Zones
Our Performance Squad is a great development and exposure opportunity for individuals looking to excel in performance netball. As a key component of the Netball Northern Performance Pathway, the squad focuses on personal growth within a setting that fosters the lifestyle and dedication needed to thrive at a performance level.
Performance Squad – Stage 1
In January 2025 , open trials will be held and up to 30 athletes will be selected for a 6 week Pre-season training block focused on skill development and conditioning to build into the 2025 season. Training alongside Northern Mystics athletes. Sessions coached by Northern Mystics, Northern Marvels and Netball Northern performance coaches.
To register for these trials please complete the form here
Performance Squad – Stage 2
In March, a squad of 12-15 players will be chosen from the Stage 1 squad, marking the start of a 10-month programme that features varying phases of training and development, depending on the ebbs and flows of the netball season.
The squad is expected to uphold the following player standards:
- Show growth and aspire to succeed in a performance netball environment.
- Be committed and responsible for your own success.
- Commit to an annual training programme.
- Register with only one club or school team and play at only one netball centre (registering with more than one netball centre is at the discretion of Netball Northern and will only be considered for representative playing opportunities).
The squad will have access to performance support services such as:
- Coached strength and conditioning sessions
- Gym membership
- Coached netball skills sessions
- Individual athlete planning and advice
- Exposure to either the NNL or ANZ Premiership netball training environment
The squad will be taught the habits for succeeding in performance netball such as:
- Time management
- Open and honest communication
- Prioritising training to meet individual performance objectives
- Understanding that testing and monitoring is a normal performance process to support ongoing development
To be a part of the Performance Squad there is a fee, and players must sign an agreement to commit to the programme.
Our Netball Northern Performance Pathway works to prepare players in our zone who show potential and aspire to reach performance netball. Our focus is on offering individual development in an environment designed for learning the lifestyle and work ethic to succeed at a performance level.
Below is an info-diagram illustrating our Performance Pathway. It starts with our scouting programme selecting those to invite to Development Day, followed by Summer Squad sessions, then open trials for our Performance Squad and the National Netball League (NNL) Squads. The Pathway is not a pre-requisite for squad selection but aims to support and grow players.
For questions regarding the Performance Pathway, please send us a message via our Contact Us page to ‘Performance Pathway'
Netball Northern is committed to growing and developing athletes within our zone. We do this by supporting netball centres with their development and representative programmes, as well as providing the Netball Northern Performance Pathway for those in our zone with the potential to reach performance netball.
Below is Netball New Zealand’s High Performance Pathway image. This pathway includes the zone/centre development programmes and the zone performance programmes which we are responsible for within Netball Northern Zone.
Visit the Netball NZ website for more information about the Netball NZ High Performance Pathway
Our Zone/Centre Player Development
Player development starts with the 16 netball centres within our zone. This includes the Player Development Programme (PDP) for years 7&8, and the under 16 and under 18 representative programmes. We provide our centres with support in developing coaches, managers, umpires, players and parents in this development space.
Our Zone Performance Programme
Our Netball Northern Performance Pathway works to grow the number and quality of performance netballers in our zone. The pathway works by identifying players with the potential to reach performance, and provides them with the opportunity to develop in an environment designed for learning the lifestyle and work ethic required to succeed at a performance level.
After viewing and testing 94 of our top secondary school players across three different cluster development sessions we are pleased to invite 21 players to an extra development opportunity and name 7 reserve players
This year the Upper North Island Secondary Schools tournament (UNISS) saw over 140 umpires take part, with the support of 17 umpire coaches who were a part of the Netball Northern and Netball WaiBoP Zone Umpire Panels.
In a heartwarming show of community spirit, Northern Mystics players Phoenix Karaka and Grace Nweke, took part in the Barfoot and Thompson annual fundraising Quiz Night aimed at raising money for the Starship Foundation.
This season Whangārei Netball Centre have been working to recognise their volunteers who play a crucial role by contributing their time, skills, and energy across the essential areas of netball.
Congratulations to the Netball Northern Bench Officials and Umpires who were a part of the 2024 NetballSmart NNZ Open Championships. It’s great to see the high calibre of those from our zone representing within this Championship.