Talent Development


BNA provides a range of on and off court development opportunities to assist players, coaches and umpires reach their maximum potential.

Key aspects of our talent development program include:
  • Early Years - we provide children with a safe, fun atmosphere with a supportive coach who makes the child feel special, which generates enthusiasm for netball. 

  • Junior years - Our main priority is to provide a strong netball foundation for our players.  Our junior netball players are coached to improve on existing skills, as well as master new skills to enhance her/his performance. The progression from beginner to elite netballer is gradual. Rushing the process and missing key stepping stones along the way ignores the psychological needs and motivations of young netballers and is a detriment to her/his success.  We are focussed on developing player pathways which ensure all young aspiring netballers have access to the opportunities which may lead one day to playing elite level netball.
  • Senior years - we believe that a high standard of junior development will result in a higher level of senior performance.  This will mean more elite sporting opportunities for our players when they reach senior level netball.

  • Management Committee that ensures talent development is one of its top priorities.

  • Our talent identification program uses a systematic approach to finding potential high performance netballers.  The players undergo a number of sport skills and physical tests to see if they have the right qualities to play elite netball.

  • A strong focus on mental skill development, required to play sport at an elite level.

  • Investment in coaching - we aim to provide a high standard of coaching for our junior and senior players.  Our junior and senior talent will have the opportunity to work with our best coaches.  We continue to focus on identifying, training and developing first class coaches.

  • Investment in umpiring - we aim to provide a high standard of umpiring for all our competitions.  We continue to focus on identifying, training and developing first class umpires.

  • UB Ballarat Pride has established direct links with its founder, the Ballarat Netball Association.  This provides junior players who belong to clubs in the BNA with clear and easily accessed pathways for their playing future.

  • Close links with other netball communities is a primary strength of the BNA which hosts development programs for surrounding netball Associations and clubs. The development opportunities available to the wider community include School Holiday Programs, School visits, Coaching and Umpiring Workshops.  Further, the opportunities for talented players and coaches to reach VNL level are firmly in place.    

BNA NETBALL PATHWAYS

Club / School Competition

BNA Junior Talent Development Opportunities:
  • Ballarat 13/Under Representative Squad 
  • Ballarat 15/Under Representative Squad 
  • Ballarat 17/Under Representative Squad

Central Highlands Regional Representation 

Zone Talent Academy (Western Victoria)

BNA Senior Talent Development Opportunities:
  • Premier League
  • Premier Reserve
  • Premier Reserve 2

Senior Talent Development with UB Ballarat Pride (Victorian Netball League):
  • Championship
  • Division One; 
  • 19 / Under