Yesterday national selectors announced the 17/U, 19/U and Tall Athlete squads ahead of upcoming high-performance pathway camps. Netball Victoria is thrilled to see some great local talent – from areas right across the state – named in all squads again this year.
The three squads, named by national selectors Cathy Fellows, Jo Macdermid, Maria Lynch, Melinda Clarke, Jill McIntosh, Tania Obst, and Stacey West, showcase the nation’s rising talent and represent a group of young athletes who will now benefit from Netball Australia’s elite pathway camps.
Netball Victoria Chief Executive Officer, Rosie King spoke of the strength of the Netball Victoria Pathway program.
“The Victorian Netball Pathway remains one of the strongest development pathways for our sport in the country, and yesterday’s announcement once again supports the work we are doing to develop young netballers from grassroots through to elite level,” said King.
“We [Netball Victoria] have a strong commitment to the pathway program and continue to invest in this area, sourcing the best coach and development staff we can and working with our clubs and associations to align talent with our pathway programs from a junior level,” said King.
“To see 12 Victorians selected across the 17/U, 19/U and Tall Athlete squads in 2017 is wonderful. We are so pleased to see more young talent coming through our pathway and aligning with Netball Australia’s national pathway program. Congratulations to all those selected,” said King.
The announcement also comes off the back of Victoria’s recent success at the Nationals Netball Championships competition, where the 19/U team took out the premiership and the 17/U team were runners-up.
The 17/U camp focuses on player development of their playing position; developing their skill set in the attack and defence units; then translating this new knowledge into match-play. The 19/U and Talls camp extends the athletes knowledge and application in specialised skill, stretching, and challenges players to start thinking differently about their game.
For the first time, a New Zealand representative side will join the 17/U camp, exposing the athletes to international competition.
All three camps will be held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, with the 19/U and Tall Athletes camps beginning 25 June and the 17/U camp from 25 September.
