After a two-year hiatus due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, the highly anticipated Marie Little Shield will make its return this October.
The 2022 event will be hosted by Netball Australia in partnership with Netball NSW from Wednesday 26 to Friday 28 October at Netball Central, Sydney Olympic Park.
The Marie Little Shield netball competition started in 2013 and aims to provide female athletes with an intellectual disability the chance to represent their state at a national level.
Netball Victoria Community and Junior Development Manager, Tanya Gamble is excited about the return of the Marie Little Shield.
“Having the past two years off has been challenging, but we are super excited to have the Marie Little Shield back. We are looking forward to all our athletes hitting the court and showcasing their netball skill against the other states,” she said.
Gamble highlighted the importance of creating an inclusive environment for everyone to participate in.
The Marie Little Shield is a fantastic opportunity for the athletes to not only build their skills, but more importantly it emphasises that everyone is welcome to play netball. We want to ensure that we are providing an elite pathway opportunity which is welcoming and inclusive for all involved,” she said.
The Marie Little Shield was named after Marie Little OAM, a netballer who dedicated her life to those with an intellectual disability, and is one of several diversity and inclusions programs run by Netball Australia.
The last two Marie Little Shield competitions were hosted in Queensland with New South Wales claiming the title in 2018 and South Australia winning in 2019. With a couple of years off, the Victorian squad will be eager to stamp their claim on the 2022 tournament.
Teams to compete in the 2022 Marie Little Shield event are expected to be confirmed in August. Ticket information and fixtures will be released shortly after.
