Getting down to grass roots

Southern Steel player Erena Mikaere receives a ball from year three The Terrace School pupil Elle-Anna Eweans during a visit yesterday.

Mikaere and team-mates Rachel Rasmussen and Shannon Francois visited the Alexandra school to meet young netballers, answer their questions and throw a few balls around.

When asked by year three pupil Victoria Zimmerman, ''Why are you here?'', Rasmussen said it was important to get out into the community because ''it's our fanbase that helps us play''.

The whole Southern Steel team was in Central Otago, with members visiting five other schools - Hawea Flat Primary, Millers Flat Primary, Roxburgh Area, Remarkables Park and Clyde Primary - throughout the day ahead of a team-building weekend in Wanaka.

Francois said the team planned to train with the Dunstan High School team yesterday afternoon.