Local umpires and players were recently among a strong contingent of Dubbo Association netballers who gained selection in the Western Region Academy of Sport’s 2023 Netball program.

Players Emily Fairman, Emily Hines, Isabel Marchant and Lily-Louise Walker, along with umpires Theané Gouws and Abigale Swane, gained selection in the program for the first time.

They are part of a squad of 22 athletes and four athlete umpires that will not only train together over the coming months, but also participate in two Academy tournaments.

Since coming together for the first time in February, under the guidance of new Head Coach Nardia Macdonald, the athletes have taken part in a series of fitness tests, been put through their paces on the court and worked through the fundamentals of the sport.

The Academy’s netball program aligns with the Netball NSW Athlete Pathway Framework and features on-court skills training, fitness and athlete education. It also plays a vital role in identifying, monitoring and developing the skills of young netballers.

WRAS executive officer Candice Boggs was full of praise for this year’s squad that has already displayed not only the skills, but application and dedication that sets them up for a successful season ahead.

“The selection panel was very impressed with the talent displayed at the trials, which highlights that the sport has a very bright future in the Central West,” Ms Boggs said.

“The squad is a good combination of the talented bottom-age athletes joining the WRAS returning athletes.”

The squad came together in February has a weekend-long camp in Sydney in March on the schedule too.

“Following that, the focus will turn to the 2023 Your Local Club Academy Games to be held in Wagga Wagga in April. They will also travel to Port Macquarie in September where they will compete against 10 other Regional Academies of Sport from across the state in the Greater Bank Academy Challenge.

“We’re delighted with the way this squad is shaping up and are very much looking forward to seeing them develop across the season.”