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Netball Scotland is proud to start Women and Girls in Sport Week 2025 with the announcement of a landmark partnership with the University of Strathclyde, the University of Edinburgh and sportscotland Institute of Sport, creating two Netball Scotland High Performance Centres at the heart of Scotland’s academic and sporting landscape. This ambitious move represents a significant stride forward for the sport, underlining Netball Scotland’s ongoing commitment to nurturing elite athletes, expanding opportunities for women and girls in sport, and reinforcing Scotland’s position on the international stage.

With netball as the only main team sport in next year’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games, followed by the Netball World Cup in Sydney in 2027, the time is right to invest in a structure that complements World Netball’s objective of world-class international netball, played more often. Netball Scotland is delighted to announce this partnership during Women and Girls in Sport Week, with current Scottish Thistles and age-grade athletes including Lexi Gillies and Felicity Rome among those benefitting from these new Centres.

Kath Tetley, Netball Scotland’s Performance Director and Scottish Thistles Head Coach, said: “The establishment of the High Performance Centres marks a new era for Scottish netball. We are delighted to be working with these world-class institutions to give Scotland’s elite level netballers the highest quality training environment, supporting them to reach their full potential.”

Neil Brown, Director of Sport and Active Health, University of Strathclyde, said: “We are proud that the University of Strathclyde has been recognised as one of Netball Scotland’s new High Performance Centres. This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting women and girls in sport, developing high-performance environments, and helping athletes reach their full potential on the international stage. With world-class facilities and expertise across sports science, strength and conditioning, and performance lifestyle, we look forward to working closely with Netball Scotland and the University of Edinburgh to provide the best possible platform for Scotland’s netballers to succeed.”

Mark Munro, Director of Sport and Active Health, University of Edinburgh, said: “I am absolutely delighted to see this partnership come to fruition after several months of collaborative planning. The creation of a High Performance Centre here at the University of Edinburgh will provide Scotland’s netballers with world-class facilities, coaching expertise, and support. My sincere thanks go to Netball Scotland, along with my colleagues at the University of Strathclyde, for their vision and commitment. Together, we are helping to strengthen the pathway for elite netball in Scotland and ensuring our athletes have the very best opportunities to excel on the international stage.”

Craig Burn, Director of Sport, sportscotland, said: “This new partnership is a great example of how working together across the sporting sector can deliver more and better opportunities for participation and progression in sport.

Netball Scotland University partnership announcement 02/10/25
Photo ©Craig Watson
www.craigwatson.co.uk

“We will continue to support Netball Scotland as it strengthens its performance pathway and look forward to seeing the impact of this partnership with Strathclyde University and University of Edinburgh as the sport builds towards Glasgow 2026 and beyond.”

Netball Scotland High Performance Centres
High Performance Centres will strengthen the pathway for talented netball players through access to the highest quality training and playing environments. Led by Head Coaches Trish Wilcox and Rachel Cremin athletes will benefit from strength and conditioning support, nutritional advice, training and competitive matches including Netball Scotland’s National League.

Performance Sport Scholarships at University of Strathclyde for 26/27 are now open. Apply here.

About Netball Scotland
Netball Scotland is the national governing body responsible for promoting and developing the sport of netball across the country. From grassroots to elite level, Netball Scotland is dedicated to creating opportunities for participation, fostering excellence, and inspiring a love of the game in people of all ages and backgrounds.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Zoe Paige, Director of Revenue and Engagement, Netball Scotland
Email: zoe.paige@netballscotland.com

Netball Scotland CEO Ken Hay has joined with other netballing nations to welcome the vision and plans for a new two-year cycle for the Netball World Cup.

“We believe that the game will benefit from more content, games, competition and collaboration – something that we are fully committed to in Scotland”, said Hay.

“The benefits for the global netball communities will be felt with more ways in which to see the game, and be inspired by the teams, countries and athletes on the global stage. Along with my fellow CEOs, we can’t wait to support the evolution of the game and be part of the next era. This aligns closely with Netball Scotland’s vision and plans for the growth of the game.”

Scottish Thistles Head Coach and Performance Director Kath Tetley feels strongly about the growth of the game and the performance development that the new plans for events and competitions bring to the game.

“I am thrilled for the players and fans of netball. More netball brings more opportunities and for the next generation of Scottish Thistles coming through the pathway – this is a great innovation. As a proud coach and passionate fan of our game globally – I could not be happier”, said Tetley.

“The key to success for teams and indiv

iduals is the chance to apply their skills and we work incredibly hard to find ways in which to give ourselves as much international competition as possible – now we can come together globally, more regularly, which strengthens all regions, players and umpires world-wide.”

See the full World Netball media release below:

World Netball (WN) Announces Biennial Netball World Cup (NWC) and Inaugural Men’s NWC.

Our Teams Had a Braw Time at the RecNet Festival Last Month!

Thanks to our fantastic sponsor, Braw Bar, players stayed fuelled and energised throughout the weekend.

Day 1 Highlights:

Peffermill Playing Courts buzzed with excitement as 12 teams came together for a full day of RecNet action.

Porty Belles – Edinburgh
Williamwood Warriors
Supernovas – Perth & Kinross
EDNC (East Dunbartonshire Netball Club)
Seven Lochs – North Lanarkshire
The Jets – Dunblane
Mac Netball – South Ayrshire
Levenmouth Thunder – East Fife
Winchburgh Warriors – West Lothain
High Hoops – Edinburgh
RecNet Dundee – Dundee
Ignite – Falkirk

The games were not just fun but mixed with the perfect amount of competitive spice! Orchestrated by Correen Davies and supported by a team of volunteers, the festival was both lively and well-organised.

Alongside great netball, participants enjoyed local treats like pizza, courtesy of Outta Space Pizza and coffee from Ramm’s Roast, plus much-needed sports massages from A Star Fitness.

Correen Davies Reflects:

” This year’s turnout and energy were incredible. Seeing new faces and returning players alike embrace the festival with such enthusiasm was fantastic, it’s a joy to watch everyone come together under the banner of sport.”

Day 2 Breakdown:

The momentum continued with Sunday’s men’s and mixed netball competition.

- - - Caledonian Condors
    - Stewarty
- - - Kirkcaldly Lions
    - Kirkcaldly Wildcats
    - Komets Red
    - Komets Black
Six teams participated showcasing the fast-growing interest in netball among men and boys in Scotland. This day highlighted dynamic plays and showcased the expanding inclusivity of the sport.
Stay Engaged:

Keep the momentum going! Renew your membership to stay in the loop for more events like this.

Netball Scotland is thrilled to announce the continuation of the Junior Club Development Fund for the 2024-25 season, made possible through our valued partnership with Johnston Carmichael. This fund provides essential financial support to affiliated Junior Netball Clubs, allowing them to access up to £500 for critical needs related to participation, accessibility, training, and competition.

Partnership with Johnston Carmichael

The Junior Club Development Fund is a testament to the strategic partnership between Netball Scotland and Johnston Carmichael, Scotland’s largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors. This collaboration aims to foster the growth and development of netball across the nation, ensuring a sustainable future for the sport.

Quote from Martin Osler, Chief People Officer, Johnston Carmichael:

“We are pleased to support Netball Scotland in its mission to nurture talent and promote inclusivity within the sport. Our commitment to leaving a positive legacy for our people, our clients and the communities in which we work aligns perfectly with the objectives of this fund. We believe strongly in the importance of young girls and women having access to opportunities to play sport and benefit from the health, wellbeing, and life experiences this offers. We believe the Club Development Fund will make a significant difference to junior netball clubs across Scotland.”

Quote from Carol Harvey, Director of Development at Netball Scotland:

“This fund is a lifeline for many junior clubs, providing them with the resources they need to thrive. The generosity of Johnston Carmichael enables us to support the critical needs of our clubs, ensuring they can continue to develop and compete at all levels.”

What Can the Fund Be Used For?

The Junior Club Development Fund can be used to cover a variety of critical needs, including but not limited to:

Coaching: CPD opportunities to ensure succession planning and up-skilling.
Volunteer Training: Developing the club volunteer base through training for new and existing volunteers.
Access to Competition: Financial assistance with travel expenses for away competitions.
Local/Community Provision: Taster sessions to attract new participants/members.
Additional Equipment: Enabling expansion or safer delivery of activities.
Emergency Facility Hire: Covering emergency costs for clubs in financial difficulty.
Mental Health Awareness Training
Safeguarding Training

For a comprehensive list of eligible and ineligible costs, please refer to the [Junior Club Development Fund – (See Below)

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Junior Club Development Fund, clubs must meet the following criteria:

Be affiliated to Netball Scotland.
Work towards or have completed the Thistle Mark Standard credential.
Be a recognised junior club under Netball Scotland.
Provide evidence supporting their critical need for financial assistance.
Implement the project within 6 months of receiving funding.
Provide detailed information on the impact of the funding on members and the community.

How to Apply

Applying for the Junior Club Development Fund is straightforward. Follow these steps to submit your application:

Check Eligibility: Ensure your club meets the eligibility criteria.
Prepare Documentation: Gather necessary evidence to support your application.
Complete the Application Form: Fill out the application form.
Submit Your Application: Make sure to submit the form by June 28th, 2024.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact Katelyn Williamson at Katelyn.Williamson@netballscotland.com or Carol Harvey at Carol.Harvey@netballscotland.com

Applications close on June 28th, 2024. Don’t miss this opportunity to secure vital funding for your junior netball club!

Junior Club Development Fund – Criteria

Provides emergency support fund for affiliated Junior Netball Clubs to access £500 to assist with critical needs linked to participation, accessibility, training, and competition.

This has been made possible by a partnership with Johnston Carmichael, Scotland’s largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors (www.johnstoncarmichael.com ). _________________________________________________________________________________

Provided your project meets the programme aims, we can cover various areas relevant to critical need. However, your project should add value to existing services or provision – we won’t fund costs already being incurred.

Projects should consider the financial situation of the club before applying (healthy financial situation = won’t receive funding)

Funding awarded should build on the strengths and assets already in place.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Below are some examples of what can be funded:

Coaching

Providing CPD opportunities to ensure succession planning, up-skilling people to lead in coaching roles.

Volunteer training

Develop the club volunteer base through offering training to both new and existing volunteers.

Access to competition

Financial assistance with expenses for travel to participate in away competition.

Local/community provision

Providing taster sessions within the local community to attract new participants/members.

Additional equipment

To enable expansion of activity or safer delivery of activity.

Emergency facility hire.

To cover emergency costs for clubs in financial difficulty.

Mental Health Awareness Training

Safeguarding Training

What we won’t fund

Clubs that are financially secure
General running costs or existing costs of your club (e.g. utility bills, staffing etc.)
Existing activity
Replacement of equipment provided by fund/ gifted through fund if damaged.
Costs associated in submitting the application, (E.G paying someone to write your application for you)
Costs benefitting an individual (E.G membership fees)
Costs that aren’t a direct responsibility of the applicant to cover (for example, costs associated with a facility not owned/leased by the applicant)
VAT you can recover.
Projects where coaches or the applicant organisation is not affiliated to Netball Scotland.

In an edge-of-your-seat National League final, Edinburgh Uni narrowly defeated Strathclyde Uni 45-44, securing their championship in a nail-biting showdown that had fans gripping their seats until the final whistle.

Intense Defence and Missed Opportunities

The game kicked off with high intensity, with both teams demonstrating why they were this year’s finalists. Claire Maxwell, Assistant Coach for Edinburgh Uni, noted at halftime the team’s defensive prowess, “We won lots of ball… it’s now about converting those turnovers. We’ve thrown a few of them away, so reducing our errors in that final feed is crucial.”

Strathclyde’s Captain, Lucy Holmes, reflected on their early momentum, “We wanted to play with intensity and consistency… we have to lift a little bit, be composed with the ball and with those momentum shifts.”

A Nail-Biter Finish

As the match progressed, the intensity only heightened, with both team’s neck-and-neck. Trish Wilcox, Head Coach of Edinburgh Uni, described the final minutes, “I held my breath for the last three minutes.”

“It was such an intense game, those are the games you want to play in, so I am so proud. Going undefeated for their entire season is such hard work and it just shows the commitment that they have.” She added.

Wilcox also praised the influence of Claire Maxwell, highlighting the strategic changes, ” “She has been so great at sharing her knowledge with our young players and I thought both of them – Jess Mitchell and Duki Sonuga– were able to change the momentum of the game.”

A Proud Yet Heartfelt Loss

On the other side, Frankie Doyle, Strathclyde’s Head Coach, acknowledged the vital role of the crowd, “The crowd were everything today; they became an extra player on the court.” Despite the loss, Doyle expressed immense pride in his team’s journey, “It’s disappointing to lose today but I couldn’t be prouder of how they performed.”

Celebration and Looking Ahead

The emotional and physical toll of such a tightly contested match was evident, and the pride in both teams’ efforts was clear. Claire Maxwell summed up the experience, “The game was physical, dynamic, fast-paced and those games are a credit to our sport. Thank you to the crowd for coming out and supporting our own league – the National League.”

As Edinburgh Uni celebrates this significant win, they look forward to carrying this momentum into the Scottish Cup Final on Saturday, buoyed by a season of undefeated play and a deep commitment to the sport.

Fans who missed the live action can relive this spectacular match on BBC iPlayer. With such a close score and high stakes, this final is one for the history books of Scottish netball.

Karen Atkinson to join the board of Netball Scotland, with Ken Hay confirmed as CEO

Following a global search, the board of Netball Scotland is delighted to announce that Kath Tetley has been appointed as the Thistles’ new Head Coach to lead them to the 2027 Netball World Cup in Australia.

Kath brings a wealth of senior-level coaching and leadership experience working in the Australian Super Netball competition and Netball NSW Premier League.

She is currently the Executive General Manager of Super Netball Club the NSW Swifts and has been a successful Head Coach of GWS Fury in the NSW Premier League, the State’s highest-level pathway competition which has produced a host of Australian internationals.

She was also part of the underage NSW State Team program which won gold at the Australian Netball Championships in 2022.

In addition to her Head Coach responsibilities, Kath will also serve as Performance Director for Netball Scotland.

Kath will be joining Netball Scotland in September following the end of the Australian Super Netball season.

Kath has Scottish heritage and in 2022 was quoted saying that coaching the Thistles would be a dream coaching role and something to which she aspires. Netball Scotland is delighted to be making Kath’s dream come true.

In parallel to Kath starting, Karen Atkinson MBE, former Performance Director for Netball Scotland, will be joining the board of Netball Scotland with specific responsibility for Performance, taking on that responsibility when Cat Semple concludes her term on the board at the AGM in September.

The board of Netball Scotland has also confirmed Ken Hay as the new permanent CEO of the organisation following his initial 6 months as Interim CEO.

Lucy Faulkner, Chair of Netball Scotland:
“I’m absolutely delighted that Kath will be joining Netball Scotland as the new Head Coach. Her appointment completes the restructuring of the senior team over the last 12 months, with Carol Harvey joining as Director of Development, Karen Dunn becoming Director of Finance and Operations, and Ken Hay being confirmed as permanent Chief Executive.

“Together with a refreshed board including Karen Atkinson agreeing to join, we are now looking forward to the next chapter of Netball Scotland and netball in Scotland with optimism and excitement.”

Kath Tetley:
“I’m truly honoured to have been appointed as the new Head Coach of the Thistles. I’m so ambitious for netball in Scotland and for the Thistles at all levels, and am really looking forward to working with all the coaches and players in driving the team towards the Netball World Cup in 2027.

“It’s a dream come true for me to be reconnecting with my Scottish roots and I can’t wait to join the team, in person, in September.”

Ken Hay, CEO of Netball Scotland:
“Kath’s passion, experience and maturity all shone through during the selection process. But it was her vision for the future of the Thistles and how Scotland can develop as a netball playing and netball loving nation which set her apart. Her commitment to the role and to Scotland will see her and her husband relocate to Scotland in the autumn, and I can’t wait for her to join the Netball Scotland team.”

Karen Atkinson MBE, former Performance Director with Netball Scotland:
“I am extremely excited about Kath’s appointment. She is an impressive individual with such depth of experience. She’s exactly what the Thistles need at this time and will create a fantastic high-performance programme and environment for the athletes in Scotland. I’m also pleased to be joining the board of Netball Scotland, to work alongside Kath and the rest of performance team, and continue to support them into this new cycle”.

ALL ENQUIRIES TO: ceo@netballscotland.com

Netball Scotland invests in new High Performance Centres to supercharge the performance pathway in Scotland

Netball Scotland and Thistles excited for the new two-year World Cup Cycle.