NETBALL in the North is flourishing, with primary schools leading the charge in developing future national-level players.
Labasa Primary School Netball president Rita Kamutoa, said the region has made significant strides in nurturing talent from a young age.
“At the primary level, we develop girls from under-nine to under-fourteen. We focus on the grassroots, teaching skills, teamwork, and confidence,” she said.
“We also involve them in club games to give them real match experience, which is critical for their development.”
Ms Kamutoa said most players from primary schools reach the national stage, but challenges remain once they transition to secondary school.
“The problem comes when these girls move on. Many secondary schools don’t recognise the skills they’ve gained in primary programs, and some schools don’t even offer netball.
“This slows the development of talented girls, which is frustrating.”
She said only those who continue in schools with active netball programs maintain their skills.
“The ones who stay in participating schools continue to grow and compete at higher levels. For others, their progress can stall unless they join clubs outside school.”
She stressed the importance of support from sponsors and school programs.
“With backing from Crest and school initiatives, we’ve been able to expand opportunities, provide kits, and fund travel for competitions. This support ensures more girls can take part and develop their skills.”
Looking ahead, she was optimistic about the sport’s future in the North.
