEMED something of a mismatch. As talented a shooter as Stacey Marsh is, to be up against someone of the stature of Kees Jager at goalkeeper would cause anyone problems.
But that is all part of the enjoyment of the summer mixed netball league, which is rapidly growing in popularity.
Marsh, as it turned out, coped admirably as she helped her side to victory in the Division One final at Beau Sejour in a fascinating battle that pitted skilful island netballers against physically advantaged novice men.
Organiser Gill Queripel was delighted at the progress of the mixed league, which is run alongside a women's one.
'We have had 39 teams in total this summer and it could have been 42 because more wanted to join but I had already done the fixtures,' she said.
'We had 18 mixed teams this year and there will be well over 20 next year.
'It is nice to have the girls mixed in with the boys as it brings a different element to their game. Skill-wise, the girls have got the beating of them still, but speed-wise and jumping-wise, the boys have an edge.'
Tactics also proved to be of great importance, particularly which positions to play the men in.
As a general rule, the several basketball stars on show such as James Tracey, Jamie Roussel and Mark Barnett would play in attack to exploit their movement as well as their passing and shooting experience.
On the other hand, the novices, who included many sportsmen who are used to having either a stick in their hand (e. g. Jager) or ball at their feet (e. g. Adam Heaume), often occupied defensive roles due to height advantage and athleticism. The overall winners, captained by Guernsey star Nena Bourgaize, employed this policy to excellent effect.
Either way, though, it was obvious that after eight weeks of playing together, all the teams were gelling into a unit.
'This summer has been great,' said Queripel.
'The boys like it because it is outside the football and basketball season and they are getting better.'
With the number of male players continuing to increase, Queripel wants to develop the better ones and create at least one, possibly two, Guernsey men's teams.
'It is just a case of knocking the rough edges off them,' she said.
'The basketball players have got good timing and greater lift, but they soon realised that they would have to stop the touchy-feely physical aspect of their game that they can employ in basketball.
'They cannot get away with it in netball and they are learning that. There was no more contact out there than there would be in a typical Guernsey-Jersey match.
'The basics are there for me to work on during the winter. We have got to teach them the wily bits of the game.'
As part of the progression of the mixed game in the island, Queripel wants to adapt the biennial Guernsey Open to include male players.
'We are looking at the open in 2006. We want to do something a bit different and perhaps run a women's and a mixed tournament,' she said.
'We could also have a challenge between our men and England men, possibly a best-of-three series. The boys seem to be up for it at the moment.'