Welsh Netball has entered into partnership with Coleg Sir Gâr to improve opportunities for its students to access netball opportunities.
Welsh Netball will work with the college’s netball coaches, Rhian Davies and Cath Roberts to help players develop and gain experience along the Welsh Netball pathway. This will include collaboration with Welsh Netball coaches and the Under 17 and 21 squads.
Welsh Netball head of performance, Rosie Pretorius, will work with Coleg Sir Gâr’s netball academy to help develop its netball programme, including aspects of coaching, strength and conditioning and analysis.
Signing the partnership, Rosie Pretorius, said: “I’m very pleased to sign a partnership between Welsh Netball and Coleg Sir Gâr.
"There is a big netball playing population in Carmarthenshire and the partnership between ourselves and the college will allow us to work closely with some of the most exciting young netball players in West Wales.”
The partnership comes as Coleg Sir Gâr comes close to completing the construction of revolutionary news sporting facilities on its Llanelli campus. These facilities include a brand-new wood sprung floor indoor netball court, multi-gym and changing rooms.
Pretorius added: “The new facilities at Coleg Sir Gâr will be fantastic for netball in the area.
"We look forward to using the new court to host PTC/DTC training sessions, camps and events in the future.”
The facilities, due to be officially opened on 5 October 2018 will provide further opportunities for netball players in Llanelli and Carmarthenshire. It also means that the Coleg Sir Gâr netball team, who won the colleges’ league last season, will be able to play their home games on campus for the first time.
Deputy principal, Dr Andrew Cornish said: “It has always been a desire of the college to have netball played on campus.
"The new facilities will further improve what we offer young people at the college and the agreement between Welsh Netball and the college will help us take our netball provision to the next level, following a very successful season.”
One of the beneficiaries of the new partnership and Coleg Sir Gâr’s improved facilities will be college netball captain, Alisha John. Alisha, who will begin her second year at the college next year, said: “I’m really excited about the new court – it’ll be nice to have a real home for our games and it’ll mean less travel.”
Rhian Davies, who is taking on the role of Wales Under 17 Head Coach, added: “We are very excited for the new facilities – hosting home matches here will be a massive benefit. I think it’s going to draw local talent to the academy and allow us to further strengthen the age group.”
Edited from Welsh Netball PR