Netball: Holidaying Scarlett jumps into netball

Anna Scarlett is still committed to representing New Zealand in beach volleyball at the 2012 Olympics in London. Photo / Dean Purcell

You would think after an intense six months on the world beach volleyball circuit that Anna Scarlett would afford herself a bit of a rest while she is home.

But the former Silver Fern made sure she was in for a hectic few weeks when she decided to play for Auckland Waitakere before hitting the sand again for the last two world tour events of the volleyball season in October.

Scarlett was barely in the country a week before turning out for Auckland Waitakere in their opening-round win over Otago last weekend. She will be in action again today when the team take on cross-town rivals Netball North in round two of the Perry Foundation National Championships.

But the 26-year-old said that compared with life on the beach volleyball circuit, where she and playing partner Susan Blundell are in charge of organising all their finance, travel and accommodation, netball felt like a holiday.

"Having a coach and a manager seems like a bit of a luxury to me. It's nice to have someone else worrying about all those extra little details."

Which is not to say Scarlett is finding it all easy going.

The athletic defender had her first competitive game of netball in more than a year in last week's impressive 62-42 opening-round win over Otago. While Scarlett had a solid game against veteran Otago shooting pairing of Jo Morrison and Jodi Brown - both ex-Silver Ferns - she admits she is still finding her feet on the netball court.

"I have to say it's a totally different kind of fitness, I was doubled over a little bit on Sunday," she said.

Auckland Waitakere coach Paula Bailey offered a more glowing assessment, describing the 1.87m defender as a huge boost to her squad.

"She is very keen and obviously a very talented defender and she's still getting her head back in the game a wee bit but I don't think she has lost much at all while she's been away."

Despite her "netball holiday" Scarlett said a fulltime return to the court was still a long way off. She and Blundell remain committed to representing New Zealand in beach volleyball at the 2012 Olympics in London.