Sport In Profile UK Issue 03 | Page 8

HUCCLECOTE NETBALL CLUB Talented junior players, once 14 years old are also progressed into one of the senior teams when it is felt they are able to cope both emotionally and physically. Again the more talented youngsters have the opportunity to enter the Performance pathway by gaining a place at County Academy, Regional Academy and the National Talent league based at Bath University. Currently we have a number of talented players in the pathway. Sam Cook is at present out in New Zealand with the National squad and Paige Reed at only 17 is part of the U19 England group. We have a number of young players in the next tier of the pathway playing in the National Talent League (NTL) and the Futures group all based at Bath University and linked to Bath Super League. I believe one of the biggest challenges facing us in the next 5 years is competing for young players with other sports. With Netball having less focus in schools and other sports such as girls’ football and rugby being introduced, it is vital that we go out into local schools to attract these youngsters into our sport at a young age. Ambitions for the next 5 years are to maintain our National Premier Div 1 status and to continue to be a force to be reckoned with both nationally and throughout the Region and County. 8 ISSUE 03