The Sunshine Coast Lightning will enter a team in the Australian Netball Championships, to be held in Victoria in September.
The team will be an extension of the club’s elite program, providing opportunities for emerging netball talent in Queensland.
The Lightning said they were determined to nurture the development of the next generation of netballers, and to help increase professionalism of the sport.
Lightning General Manager – High Performance, Brian Hopley, said the club’s inclusion in the tournament was a positive step.
“Lightning’s inclusion in the championships is an excellent result, as we look to leverage our elite program to help develop the nation’s finest emerging talent,” he said.
“The ANC squad will gain exposure to a holistic program with access to elite coaching and game strategy, tailored training regimes and insight into the highly successful Lightning environment.”
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The expansion should provide local netballers with more opportunities to grow their game.
“Establishing a regional grassroots pathway on the Sunshine Coast has been front of mind in recent seasons, with established connections to USC Thunder (a team in the Queensland league) and the USC Netball Academy,” he said.
“An ANC team further consolidates that professional pathway for athletes across the state and we’re confident selected athletes will greatly benefit.
“We are currently undergoing an extensive talent identification and recruitment process to assemble a highly competitive squad, as well as targeting coaches and support staff who will compliment Lightning’s program.”
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In April, Netball Australia announced the reconfigured Australian Netball Championships format which will take place in Traralgon.
The competition will replace the Australian Netball League, which previously ran in conjunction to the Suncorp Super Netball season.
ANC fixtures will be announced in the coming weeks by Netball Australia.
Lightning is calling for Expressions of Interest for a range of coaching and specialist roles, more information can be found here.
The club is also undergoing an extensive athlete recruitment process. To nominate as a prospective player or for eligibility criteria, click here.
