04 April 2025, 4:00 PM
Budding netballers throughout Central Otago are benefitting from expert tuition this week.
The Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel team is embarking on its ‘Steel Roadie’ and it will host coaching sessions in Queenstown, Wānaka, Cromwell and Alexandra.
Steel defender Abby Lawson said she was excited to hit the road.
“It’s a chance to give back to the grassroots game where all of our sporting careers started,” Abby said.
“There’s something really special about all of the community engagements we do throughout the season.”
Southern Steel is the face of southern netball in New Zealand and it represents Southland and Otago at the ANZ Premiership.
Abby said visiting young netballers is a great way to give back.
“And from a team perspective, it’s a great opportunity to spend more time together away from the court and continue building those strong bonds which is so important as the season approaches.”
Netball South relationship manager community lead Rita Coe said the Southern Steel’s presence in Central Otago always proved popular.
“The response has been fantastic. We now have three of our four sessions maxed out and it will be such a neat experience for all of the participants to learn from our Steel players,” she said.
Steel assistant coach Liana Leota will share her extensive knowledge of the game with a CCA2 Coaching Workshop in Wānaka, while Netball South performance umpire lead Colleen Bond will run workshops for both senior and junior officials.
The Steel was Queenstown with the Wakatipu Netball Centre yesterday (Friday April 4) and Wānaka on today (Saturday April 5) with Netball Upper Clutha.
Players will attend Alexandra Primary School’s 7-aside tournament this afternoon.
On Sunday (April 6), they will host sessions for the Central Otago Netball Centre in both Cromwell and Alexandra.
PHOTO: Supplied