NNZ NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CAMPS

WAIBOP Zone athletes are making themselves known in the National sphere.  We had 15 Secondary School players from our Zone  invited to NNZ National Development Camps (NDC)in January.  Our focus for this group of players over the last two years has been 'Fitter, Sharper, Stronger' players and they really are making an impression at the NDC’s. Comments were made to me about the quality of our athletes and their high level of fitness!! Our WAIBOP Zone players had the best average Bronco times and Yoyo scores out of all five Zones and are leading the way with the highest percentage of players reaching the 15.5 yoyo NZSS target. This is a credit to these player’s hard mahi over summer!

WAIBOP MATARAU

This year, with the guidance of NNZ and the local rohe, we have added the name MATARAU to our SHNL team name. See the explanation of the name and the journey of the naming on our Facebook page here.

May 10th saw the Synergy Hair Netball League begin with WAIBOP Matarau's opening game at Palmerston Norths Arena against Central Manawa. The team started their campaign with a great game to secure a win.  

PATHWAYS SPOTTING

I currently have confirmed 17 Centre Pathways Spotters from our WAIBOP Zone Centres so am looking forward to working with them and beginning to view players at various events in preparation for our Magic in the Making Development sessions later in the year.

I am pleased to announce our confirmed dates and venues for our two Magic in the Making (MIM) development sessions.  After player and Centre feedback we have shifted these sessions to be closer to the finish of UNISS to help players with their conditioning, and reduced the number of sessions to lift the level of athletes to close the gap to NDC.  This shift does mean the MIM sessions now occur during a very busy time with NNZ Open Champs, Zespri AIMS games, Men’s Nationals, and NZSS all in the vicinity, so we appreciate it will be a full part of the netball calendar.

MIM Development Sessions

• 6 September – Whakatane Netball Centre
• 7 September – Hamilton City Netball Centre

Advance MIM 

• 20 September – South Waikato Events Centre, Tokoroa

Article by: Rachel Davis, WBOP Zone Player Pathways Lead
Article added: Sunday 25 May 2025