Some of the nation’s best young netball players have been offered Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Netball Scholarships for 2011 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 Sue Gaudion, Assistant Coach Kylee Sampson and Diamonds Coach Norma Plummer.

Gaudion 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,’ Gaudion 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.’

AIS Director Professor Peter Fricker 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,’ Professor Fricker said. 

Some of the Australian Diamonds players who have progressed from the AIS Netball program include Susan Pratley, Laura Geitz, Susan Fuhrmann, Rebecca Bulley, Lauren Nourse and Kimberlee Green.

A full list of AIS netball scholarship holders for 2011 is attached.

Contact: David Packwood, AIS Media Officer Tel: 02 62141476 / 0408 417894.

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

2011 AIS NETBALL SQUAD

Alix McDermott  NSW

Chanel Gomes  QLD

Kellyann Grayson NSW

Mary Livesey   VIC

Melissa Tallent  NSW

Nicola Gray  NSW

Sally Butters  QLD

Samantha Poolman NSW

Simone Nalder  VIC

Stephanie Wood  QLD

Verity Simmons  NSW