motivations
Netball Swim Athletic Coach

Swim Tip

Swimming is mainly about confidence. Children need to learn how to feel comfortable in the water and you need to start that at an early age. When they are babies, hold them in the water and allow them to kick and move their arms playfully. Never let their faces get in the water or force them to do anything that will make them uncomfortable. The key is to make them trust you and not build a fear of water. Once they are comfortable you can start to encourage splashing. Most babies will splash in the bath. They get their faces wet and learn that water on the face is not harmful. Many babies even learn to hold their breath while they are splashing. The more contact they have with water from an early age the more confidence they will be. Your child will become comfortable in the water through repetition encouragement and enjoyment. So get down to the pool with your child 2-3 times per week. Enroll them into swimming lessons at an early age.

 

Infants before the age of 12 months can be taken in the water. Make it a fun experience, and keep the water nice and warm, 30-34 degrees. These little ones lose body heat up to four times faster than adults. A 20-minute water session is a good limit. Do not take an infant under water, unless you are with a properly trained and experienced instructor. There are special submersion methods used so that the baby does not ingest water.

 

For a child, learning to swim can feel like an adult learning to skydive. Some parents don’t realize this and unknowingly look to throw the child in the water, or force a child into learning in this foreign place where normal rules of gravity are suspended. Swimming is learning to balance oneself in a new environment. A good instructor will gently bring the child outside his comfort zone each lesson, but not so far as to invoke fear. The gradual path is most often the most successful in this arena.

 

Swimming Toys that help you teach your Child to Swim:

Dive Sticks, Rings, Noodles and kick boards are all great toys to help your child gain confidence in the water.

 

Teach your child swimming safety rules:

No Running around the Pool, Never Swim Alone, do not hold someone underwater or push someone in the pool and always use the ladders or stairs when getting out of the pool

 NEVER DIVE IN THE SHALLOW END

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Kirra
Thank you so much for everything you done for me. You are such a greta person and an amazing coach. - Kirra

Phoenix
Hey Marg, your'e the best man, I have learnt so much, enjoyed every minute with you,and thanks for changing me to shooter!! - Phoenix

Rhiz
Hey Marg, you have boosted my confidence,and opened my eyes on where I need to be 4 the future ,thank u - Rhiz

Ngawai
Marg, you are my idol! thank you so much, I have learnt so much from you (how to keep my head up) - Love Ngawai x

Greer
thank you so much for putting your time and effort inot us.You are a wonderful coach, I've learnt so much - Love Greer x

Ariana
Marg, you are the man! Thank you for everything you have done 4 me, i have learnt so much that I will use 4eva -love Ariana

Jess
thanks Marg, I have learnt so much from you not only about netball but about life in general. I hope to take all I have learnt into the future, you're so inspirational! thank you again, love Jess xx

Steph
thank you so much for everything. you have taught me things that I will never forget not only about the game,but about myself. You're an amazing coach... but you already knew that haha - Love Steph xx

Kirsty Bond, Cathedral Grammar
Thanks for the fantastic coaching sessions-they made a marked difference to all our girls. Cheers Kirsty Bond, Cathedral Grammar

Jess
Thanks Marg, you are inspirational! - Jess

Canterbury Wizards - Bob Carter
Ruby enjoyed the school holiday programme. The skills she took from the course have made a huge difference to her netball in such a short period of time, so thank you to you and your Team for this.Bob CarterCanterbury Wizards Head Coach

Carly
Id like to take the opportunity to thank you & the team at Motivationz and really appreciate your time & skills youve shared with Chloe. Many thanks! Carly & Chloe Dean

Linfield Netball - Vicki Simpson
On behalf of our netball club Linfield we would just like to say a big thank you to Donna who attended our netball prize giving on Saturday night the 28th September.Donna was awesome and we have had alot of positive feed back from not only our girls but also parents. With Donna speaking about motivations it has created a real buzz around our club for our girls to attend motivationz, and I.m sure that you will be getting some phone calls from our parents wanting to enroll there daughters to attend. I would also like to past on a huge thank you to motivationz for the sponsorship for one of young ladies to attend for a term and also Steve and Maria Tomlinson for there sponsorship for another three of our girls also able to attend.I know these girls that have been given the chance to come along to motivationz are really excited and are very keen and absolutely love the game.I'm also grateful for the opportunely for these girls, as alot of our girls unfortunately due to some circumstances wouldn't be able to afford to come,and I know the girls that will be coming will be fully committed and make the most of it. Just once again can you please pass onto Donna ours Thanks for speaking at our prize giving. Vicki SimpsonLinfield Netball

Julie, Jenna and Megan
Getting to Motivationz has been a bit of disaster this term with our US trip and after school appointments and then the EQ! And....I am very sorry, but we will miss it again tonight!Megan needs to see the Orthodontist about her braces and the only time they have is 4.15pm!! Many apologies. Jenna is still only Year 4 but is very competitive and, I feel has the making of super netball player. She picked up so many brilliant skills this year and has put them to very good use in her first netball season. Megan is not so competitive but has quietly enjoyed the training and again, applied herself really well on the courts. You have inspired her so much that she has even enrolled for Twilight Netball! Your coaches have this amazing way about them. An energy and enthusiasm that inspires everyone...including me! We have learnt some amazing skills again this year and have come out of every session smiling...in fact Jenna never wants to leave! The girls have never played better since joining you and the Motivationz team and so a HUGE thanks to you all! Enjoy the holidays!Julie, Jenna and Megan

From Richie Dimbleby
Motivationz is an outstanding offering!!! Our son has benefited hugely from this course; not only gaining skills, but growing in confidence both on and off the field. The calibre of the coaches involved is at a level which is second to none, which in itself gives kids the incentive to achieve. Motivationz provides a professional, fun and engaging environment for all involved.

From Glen and Masayo Falconer
I wish to thank Motivationz Rugby Team for their pre season programme. It was such a fun environment in which we had two of our sons enrolled. With the intensive fitness & ball handling skills been taught from a former All Black (Scott Robertson) & a former NZ Sevens player (Jason Tiatia), our kids were left in awe and with much inspiration to strive higher. We can highly recommend this for kids of any ability.

From Kate Pauling
I am writing to express my gratitude to Scott and his team for the effort and remarkable way they have with the children in the Motivationz Rugby training held at Heaton.My son Jackson loves all aspects of the training; it is fantastic to see the push that is given to fitness and the skill level that the boys are required to achieve. These sessions have a full impact on the boys game and it gives them some tools to utilise within the competition. I would strongly recommend any child wanting to further their Rugby skills to attend these trainings.

From Lee Early
My son Connor has attended several of Scott Robertsons Training Sessions over the off season. Last week was the first game of the season for Connor and over the course of the game most of the parents came up to me and commented on how much Connors game has improved since last year. (They had an impressive win) Connor has really enjoyed attending the training sessions and I can see how much his technique and understanding of the game has improved since attending Scotts sessions. I would highly recommend them to any parent who child is interested in improving their fitness and Rugby skills.

From John Mills (All Black)
This has been the best year for player development in my coaching career at secondary school level. I am the co-coach of the Rangi Ruru 1st XV with 26 years experience and I feel completely rejuvenated. This year we employed the services of Scott Robertson to run one of the skills practices. He was impressive. He was flexible (addressing our exact skill needs as we improved throughout the season), well organised, engaging and really enjoyable. As the girls skills improved so did their confidence and enjoyment. Attendance at practice improved and even the old dog coach learned a heap of new tricks. I could not speak highly enough of the coaching ability of Scott Robertson. You hear a lot of stuff on coaching courses but what you really want is just the stuff that makes a difference to the teams performance and success on the field. If you want the good oil and less of the white noise give Scott a ring. He is the man.

Scott Robertson reference
This has been the best year for player development in my coaching career at secondary school level. I am the co-coach of the Rangi Ruru 1st XV with 26 years experience and I feel completely rejuvenated. This year we employed the services of Scott Robertson to run one of the skills practices. He was impressive. He was flexible (addressing our exact skill needs as we improved throughout the season), well organised, engaging and really enjoyable. As the girls skills improved so did their confidence and enjoyment. Attendance at practice improved and even the old dog coach learned a heap of new tricks.I could not speak highly enough of the coaching ability of Scott Robertson. You hear a lot of stuff on coaching courses but what you really want is just the stuff that makes a difference to the teams performance and success on the field. If you want the good oil and less of the white noise give Scott a ring. He is the man. John MillsAll Black

Leanne

I would like to thank all of the coaches at Motivationz Netball I was in our school C team last year and after 2 terms with Motivationz I was picked in the School A team for 2011. Thank you so much

 Rachel

Jemima had a great time at the holiday programme. She enjoyed it and it is helping lift her confidence and her game. She is learning new techniques and tips.
Our family are keen netball supporters but have little in depth knowledge of the game.. Jemima often has young coaches who are great but don't have the experience the coaching team at Motivationz does so she remembers almost of every tip she gets when she's with your crew.
I'm on the Committee for Technical Club this year, team manager for Jemima's team and parent helper for my younger daughter's school team. I'm recommending you highly to other parents. If we lived closer to Bishopdale, Jemima would be attending Motivationz regularly during term times. I found Rangi quite easy to get to at lunch time during the holidays and Jemima enjoyed the facilities there.

S Noonan

Hi Marg and Antony I just wanted to say thanks on behalf of my daughter to you and your team for helping her to have the confidence to reach for her dreams.  She has just heard that she has made it through the first stage of the independent trials and has been invited to trial for the Canterbury under 13 rep team. Even if she gets no further it’s such a Hugh boast to her confidence and great to see a little girl who only three years ago was in the E team move into the A team and a chance to go further well done!!. Thanks S Noonan

Julia

Thank you very much for todays training session. I have never seen such an improvement in the girls skills in such a short time.  Many Thanks Julia.

Curly Esther

We have had an awesome time away representing our tiny nation.. … The tournament itself was a great experience and I really enjoyed the opportunity to be playing amongst the best from the pacific region.  Marg You were so awesome as Coach, your positiveness and how you speak to us as players is just amazing….really lifted my spirits everytime you speak….and I really admire you very much.  I love the passion and also the joy that I see in your eyes…haha…gosh look at me hehe.  Seriously you have been a breath of fresh air for Cook Islands netball and we as players will forever be grateful.  I also appreciate the fact that Maddy was with us…she was just super fantastic as well….always being there for the team…..i really feel proud and humbled to have met both of you.

Ingrid

Dear Marg
Georgia was recently involved in the 3 days of coaching over the school holidays with you and your team….she loved the opportunity and obviously gained a massive amount out of it because seeing her on the court now…she looks like a different child….she has had comments from staff, parents and her team mates about “what happened over the holidays???”
The coaching seems to have given her some wonderful skills and a much better understanding of the game and clearly she herself can see the massive improvements.

Rachael

Firstly I want to say thanks for offering such a wonderful programme for the children to attend. 
Both my girls, Annabelle 11 and Emily 9, attended your Young Guns holidays programme a couple of weeks ago.  It was awesome and I totally saw a different side to Annabelle with her netball, instead of me being picky with her