Dannevirke: Competition returns to schools

These junior Dannevirke netballers from Pulse B (yellow) and Mystics B will now play under their school names. Photo / Christine McKay

It's hoped changes to this year's junior netball in Dannevirke will revitalise the competition.

"The junior competition is going back to being school-based," Tina Todd, chairwoman of the Dannevirke Netball Association said.

"We've always had Pongaroa play as a school team because the combined concept we had didn't work for them, but at the time it was put in place it was on trend."

However, with 97 per cent attendance from school representatives at the association's annual general meeting, there was an overwhelming response to reverting to school-based teams, Mrs Todd said.

"The amalgamation of schools into combined teams worked at the time, but over the past two or three years we've had a 15 per cent drop in participation and while I'm not saying the change could be a miracle cure, the time is right for change.

"We've always known big schools such as Dannevirke South School and Huia Range will be the cream of the crop, but we're hopeful this will be the boost the junior competition needs."

However, Mrs Todd said it's been impressed on school representatives at the annual meeting that they will have to "step up".

"They will have to have delegates at meetings and officiating is a must," she said.

- A JAB Netball meeting will be held tonight at 7pm at the association rooms in Anderson St.