Netball: Smart tactics needed with baby in tow

Tactix shooter Jodi Brown and daughter Kiana (6 months) pictured at the Edgar Centre yesterday....
Tactix shooter Jodi Brown and daughter Kiana (6 months) pictured at the Edgar Centre yesterday. The Tactix have a crucial game against the Steel in Christchurch on Saturday. Photo by Linda Robertson.
Balancing motherhood and netball is definitely harder than Tactix shooter Jodi Brown imagined it would be.

And when you consider the former Silver Fern is commuting between Dunedin and Christchurch with her 6-month-old daughter, Kiana, in tow, it is a wonder she gets enough sleep let alone makes those crucial shots at goal.

But motherhood seems to agree with Brown. She is happy and it shows. And the goals are still going in.

The former Otago Rebel is one of the best performed shooters in the tournament with 170 goals from 198 attempts at an average of 34 goals a game. But it has not come easy.

Returning to the court after having her first child was not the stroll in the park Brown thought it would be.

"I'm not Julie Seymour and can pop out three kids and still run level 14 on the beep test," Brown said.

"I actually didn't realise how hard it is to come back. I was a little naive and thought it would be easier. But I'm getting in a routine and it is all starting to come together."

Brown is breast-feeding and Kiana is never far from her side.

The little girl is already 72cm and takes after her mum, who is 1.85m, and her father, Markham Brown, who played basketball for the Otago Nuggets.

When in Christchurch, Brown lives with former Rebels team-mates Anna Thompson and Phillipa Finch, both of whom now play for the Tactix.

"It is easier having a stable base in Christchurch," she said.

Anna's mother helps look after Kiana.

But even though Brown has plenty of support, the commuting and netball got pretty tiring, she said.

"There are times when I think what the hell am I doing?"But once she gets out on court it all seems worth it and she enjoys spending time with the team.

Plus, Brown has some unfinished business.

Three years ago, Brown had a heartbreaking setback.

The day before the Silver Ferns were due to head to the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, she landed heavily on her left knee during a training match and ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament.

Her tournament and dream were over.

In her absence the Silver Ferns won gold, beating Australia 60-55 in the final.

Understandably, playing for the Silver Ferns at next year's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi remains a goal.

"I really do have a burning ambition to do the Commonwealth Games, and if that happened it would be great. But at the moment it is about getting through the next couple of ANZ Championship games."

The Tactix have won just one of their five games and their match against the Steel in Christchurch on Saturday is crucial.

"This one is a big one. But so are the rest because we're second to last on the table."

Brown feels their position on the table does not reflect their efforts and they have been unlucky, losing some close matches.

"We're still hopeful of making the top four but can't lose any more matches, especially against New Zealand teams."

The bye came at a bad time for the Tactix.

The team was just building some momentum, despite an agonising two-goal loss to the Magic.

Like the Steel, the Tactix opted against using the week to rest and scheduled a full week of training and a game against the Canterbury men's team.

"That [the bye] worked in the Steel's favour [last week], so hopefully it will work in our favour as well."

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