Netball South Nets $150,000 Funding from ILT Foundation

School students will be among those set to reap the rewards of significant ILT Foundation funding for netball.

ILT Foundation president Alan Dennis today confirmed funding of $150,000 for Netball South.

“We all celebrated when the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel won the ANZ Premiership title last year but success like that doesn’t just happen. It starts at the grassroots level of the game where young players first develop their skills and that passion for the sport is ignited – and that’s exactly what this funding is for,” he said.

Netball South community manager Jo Ward said the funding would positively impact all facets of the code.

“Coaches, umpires, players and officials will all benefit as we continue to develop netball through our extensive range of programmes,” she said.

“We’ve recently launched netSCHOOLS in Invercargill which targets schools identified to have lower organised sports participation and we’re really excited by the potential it has.

“When you’re immersed in the game you know the vital role sport plays in the lives of our young people and we’re committed to giving even more kids the opportunity to realise and experience it.”

Netball South chief executive Lana Winders said research from Netball New Zealand showed the sport was unrivalled in creating leadership capabilities in students.

“Netball is massive in teaching secondary school students’ leadership skills because so many of our school teams are coached by senior students. Those skills will continue to equip them well as they embark on adulthood.”

Funding support from the ILT Foundation was crucial to the organisation as it strives to deliver a vast range of opportunities for the community, Winders said.

“This funding empowers us to also make the most of ILT Stadium Southland which is the envy of the community netball world and gives us such an advantage crafting amazing netball experiences for school kids,” she said.