Enthusiasm For First NZU17 Age Group Netball Tournament

26 teams from around New Zealand have entered the New Zealand U17 Age Group Netball Tournament to be held at Hataitai Courts, Wellington from the 14th to the 17th of July 2009.

The tournament is an extension of the U19 and U21 competition which this year is held in Auckland a week prior to the National U17 tournament.

The teams entered are predominantly Centre based which enables those players who do not, or cannot travel to make regional selections the chance to play at a national level for their Centre.

Netball New Zealand Talent Development Manager Leigh Gibbs believes the new age group will help to establish player pathways from a younger age and is a part of the new Netball New Zealand High Performance Plan to broaden the exposure to higher levels of competition and development at an earlier stage.

“The exciting thing about this competition is that U17 players from both regions and centres will have an opportunity to test their skills in a competitive environment,” She said.

“It is not only a stepping stone for the players into Age Group Netball, but an occasion for the coaches to measure their preparation against the rest of the country, giving them room for development and insight.”