25 Jan 2012

Some of the nation’s best young netball players have been offered Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Netball Scholarships for 2012 as they aim to become Australia’s next crop of Diamonds.

The program which was established as one of the eight foundation sports at the Institute in 1981 is highly regarded as a world class development program.

Athletes will experience state-of-the-art facilities and services in a program delivered by AIS Head Coach Julie Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald says the cream of Australia’s finest netballers have all progressed through the AIS program, which aims to develop the skills of our junior elite athletes.

“The AIS Netball program gives players the experience necessary to compete with distinction at both the national and international level,” Fitzgerald said.

“Our training program at the AIS is based on developing skills and tactics required by Australian teams to compete successfully with our major international competitors.”

“I have no doubt that among the current AIS squad there are players who will progress to represent Australia at the senior level.”

Acting AIS Director Professor Phil Borgeaud said the AIS, in partnership with Netball Australia and state institutes/academies of sport, continued to help strengthen Australian netball through the development of talented juniors.

“We are extremely proud of our record and tradition of producing talented netball players who have gone on to excel at the elite level of the game,” Borgeaud said.

Some of the Australian Diamonds players who have progressed from the AIS Netball program include Natalie von Bertouch, Catherine Cox, Sharni Layton, Laura Geitz, Chelsea Pitman, Amy Steel and Kimberlee Green.

The Australian Government is a strong supporter of Australian netball, contributing more than $3 million in annual funding to support the development of the sport at both the elite and grassroots level.

This includes an additional $500k per year in High Performance funding.

The AIS is a major division of the Australian Sports Commission.

2012 AIS NETBALL SQUAD

Kristina Brice (NSW)

Courtney Bruce (WA)

Laura Clemesha (QLD)

Paige Hadley (NSW)

Laura Marslen (SA)

Alix McDermott (NSW) **

Brooke Miller (NSW)

Kimberley Ravaillion (NSW)

Keely Rodrigo (ACT)

Amehlia Schmidt (SA)

Gabrielle Simpson (NSW)

Amy Sommerville (NSW)

Kate Thompson (VIC)

Joanna Weston (VIC)

HEAD COACH – Julie Fitzgerald

** Returning scholarship holder