Coaching

Umpiring is very rewarding and is a great way to contribute to your community, give back to the game, and to meet and connect with others involved in the sport we love. Community umpires are essential to the enjoyment and delivery of netball at your local centre.

Getting Started 

Your first step on your umpiring journey is to complete the Netball New Zealand Learning to Umpire Module. You can find the module here Sports Tutor - Logon Page.

Here are the instructions for signing up to Sports Tutor and to find the module.
New Player Umpire Module - Instructions Sports Tutor

Once you have completed your module you can work towards your Introductory or Centre Award. You will do this with help of umpire coaches at your local centre. Please find the contacts for each Centre here.

Alternatively, you can contact:
Colleen Bond (Umpire Lead) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

All the best on your umpiring journey.

Netball NZ Umpire Hub

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After viewing players from approximately 60 school teams and 25 Representative teams at various Tournaments and events Netball WBOP Zone Pathways are pleased to invite the following players to one of two Magic in the Making Development sessions.

Purpose: To offer a Netball WAIBOP development opportunity for identified players. 

To view Year 10-12 players for potential National Development Camp nominations and attendance at Magic in the Making Advance Camp

CLUSTER ONE

VENUE: WHAKATANE NETBALL CENTRE 6th September 9am-2pm

Please note there is an extremely short turnaround for registering please do it ASAP!!

The following players have been seen and are invited to please register by 3 September for the Magic in the Making – Whakatane session on this link:

REGISTER HERE

or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if problems registering.

Reserve players need to also register so they can be contacted if a place opens up. 

SHOOTERS

MIDCOURTERS

CIRCLE DEFENDERS

RESERVE PLAYERS

After viewing players from approximately 60 school teams and 25 Representative teams at various Tournaments and events Netball WBOP Zone Pathways are pleased to invite the following players to one of two Magic in the Making Development sessions.

Purpose:To offer a Netball WAIBOP development opportunity for identified players. 

To view Year 10-12 players for potential NNZ National Development Camp nominations and attendance at Magic in the Making Advance Camp

CLUSTER TWO

VENUE: HAMILTON CITY NETBALL CENTRE 7 September 9am-2pm

Please Note there is an extremely short turnaround to register!

The following players have been seen and are invited to please register by 3 September 5pm for the Magic in the Making – Hamilton City session on this link:

https://netballhamilton.org.nz/register

or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if problems registering.

Reserve players also need to register so they can be contacted if a place opens up.  Fee for reserves can be paid on the day if attend.

SHOOTERS

MIDCOURTERS

CIRCLE DEFENDERS

RESERVE PLAYERS

Roles of our Community Netball Team

Balance is Better Philosophy

Balance is better is all about a balanced approach to sport.

An approach that provides young people with quality sport opportunities and experiences to help them be happier, healthier, and supported to optimise their potential in sport and in life.

We need to work together for better balance between:

• Winning and pressure to perform – with more opportunities for development and enjoyment of the sport
• Adult expectations – with meeting the motivations of all young people (having fun with their friends)
• Single sport focus – with other sport and life commitments

We will achieve a BALANCED approach to sport by focusing efforts on:

-The People – who make sport happen (Coaches, Umpires, Administrators)

Workshops, PD, educational opportunities, support through the season, supply resources

-The Programs – that provide opportunity, development, and competition

(4v4, 5v5, 6v6, 7v7, fast5, Mixed netball, Men’s netball, No Limits netball, walking netball, grass netball, beach netball) (awareness of player load) Player development programs (Yr 7-13)

-The Environments – where young people train, practice, play, and compete

Good Sports/ BIB (1/2 game rule, talent identification occur later, playing different positions, competitions on weeknights, uniform policies, inclusive environments)

So that we have BETTER:

-Coaching of our young people

-Design and delivery of competitions

-Support of young people, regardless of ability or motivation, so they can realise their aspirations in sport and life

Good Sports

Good Sports is all about creating positive sporting experiences for children and young people. It does this by supporting and educating parents, caregivers, coaches, teachers and sport leaders, who all contribute to children’s sport.

Why is it important?

Both practitioners and researchers agree that many issues in youth sport stem from adult involvement. These issues include poor side-line behaviour, overuse injury, burnout and disaffection with sport – and they can hinder success on and off the Netball court.

It’s important to look after not only our players, but umpires and officials too. Every participants experience, will shape their future and their confidence in Netball, and also other commitments too.

You can find more information and templates regarding Good Sports here

50% Game time recommendation 

Minimum 50% game time recommendation for Secondary School Netball

Background

Netball New Zealand has developed this recommendation as part of Youth Development, supported by findings from the Voice of Participant and Sport New Zealand Rangatahi Voice surveys. This player-centered approach aims to be implemented in 2026.

Why?

The 50% game time recommendation fosters a balanced and inclusive netball environment by ensuring all players receive meaningful playing time. This approach helps: Develop skills and sustain player motivation. Address declining teenage participation through the Balance is Better philosophy. Support a cultural shift to provide quality sport opportunities for rangatahi (ages 12-18).

Applicability

The recommendation applies to ALL secondary school netball, Senior A and Premier League players, UNISS, LNISS, SISS. Key Requirements Players must play at least 50% of the total game time in any competition.

Please see FAQ

More information on 50% game time recommendation:

All of the above information has been sourced from the Netball New Zealand website for your convenience. We aim to enable each centre to promote all aspects of Balance is Better. If you are needing support in any of these areas, please reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Volunteers make up the majority of our netball centres management in the South Zone. They/you choose to contribute time, skills and experience to benefit our Netball community and expect no payment for this in return. Without volunteers, Netball simply wouldn’t happen. It’s people that influence the quality of our game so it’s essential that these people are looked after well. We want everyone to reap the value and benefits that can be enjoyed through sport including our volunteers.

If you don’t already have one, it’s highly recommended that you find a Volunteer Manager/Coordinator to help manage, recruit, protect and retain your volunteers. They should be passionate about supporting other people and preferably have personal volunteer experience, along with the ability to motivate and influence in an enthusiastic and friendly manner. This person should be involved in decision making – ideally, they will sit on your committee/ board.

It's our job as a zone, to help assist you in finding and holding on to these amazing people in our community to help your centre thrive.

To assist you, we recommend creating some form of a volunteer management plan. (VMP)

Why have a volunteer Management Plan?

By incorporating the six Volunteer Management Plan principles into your centre, you will ensure that your overall volunteer flow is maintained. It’s natural for volunteers to come and go, and as long as you have efficient and sustainable systems in pace to deal with this, your centre will continue to function smoothly. Your centre will become more efficient, even if it seems like more admin at the time.

What makes up a Volunteer Management Plan?

The VMP can be broken into six different aspects of volunteering:

1. Recruitment
2. Appointment and Induction
3. Recognition and Reward
4. The Volunteer Role (structure and descriptions)
5. Retention (culture and training)
6. Succession planning

Ensuring you cover these six aspects mean you are looking after the complete volunteer experience. Some common mistakes involve, for example, focusing only on recruitment without identifying that your volunteer culture may need attention.

If you are wanting help to create a Volunteer Management Plan in your centre, please reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please see full VMP template here for your reference

Volunteer Recognition

Netball New Zealand run Volunteers of the month awards during in season months, and at the end of the year a Volunteer of the Year award.

Even if you already have your own form of recognition for volunteers, nominating them is another fantastic way to say thank-you to your volunteers.

Details can be found here

Netball New Zealand named 23 athletes to attend trials in Auckland (30 July–1 August) for selection in the NZ U21 team for the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup. Most triallists came from the existing squad, with three players—Stacey Ah Van, Losa Fifita, and Sophia Lafaiali’i—earning selection from outside the programme. 

Read more …