County U13 Player Development Programme

This is the first entrance into the Performance Pathway and the focus is on individual development. This stage coincides with peak motor learning, therefore athletes are learning how to train and develop the skills of netball. They are also learning the basic technical/tactical skills, and ancillary capacities including:

• Warm up and cool down
• Stretching
• Hydration and nutrition
• Recovery
• Relaxation and focusing

Although the focus is on the training and skill development, competition should be used to test and refine skills. The training to competition ratio is 75% to 25%. Athletes should be competing in appropriate club (county and regional leagues) and school competition.

County U15 Player Development Programme

There is one Player Development Programme in every county in the South West. The focus is on working with another player. The emphasis remains on training and skill development with competition being used to test and refine skills.

Athletes should be competing in appropriate club (regional leagues) and school competitions.

Player Pathway Age Groups

Player Pathway Programme operate over 2 age groups (e.g. Under-15 serving athletes under 14 and 15)

• Academy Under-15 – Aged under 15 at 23:59 on 31^st August 2023– born on 1^st September 2008 or after
• Academy Under-17- Aged under 17 at 23:59 on 31st December 2023 – born on 1^st January 2007 or after
• Academy Under-19- Aged under 19 at 23:59 on 31st December 2023 – born on 1^st January 2005 or after
• Academy Under-21- Aged under 21 at 23:59 on 31st December 2023– born on 1^st January 2003 or after