Netball

Starlight is an initiative with three specific aims;

• To directly supplement England Netball’s national and regional player pathway structure
• To engage with and form stronger relationships with the North East Netball clubs
• To provide additional playing and development opportunities for players aged 12/13 with ‘potential’ or ‘talent’ as identified by their clubs.

Young players that become part of the ‘Starlight’ Programme attend 4 coaching sessions at Sport Central. Club coaches from across the region are also invited to attend the sessions to network and develop new coaching ideas and discuss coaching techniques with the NSL coaching staff.  With this talented group the focus is on skill development and competition. The youngsters get their own taste of Superleague competition as they compete in a curtain raiser tournament at Sport Central before a Senior NSL game. 

In its first year the ‘Netball Community’ programme has certainly tasted success. Both KIDS camps have run at 90% capacity, Starlight has attracted 30 young players from 12 different North East clubs and Team Northumbria coaches and players have engaged with over 20 different schools and clubs offering coaching support. 

As the programme moves into its second year the aim is to continue to utilise the ‘brand’ of the Superleague to encourage participation and raise aspirations of young players. Through partnership working with the NGB the aim is to continue to develop North East talent at the top end through the Superleague structure and Team Northumbria coaching and support services and put the North East and Team Northumbria on the map in terms of Netball talent performance.

The programme aims to sustain the interest of young players in netball by exposing them to the NSL players and coaching team, to grow the number of opportunities for young players by increasing the number of KIDS camps and coaching provision and encourage young players to excel through access to high quality coaching and service support.

Through this joint working and striving to become at the very heart of Netball Development it is hoped that the NSL’s only North East franchise and offshoot ‘Netball Community’ programme can be an integral collaborator bringing together the expertise from the various elements of North East Netball from schools, clubs and NGB in one focus of Netball development encompassing; increasing opportunities, raising aspirations, development, and improving performance.

To find out more information on our 'Starlight' programme email sportcommunity@northumbria.ac.uk