The ‘hoist’ tactic proved to be a game changer for the Fiji men’s netball team, leading to their remarkable victory in the Men’s Netball Nations Series held in Singapore last week. This defensive strategy, originally developed by the Singapore netball team and popularized by former Silver Ferns star Anna Harrison over a decade ago, played a crucial role in Fiji’s stunning win against Australia, with a final score of 55-54.
Initially, Fiji faced a challenging start, falling behind with an eight-point deficit in the first quarter. However, the team’s head coach, Jioweli Makare, recognized the need for a robust defensive strategy against Australia’s structured and precise shooting. He stated, “Australia is too clinical and very structured. Their shooters are putting those balls in even with only one defender. We had to come up with a strategy to block them.”
Drawing inspiration from the experiences of renowned defenders, Makare encouraged his players to implement the hoist tactic effectively. This legal defensive maneuver involves one defender lifting a teammate to obstruct the shooter, as long as they are within three feet of the shooter. This strategic shift allowed Fiji to challenge Australia’s accuracy, ultimately resulting in missed shots as the game progressed.
In recognition of their achievement, the team was honored with a morning tea celebration hosted by FinanceHub at Vinod Patel in Centrepoint, Suva.
This victory not only showcases the adaptability and resilience of the Fiji men’s netball team but also highlights the importance of strategic innovation in sports. The successful implementation of the hoist defense could inspire other teams to explore creative strategies in their gameplay.
Summary: The Fiji men’s netball team utilized the ‘hoist’ defense tactic to achieve a historic 55-54 victory over Australia in the Men’s Netball Nations Series in Singapore. Despite a challenging start, head coach Jioweli Makare’s strategic adjustments allowed his team to counter Australia’s sharp shooting, leading to key defensive stops that secured their win. Following this remarkable achievement, the team was celebrated by their sponsors.
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