Netball coach Matt Schofield has endured an almost identical conversation many times.

The other boys at his Wollongong primary school would send sledges in his direction when they spotted him playing on the netball court with the girls.

The scepticism continues today when people ask about his passion for coaching various junior club and representative teams, the North Wagga Saints and the Riverina League's representative side.

"Do you have a daughter?

Nope.

"Do you have a sister playing?"

Nope.

"Then what are you doing here?"

For the 34-year-old it's pretty simple. A passion for the game that can't be quenched.

"It was a bit odd (playing netball) and it's the same now with the coaching, especially out here," he said.

"In places like Sydney there's a lot more men getting into it, but in the country it's not really seen.

"It's a lot harder and a lot faster than anyone thinks. That's another thing I said to the blokes when they gave me a ribbing. I'd say 'come play', and they couldn't handle it. It was too hard.

"I still to this day get it. You're a netball coach? What are you, a girl or what? It doesn't bother or faze me, I enjoy it and that's all that matters."

Schofield's passion for netball began aged ten when he became tired of being a spectator at his younger sister Ashlee's matches

He played in girls teams until he was 12 before starting mixed netball, where he won championships at state level.

Four years ago a work colleague asked him to coach the North Wagga under-12s team. The next year he began coaching junior representative teams and has taken the reins of a senior squad for the first time this year.

"I got into umpiring but I didn't like it, it's not that rewarding and too much pressure," he said.

"Even when I played it and now when I coach, I see teams that have a lot of structure and they do the same things over and over again.

"That's one of the reasons I got into coaching because I never played with all of that. I was more off the cuff and doing things other people don't expect.

"Seeing the girls progress, you see them do something on the court and you think I taught them that."

So, how many other blokes are at the coaching courses he attends?

"None," he grins.

"Funnily enough, the last coaching workshop I went to a lady said 'I know you, that one guy in Wagga'.

"There's not really that much stigma anymore, it's not a boy's or girl's club anymore.

"The top echelon of all sports are doing what they can to open it up and it's not about it's about people who are good at what they do.

"That's definitely the way I think it should be viewed anyway."

Schofield said he's still adapting to the changes in philosophies required coaching senior players compared to juniors.

The Saints have enjoyed a solid start to the Riverina League season with three wins from five games.

"There's a big difference," he said.

"With the kids I can say 'do this' and if they don't listen I can say 'go for a run'. With the adults, you do that and they'll tell you to get stuffed.

"It's a different complexity and I've found the kids aren't so set in their ways. Getting a senior team to change what they've been doing for years is harder than moulding kids' games as they're coming through."

Being coached by a man is a new experience for virtually all the Saints squad. But Schofield is gradually earning the trust and belief of his players.

"The older ones came through in an age group where guys just weren't into netball," he said.

"I do tend to get a lot of that 'what would you know' attitude. The younger ones, it's a lot easier and they don't know any different. The older ones... I think I'm still trying to earn the respect."

Schofield was a handy rugby league and rugby union player before netball took over, advancing as far as the under-16 NSW Country rugby side.

A snapped anterior cruciate ligament resulted in him hanging up the boots.

"That (football) was my 'blokey' side and when I went on the netball court it's my other side," he said.

"That was my comeback most of the time. I play footy too, so I can't be too much of a girl."

Schofield's Riverina League representative team will take on Hume at Osborne Sportsgrounds from 2.15pm today. He will also coach the under-15 Wagga district representative team at the same venue earlier in the day.

Saints captain Margie Johnson is one of two North Wagga players in the team, and said Schofield had brought a different viewpoint.

"No we haven't (been coached by a man) but it's really good to get a different perspective," Johnson said.

"He focuses on the basic stuff like acceleration and change of direction, whereas most coaches focus on game play and court play. It's good to go back to basics and get that down pat, then everything else works from there.

"We were pretty excited to have someone new and fresh to the club to bring different insight.

"We get a lot of feedback from the sideline, he's very involved."

WAGGA Blaze coach Peter O'Leary fell in love with basketball the first time he heard a ball make the 'swish' noise going through a net.

He estimates he was around 12 years old as he watched the doctor's son drain buckets, the only kid at Norwood's St Ignatius College in South Australia who knew the first thing about the game.

"I'll never forget how the ball made the 'swish' when it went down and thought 'how cool was that? We got a school team and I've been involved in it ever since," O'Leary, now 70, said.

O'Leary, who guided the Blaze to last year's Waratah Basketball League division one championship, got into coaching virtually by being in the right place at the right time.

He was courtside with his daughters Kai and Megan at a junior basketball game at Wagga's Bolton Park when he was asked if he wanted to coach the under-ten girls.

What followed was a long coaching career including 13 years at the Southern Sports Academy's basketball program.

Many Blaze players also play netball on weekends. O'Leary has no problems with it, as his team reaps the benefits.

"It's not an issue for me. I've always advocated that girls should play a variety of sports," O'Leary said.

"They teach different things and I appreciate netball from the point of view that the only way you can advance up the court is getting open for passing. There's no individual coast-to-coast performances, you have to work as a team to achieve a result.

"Netball teaches you spacing, passing and working together as a team. Basketball teaches you aggression, quick decision making and having an ability to encompass all different skills in the game."

O'Leary said playing a role, however minor, in helping young players achieve their long term dreams is what keeps him picking up the whiteboard.

The progression of one player under his care a few years ago, Ella Buckley, is something he still takes pride in.

A former middle distance running star, Ella's mother sent her to basketball to experience being part of a team, and she found her niche.

"The mother's purpose was she was always out at Jubilee Park training on her own, but there was no socialising or team environment," O'Leary said.

"She was very good at basketball, and they left town after a while to move to Western Australia. Five or six years later I got a call from her father to say thank you after she walked out in Melbourne as the starting five-man for the WA open women's team.

"That's why you do it, it's a big buzz when that happens."

O'Leary also enjoys the team aspect which tends to be more prevalent in the female game.

"A lot of people fall into the trap of comparing the men's game to the women's game. Despite the fact the game is the same rules-wise, it's not the same and never will be," he said.

"In the men's game they rely on athleticism and two or three hallmark players are expected to perform highly each outing. The women's game is more team oriented, it's more strategic and they've actually got to work together to achieve the desired result.

"For me that's playing for the right reasons, it's more desirable than relying on two superstars in the team to get you home.

"The girls are more focused on getting a good performance out of everybody. They tend to bring the lesser-performing players up with them, and get them involved more.

"Players may remember a great performance or a great game they're involved in, but what they remember most is the lifestyle that comes with it, and the people they meet along the way."

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