Netball: Forsyth new coach of national league team

Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty appoints Margaret Forsyth as its National League team head coach for the next two years.

Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty has announced the appointment of Margaret Forsyth as its National League team head coach for 2016 and 2017.

"Establishing the National League is a great step for the development of netball in New Zealand and I'm excited to be the coach of the inaugural Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty Zone team," Forsyth said.

"There's plenty of young talent in our zone and I'm looking forward to working with them to develop them not only as players on the court, but off the court too.

"The demands and rigours of ANZ Championship level netball are a big step up for players under the current pathway, so bridging that gap and helping players be better prepared and ready to progress to the Magic is something I'm really passionate about."

To focus on the role and given the concurrent nature of the National League and ANZ Championship, Forsyth will continue to work with Julie Fitzgerald and the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic team in a specialist coaching capacity.

Casey Kopua, who recently announced she is expecting her first child in 2016, will also work with the WBOP Magic in a specialist coaching role.

A feature of the new National League will be the opportunity to play televised matches directly after ANZ Championship games. The NWBOP National League team will have five such games, two of which are home games following the WBOP Magic on Sunday, 17 April in Rotorua at 5.55pm and Saturday, 21 May in Hamilton at 5.55pm.

Appointments to the team management positions of assistant coach, manager and physiotherapist will be made in the new year.