Because, as Mrs Balme explained, the Black Sticks tour to a strict budget and that means meal breaks are generally taken in one of the rooms.
She shops, plans and prepares the lunches and dinners for her "family" of 18 young women.
It is a straight forward and sensible strategy - the savings mean there's more in the budget for equipment, as well as having the financial ability to take an extra player on tour.
Then there is the social factor.
"It is good to keep everyone together - if I see one of the girls is a little quiet during lunch I'll go and see her later and ask how she is."
There is a very Kiwi approach to the way the management team operates.
It's built around respect and enjoyment, and when it comes to the catering side Mrs Balme said there were a couple of items they never went on tour without.
"A toasted sandwich maker and cans of spaghetti - hits the mark every time," she laughed.
She has a long association with sport and with husband Geoff helped set up a natural luge track in Naseby in Central Otago and, during the winters, they would run camps for young luging enthusiasts.
The couple were also both volunteers at the Calgary Winter Olympics in 1988.
Their children played hockey and so did she - "but I knew I wasn't quite up to making the Black Sticks".
She managed a couple of school teams and also a masters team, and while doing that was approached by former Black Stick skipper Di Weaver, who asked her to consider taking on the role for the national side.
She didn't follow it up immediately until Di approached her a while later and asked if she'd put her name forward yet.
"She said if I didn't she would ... now here I am and it has been the most amazing eight years of my life."
She has been to two Olympics and will embark to Rio for her third.
Her first overseas tour, to Azerbaijan for the Champions Challenge in 2007, was an eye-opener.
"There was a lot to sort out - the logistics were huge," she said. "Taking 18 young blonde women into a country like that was challenging - a real culture shock."
They stayed in a gated community with armed troops on guard.
They could not travel anywhere without major security management and armed guards.
She took on the challenges and eased the girls through an extraordinary time.
"I'm a mum and I'm a Virgo, so I was born to organise," she said with a laugh.
"We all work off each other to make it go well because the girls sacrifice a lot to be part of it all".
And the best reward she ever gets is a simple, but sincere "thanks Deb".
She said she was often called a "second mum" and enjoyed hearing that.
"These girls are away from home and girls need their mum."
Like any group there was always a range of personalities, and there had been times when she was approached for comfort.
"We have been on tours when word had come through that a grandfather had passed way - or a boyfriend had walked away."
She said yes, she was happy to be an agony aunt.
She said the focus and close-knit professional approach of the whole management team ensured the Black Sticks had the very best foundations to reach their potential out on the field.
It was also good to be back on the playing road for such an important event.
"Oh we love Hawke's Bay - been here several times," she said, adding that as it had been on past tours locals had done their bit to keep the squad in good shape.
"We've had people drop off blueberries and apples for us."
While she did make make the grade as a player back at her Hamilton home, she said she was proud to be able to wear the silver fern in her management role, as it ensured she too was proudly representing her country.
In every way, from getting lunch sorted in her room to counting the girls on and off the buses.
"And I've never lost one of them yet," she laughed. "Touch wood."
