WELCOME TO GISBORNE NETBALL

Gisborne Netball is a place where people come together, grow their skills and enjoy the game. Our courts are filled with tamariki, rangatahi, seniors, umpires, coaches and whānau who support each other and create a positive space for everyone. Whether you are playing, learning, helping or cheering from the sideline, you are part of our netball family.

Haere mai. Join us and feel at home here.

Off-Season SmartPlayer Programme

Stay strong. Stay moving. Stay ready for netball.

The off-season is the perfect time to build the foundations that help young netballers move better, become stronger and return to the court ready for the season ahead.

Our 6-week Off-season SmartPlayer Programme combines fitness, strength and conditioning with netball-specific movement skills, helping players develop the physical qualities they need to enjoy netball, perform at their best and reduce their risk of injury.

Why train in the off-season?

Taking a break from competition is important, but taking a complete break from movement and physical activity for an extended period can make the transition back to netball harder. Maintaining a good level of fitness and strength helps players prepare their bodies for the demands of training and competition.

Across the six weeks, players will work on:

  • Strength and stability — developing strong legs, hips and core to support jumping, landing, changing direction and holding position.

  • Speed and agility — improving acceleration, deceleration and the ability to change direction safely and efficiently.

  • Balance and control — developing better body control during the movements that are fundamental to netball.

  • Fitness and conditioning — building the aerobic and repeated-effort fitness needed to keep working throughout a game.

  • Jumping and landing skills — learning how to land with good control and positioning, an important part of reducing injury risk.

  • Movement quality — developing efficient movement patterns that players can take onto the court.

  • Confidence and resilience — helping young athletes understand their bodies, train consistently and develop positive habits for long-term participation in sport.

SmartPlayer. Smart preparation.

The programme is built around key NetballSmart principles: prepare, move well, get stronger, recover and listen to your body.

Players will learn that being a SmartPlayer isn't just about what happens during a game. Good preparation starts before they step on court and continues through recovery afterwards.

​​​​​​​ Train hard. Play hard. Have fun!

Every session will combine purposeful strength and conditioning work with activities that keep players moving, engaged and enjoying their sport.

And because netball is meant to be fun, every session will finish with modified netball games — giving players the chance to put their movement and fitness skills into action while enjoying some game time with their peers.

The goal isn't simply to return to netball fitter. It's to help young players become stronger, more confident and more physically prepared athletes, while developing healthy habits that can support them throughout their netball journey.

Six weeks. Stronger foundations. Smarter players. Ready for the season ahead.