The 2018 netball season is almost upon, squads are continuing to get announced and teams are preparing for the first round of fixtures in less than a month’s time. One squad that has been preparing for a long time is the Severn Stars who announced their team a couple of months ago. They have recruited significantly with nine new players in the squad which range from youth team promotions to South African imports. Someone that lies somewhere in the middle is England international Samantha Cook who has joined from Team Bath. Under the coaching of new coach Sam Bird, Cook has been working hard during pre-season training.
The defender said: “It has been heavily focused on fitness and we’ve done a lot of running in order that we hit January and condition wise we’re kind of top notch and ready to go.
“We’re starting to progress onto the technical tactical aspect of netball now which for me is quite enjoyable.
“I don’t like the fitness side so much but I am aware that we have to do it but it’s been great it’s been good.”
With so many different additions into the side, including the two South Africans, Maryka Holtzhausen and Phumza Maweni, it could be difficult for everyone to blend together before the start of the season. For the new players it can often be a difficult transition to change teams, just like in any sport, but Cook has been very appreciative of the way netball in the UK promotes a positive tight-knit group mentality.
She said: “Thankfully I’ve known about 80% of the girls anyway which is quite nice how the netball community works you really know everyone so I feel like I’ve slotted in quite nicely.
“The girls have been really friendly the ones that have been here from last year.
“It’s a really cohesive group and we’ve got that real tight family unit, as cliché as that sounds.
“It’s a really nice atmosphere so I feel very included.”
Cook has also been impressed by new coach and her namesake Bird and her training regimes during their early preparations.
“She’s been absolutely great she obviously clearly knows her stuff and kind of provides all the elements you need she very nice on and off the court she gets the job done when she needs to as and when.
“Different type of coach than I’ve had previously but it’s good I think everyone needs that kind of change from a coaching perspective so I’m looking forward to that and seeing how it goes throughout the season.”
Cook has her own personal ambitions this upcoming season with a few areas of her game that she wants to work on. She was however quite reluctant to reveal what these are.
“Am I allowed to say that? What if the opposition hear me?”, she chuckles, “I want to work on my backing-ups so to be able to back-up for a high ball, and to stay on the court because I’m quite injury prone so that would be quite nice also.”
