The Academy Netball Challenge is returning this month with over 350 athletes, umpires and coaches converging on Port Macquarie for two and a half days of competition hosted by North Coast Academy of Sport, 24-26 September.
The Academy Netball Challenge is the annual netball competition all NSW Regional Academies of Sport (North Coast, Northern Inland, Far West, Hunter, Central Coast, Western Region, Western Sydney, South West Sydney, Illawarra, South East and Southern), and Sydney Netball Academy attend at the culmination of the netball program. The event is a cornerstone offering for pre-elite netballers state-wide, and is heavily supported by program partner Netball NSW (NNSW). This event is scheduled as a lead in opportunity to NNSW U17 state selections.
The competition includes talent identification, mentoring, workshops and umpire badging opportunities. The Challenge is deliberately created to strongly support athlete, umpire, coach and manager development. Annually, over 275 athletes, 55 coaches and managers, and 25 umpires are supported throughout the competition.
NCAS Executive Director, D’Arcy Van den Bossche said “The Academy Netball Challenge highlights the Regional Academies of Sport systems and partnership with Netball NSW in delivering a structured state-wide progression of the athlete, coach and umpire pathways.”
“The Academy Netball Challenge is also a brilliant opportunity to showcase host regions, their facilities and homegrown talent, proving opportunities exist throughout regional NSW. Port Macquarie’s hosting of our event almost needs no introduction, we all know how beautiful the wider North Coast is.”
NCAS is thankful for the support from venue host Port Macquarie Indoor Sports Stadium, major event contributions from Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, and hospitality from Rydges Port Macquarie. NCAS will continue hosting duties in 2023 and 2024.
More information contact:
D’Arcy Van den Bossche
mgmt@ncas.org.au | 0477 773 228
