Wintec News

Netball Waikato To Partner With Wintec

Posted On: Tuesday, 03 November 2009

Wintec (Waikato Institute of Technology) is to be the Principal Partner of Netball Waikato from January 2010.  The partnership was announced at Netball Waikato’s Annual Volunteer Awards dinner recently.

Netball Waikato Region Manager Delwyn McCarroll says she is thrilled to have Wintec on board as Principal Partner.

“This is a very exciting time for us and this partnership will enable us to expand our coach, umpire and player development programmes in our centres. The fit between Wintec and Netball Waikato is excellent and we are thrilled about the opportunities this partnership presents.”

Netball Waikato Patron Monica Leggat says the two organisations have already been working together for a number of years, with high profile players and officials benefiting from the facilities and expertise in Wintec’s School of Sport and Exercise Science.

“This new partnership will help us continue to attract young people from other areas as well as retain our own region’s players and officials.  It will also enable us to offer ongoing support for the people who help make netball happen in each of the eighteen centres within the Waikato.”

Wintec Dean Merran Davis says the institute is pleased to be formalising its relationship with Netball Waikato.

“Wintec, and in particular our School of Sport and Exercise Science, works closely with a number of sports organisations, including Sport Waikato, the New Zealand Academy of Sport - both of whom are located on our Avalon campus - and Sport and Exercise Science New Zealand.  It’s great to be able to add Netball Waikato into that alliance.”
She says two courses will be developed initially: a coach and umpire development programme covering fitness, mental preparation, communication styles and sport psychology; and a regional player development and accelerate programme focusing on nutrition, injury prevention and management, fitness and holistic player development.  Wintec will also have naming rights to the regional age group and festival tournaments as well as the annual secondary school camp.

With 16,000 players, 1150 coaches and 150 umpires, Waikato is New Zealand’s second largest netball region. Netball is also the most popular secondary school sport in the Waikato.