The heat couldn’t sap the excitement and enthusiasm as almost 100 junior netballers learnt from the best in the business at the weekend.
The courts at the Barooga Football Netball Club played home to three of the sport’s regional stars on Sunday, December 8.
North Albury’s Emily Browne, Yarrawonga A-grade goalkeeper Emily Laracy and Shepparton Bears A-grade head coach Kim Borger led two clinics aimed at developing junior players’ skills and confidence.
Barooga A-grade head coach Jacqui Douglas said the clinics focused on developing players’ basic — but all important — skills and technique.
“If you learn your basics well, that’s going to set you in good stead for your future,” Douglas said.
“We’ve sort of got a back-to-basics approach ourselves, so this really aligns with that.
“We’re shifting focus to junior development for 2025; we’re really investing in junior development, and this is step one of that journey.”
The day also marked the finish of Barooga netball’s preseason training for 2024.
Douglas said young players at the clinic hailed from towns across the region, including Barooga, Cobram, Yarrawonga, Tocumwal and Rutherglen.
She said there were lots of new faces and that the club was looking forward to next year.
“Our junior numbers were really strong for us throughout preseason for us at Barooga,” Douglas said.
“So that’s going to be really exciting when we start to do our trials in February next year.”