Information on Joining Netball

So... you want to play netball?​​​​​​​

Howick Pakuranga Netball Centre (HPNC) is situated at 451 Pakuranga Highway and is one of the many sports clubs at Lloyd Elsmore Park. HPNC organises and runs netball for the community. We are affiliated to Netball Northern Zone (home of the Mystics) and Netball New Zealand (go the Silver Ferns!). HPNC has 14 affiliated clubs, who range in size from 1 to 24 teams. For a list of our clubs and their contact details, please click here. 

Howick Pakuranga Netball Centre offers netball programmes for all ages and abilities. Junior netball (Year 1-4) is played in the year group you are in at school, and is played on Monday and Tuesday afternoons, after school. Please read below for further information on ANZ futureFERNS.

The Saturday winter competition begins when players are in Year 5. Girls at Secondary School can play in the College grades, or for the older more confident players they may play in the Senior grades on Saturdays.

Woolworths futureFERNS Junior Netball Programme (Year 1-4)

Netball NZ has restructured junior netball to grow with the players using a modified court size, pole height and ball size. The session consists of skill training in a fun learning environment followed by a modified game to ensure that all players get to participate. All balls, bibs and equipment is provided by HPNC! Coaches are encouraged to umpire and coach the game. There is no whistle. Coaches can move on the court alongside the players, coaching and supporting both teams. Leniency will be applied to all rules. 

Year 1 and 2 (4-aside)

These players will only use 1/3 of a court from sideline to sideline. The netball pole height is 2.1 m or hand-held hoops at each sideline. The players can wear bibs turned inside out with no positions. Teams are allowed to use rolling substitutions to ensure equal playing time. Players can be swapped at any time during the game. Anyone can shoot. After a goal is scored, the non-scoring team will start back at the middle. These players will use modified rules allowing more leniency. Games are 2 x 12 minute halves, changing ends at half time.

Year 3 & 4 (5-aside)

These teams will play 2/3 of the court using modified poles of 2.6 m at each end. The playing positions are 2 x D’s (Defence – allowed in their own goal circle and up to half way) 1 x C (Centre - allowed in both thirds but not in the shooting circles) and 2 x A’s (Attacks – allowed in their own goal circle and up to halfway). Teams are allowed rolling substitutions to ensure equal playing time. Once a goal is scored, the non-scoring team will start back at the middle. These players will use modified rules allowing more leniency. Games are 4 x 8 minute quarters, changing ends at half time.

Want to know more about ANZ futureFERNS? Check out the Netball NZ website here!

Saturday Netball (Year 5 - Adult)

​Children in Year 5 - 8 play on Saturday mornings (9am first round, 11:30am last round), and games are 40 minutes. College and Senior teams play in the afternoon (12:35pm first round, 3:20pm last round), and games are also 40 minutes. Premier games are played at 1pm or 2:30pm, and games are 1 hour.

Players join one of our 14 affiliated clubs at the beginning of the year (February/March). Clubs may advertise in the local paper or on their website or Facebook page as to when they are having trials. Players are placed in teams based on similar playing ability. There is a team for everyone - it doesn't matter if you're brand new to netball or an experienced player!

Once the club has selected their teams, practices are generally held once a week until the end of the season. Saturday games start in May and finish in late August, with breaks over the school and public holidays.

Not sure which club to join? Ask around – your friends, relations or neighbours may belong to a club already and can point you in the right direction. For a list of our clubs and their contact details, please click here. 

Intermediate and Secondary Schools

HPNC runs a Wednesday Schools competition which hosts teams from schools in East and South Auckland. This competition is played on Wednesday afternoons with rounds at 4:20 p.m and 5:10 p.m. The game is 40 minutes long. For more information, check with your school in Term 1.

Walking Netball

Representative Teams

Clubs will nominate players for representative trials, which are held early May.

Age groups are U14 (minimum of Year 9), U16 and U18. Players must be under the required age at 1st January (e.g,. U16 as at 1st January 2023).

Teams play in tournaments May – July. Training is once per week on a Wednesday evening. 

Other programmes

HPNC offers further programmes to encourage a love of netball. These include specialist coaching sessions for players wishing to learn more, school holiday programmes, and our Talent Academy for representative and talent-identified players.