Be bold, be brave, believe – Asha Francis wants new-look Team Bath Netball squad to embrace ‘fearless’ approach in 2023 season
Netballers playing without fear or inhibition, committing to a dynamic style safe in the knowledge they have the total belief and support of team-mates and coaches as they embark on a journey of individual and collective growth.
That is the culture and ethos that new Head Coach Asha Francis is looking to nurture at Team Bath Netball in the months and years ahead as she prepares to unveil a vibrant new-look squad for the 2023 Superleague season.
“I’m really excited about the group we have put together and the players who have come on board with us this season,” said Francis. “This is a new crew ready to write a new chapter in Team Bath’s storied history and we can’t wait for the fans to meet them.
“It will be a different look and different feel, with different ways of measuring success other than just results. We’re looking at the bigger picture moving forward not just into the 2023 season but the ones after that, about how every individual is growing and changing in each game and training session.
“We talk about culture in terms of the players fully committing to what we’re trying to achieve and not being afraid to make mistakes. There might be an error or misjudgement here and there but we want to make sure we learn each time. If we don’t then we’ll never grow or move forward.
“If we’re encouraging things like embracing creativity or shooting from further away, I don’t want the players then looking at me thinking ‘I’ve made a mistake, I’m not going to get picked’. It’s not about that, it’s about how we build each time we train and play, knowing what the process is and where we want to get to, and being fearless in committing to that.
“We also want to make sure we live the values. If we say we want players to be honest with themselves and each other then people have to be having those tough conversations, or interacting in a positive way where they can bring each other up and move each other forward.
“It will be a real battle for players to get out on court, no places are guaranteed, but hopefully there will be that camaraderie within the group to support whoever is out there knowing what we are collectively trying to achieve.
“I am confident the squad and staff will fully embrace what we are setting out to do and I am sure the fans will too. They have such a vital role on our journey, in helping to forge that sense of togetherness and an environment where playing without fear is encouraged and rewarded. I’m hugely excited by the potential of this squad and I hope they will be too.”
The 2023 Blue & Gold squad – with another new sponsor, Bath Building Society, joining the team this season – will be unveiled in the coming days, followed in September by the fixtures for the new season which begins in February.
Stay up-to-date with all the squad, fixture and ticket information by signing up to the Blue & Gold newsletter at netball.teambath.com/newsletter.
