Netball: Springboard to the top came on a trampoline

Geva Mentor

Geva Mentor
Born: September 17, 1984
Height: 1.87m
Occupation: Sports coach.
Caps: 26
Career highlights 2001-2005: England netball side 2001-2005: Bath Force Super Cup team

It is hard to imagine the long, lean limbs of England defender Geva Mentor flipping around on a trampoline now.

But as a youngster that is exactly where Mentor felt most at home.

The towering defender, who has proved a challenge for the Silver Ferns shooters, was an accomplished trampoliner in her younger days, competing in junior national events.

She partially credits her success on the netball court to her trampolining background.

"I have been quite lucky in that I have done sport from a young age and I have been able to handle myself and my hand-eye co-ordination is quite good," she said.

Mentor and her partner in crime Sonia Mkoloma have a slightly different defensive style to that of New Zealand and Australia players in that they really maximise their height and long rangy arms. While defenders of similar height and stature often grapple with speed and control, Mentor and Mkoloma seem to whip their tentacles out and connect with the ball at lightning speed. They also appear to have mastered the ability to block the ball when a shot is being taken.

"We know we have got our height and we have got our timing and we know we can do it, that is why we go for it," Mentor said when asked about her blocking technique.

Mentor and Mkoloma have played together for the past five years. "We have got a good connection on and off the court which I thinks makes a difference."

Not surprisingly, Mentor loves the challenge of taking on New Zealand's super-shooter Irene van Dyk.

"I always look forward to playing against Irene, I think it brings out the best in my performance.

"She is a lovely person in general, she plays to my strengths, the height and the elevation which I like."

Growing up in a sports-mad family in Bournemouth, on the south coast of England, Mentor didn't really embrace netball until she was in secondary school.

England officials caught sight of her in 1998 after which she ploughed through the grades at great knots.

"I made my way through the ranks really quickly. I did one year in the England under-17 side then went into the senior squad and haven't looked back since."

At just 20 years of age she is the youngest in the England side but one of the most capped.

"It means I don't have to carry the balls anymore," she laughs.

"Trampolining was a very individual sport, I found that quite tough and I struggled a lot with nerves.

"But I have really found myself in a team sport."

With the standard of netball in England lagging behind New Zealand and Australia, Mentor said the national side has benefited from having New Zealanders Lyn Gunson and Waimarama Taumaunu as their coaches then Australian Marg Caldow.

For Mentor, former Silver Fern defender Taumaunu was particularly helpful.

"She was excellent, she was just what England needed, especially for our defence.

"She was a very strong coach, very scary, but we like those ways."

Like New Zealand and Australia, England have their sights set on Commonwealth Games and World Championship success.

"Ultimately we want to take home a gold medal at the Commonwealths and the world champs and to improve our ranking - and really just pick up the media side in England and get it has high as football ... that will be a big ask, actually," she laughs.