Netball Mainland Pathways
We have three distinct Pathway age categories:
- Year 11 & 12
- Year 13
- Open Age
Each pathway offers a unique route, but all share the same goal: to help players progress through the New Zealand Pathway and work towards the Silver Ferns. We begin the pathway at Year 11, as this is the earliest age at which players can start on the Netball NZ Pathway. Take a look at the different age categories below for more details on each pathway's plan. Please note: all players can and will take different pathways to the top.
Y11 & Y12
In late September, we host the Mainland Netball (MN) Advanced Camp, providing 30-50 of Mainland region's top players the chance to develop their skills and compete for 15 spots in the National Development Camp (NDC), run by Netball NZ.
Throughout the regular netball season, our Centre Talent Spotters, across our 16 centres actively monitor games, identifying and evaluating standout players. In addition to them, we have a specialized Talent Spotting Panel. The Panels role involves observing nominated players from the Centre spotters, as well as tracking all players in top teams. They attend Representative tournaments, SISS, and NZSS to assess player performance.
The Advanced Camp runs in September or October each year. The camp includes fitness testing, skill development, educational workshops, gameplay, guest appearances from Netball Smart and speakers from Trident Homes Tactix. The focus for the camp is around education and upskilling for the athletes.
From this camp, our talent spotting panel will select 15 players to attend Netball NZ NDC. These selected athletes will then continue their journey on the Netball NZ pathway. Players invited to the Advanced Camp will be notified via email.
NDC selections are announced by Netball New Zealand in November.
Y11 and Y12 players are also eligible to make the NZ Secondary School (NZSS) team. The NZ talent spotting panel watches them throughout the season.
Mainland PATHWAY = School/ Club games – SISS/ NZSS – U16/ U18 reps – NM Advanced Camp
Netball NZ PATHWAY = NDC – NZSS team – NZ U21’s team – NZ Silver Ferns
Y13
Our Year 13 players will finish their school games this year, followed by the chance for selection to the New Zealand Secondary Schools (NZSS) team, managed by Netball New Zealand (NNZ).
Throughout the year our TS panel watches out Y13 players, and mid-way through the year helps our top players with scholarships – Lincoln Uni and University of Canterbury.
Our Y13 leavers are encouraged to attend the NNL trials. These trials are not only to determine the NNL team and NNL training partners, but they are also the trials for the Mainland Aspiring Athletes Programme (MAAP). Applications to be a part of the MAAP squad will be available early in the year.
There are two parts to MAAP – Gold and Silver squad. Our Silver Squad is designed for players in the first or second year out of school and bridges the gap between leaving school and making the NNL team. The sole focus of MAAP is to look after the athlete. We offer strength and conditioning sessions, individual and small group skills sessions, mental skills workshops, nutrition workshops and individual nutrition sessions. There is a 2-year max period in the Silver squad, before moving into the gold squad, which is made up of NNL players and NNL training partners (not including Tactix players, or Tactix training partners).
MAAP offers a pathway for players in the Pre-High-Performance space to continue their development and enhance their skill sets.
Mainland PATHWAY = School/ Club games – SISS/ NZSS – U18 reps – NNL Trials – MAAP (Gold or Silver Squad)
Netball NZ PATHWAY = NZSS team – NZ U21’s team – NZ Development/ A’s - NZ Silver Ferns
Open Age
Early in the new year we conduct trials for our NNL team for the upcoming NNL season. From these trials, we finalize a squad of 10-12 players, along with 2 x Training Partners, and 3 x apprentice players.
The NNL team, NNL training partners and NNL apprentice players are supported by a Strength and Conditioning coach who oversees their fitness during the pre-season and throughout the season. They also take part in workshops focused on mental skills and nutrition, with their overall well-being managed by the Players Association.
Majority of these players are also part of the MAAP – Gold Squad. The sole focus of MAAP is to look after the athlete. We offer strength and conditioning sessions, individual and small group skills sessions, mental skills workshops, nutrition workshops and individual nutrition sessions. There is a 3-year max period in the ‘gold’ squad, before ideally moving into the High-performance Tactix space.
MAAP offers a pathway for players in the Pre-High-Performance space to continue their development and enhance their skill sets.
Mainland PATHWAY = Club games – MAAP (Gold or Silver Squad) – NNL Training Partners / Apprentice Players – NNL Team – Trident Homes Tactix
NNZ PATHWAY = NZ U21’s team – NZ Development Squad – NZ A’s – NZ Silver Ferns
Please see the 2025 Calander of Activities for players with the different competitions and camps available to players throughout the year.
