Netball Victoria is pleased to confirm the dates and locations of the 2021 Origin Association Championships. The competition will play a fundamental role in the development and identification of players and officials after a year of limited netball in 2020.
The Association Championships is an integral competition within the player pathway, with more than 70% of Talent Academy players identified at the Championships each year.
Netball Victoria’s General Manager – Vixens, Performance & Pathways, Rebekah Webster, said she was thrilled to see a competition that highlights Victoria's most promising young athletes back up and running.
“The Association Championships help us identify talented Victorian athletes, primarily for our Talent Academy program but also to provide additional scouting for the State team program, the Victorian Regional Academy Sports network and our VNL clubs,” Webster said.
“We also get to see how our Affiliates’ representative team programs are performing and progressing. With representative team programs across the state playing an important role in developing both our athletes and coaches, we are looking forward to seeing players, coaches and umpires back on court in 2021.”
The 2021 Origin Association Championships zone qualifying stages will be pushed back to June to allow Associations and Leagues time to recruit their teams whilst also providing greater player development and preparation time.
An exciting new addition to the competition in 2021 will see the opportunity to showcase talented males within Victoria, with the inclusion of a 17/U male division to the final Championship day.
Victorian Men’s and Mixed Netball Association (VMMNA) President, Matt Blomeley, believes this is a step in the right direction for men’s netball, particularly for those emerging in the younger age groups.
“What a terrific initiative by Netball Victoria to be forging pathway opportunities for boys who make netball their sport of choice. The VMMNA is thrilled to see boys in the 17/U age group be able to represent their local Association, as local Associations are where so many players begin their netball journey,” Blomeley said.
“This is also a wonderful opportunity for the talent identification of boys to begin leading into the VMMNA Elite Pathway. We are looking forward to continuing to work with Netball Victoria on future men’s and mixed opportunities.”
Netball Victoria are pleased to announce all 2020 hosts have been given the opportunity to host in 2021, with Wyndham Netball Association hosting the Central West qualifying day. The Association Championships finals event will be held on Sunday 18 July, at a venue which will be confirmed in early 2021.
Registrations for the 2021 Association Championships will open in February next year. For more details visit netballvic.com.au, or follow Netball Victoria on social media.
2021 Netball Victoria Association Championships locations and dates:
Sunday 6 June
- Central East (15/U & 17/U) – Springvale & District Netball Association
- Northern – Golden City Netball Association
Sunday 20 June
- Central East (13/U) – Waverley Night Netball Association
- Central West – Wyndham Netball Association
- Eastern – Moe & District Netball Association
Sunday 27 June
- North East – Albury Netball Association
- Western – Wendouree Netball Association
Sunday 18 July
- Finals Day – host venue TBC in early 2021
