The draw is now available for the 2008 Masters Games to be played on the 11th and 12th of October here at the Aorangi Netball Courts.

Please Note:

• Umpires will be required for the game immediately after the team they are associated with plays. Umpires are yet to be allocated, but the draw including umpires will be updated soon so if you are likely to be umpiring, make sure you check back here soon.
• Games will be 2 x 10min halves
• Medal presentation on Sunday will be 2.15pm

To see the draw click here Masters Games Draw 2008

To see what else is happening during the Masters Games visit the SIMG website

Once again there will be photographers at the netball taking your team photos which can be viewed and purchased at the Games Village or online here >> Masters Netball photos

© Timaru Herald

GERALDINE HIGH SCHOOL’S Kelsi Patterson has been named in Netball New Zealand’s under-17 talent identification programme.

The 16-year-old goal attack has impressed with her work rate, speed and ability to slot the goals at secondary school tournaments.

Patterson said she was stoked to get the opportunity. “It’s great, I’ll have to get off the couch and get motivated,” she joked.

Patterson will get a a training programme to follow with fitness a key to continue on up the ranks.

She has been playing netball since the age of five and played four seasons for her high school’s top side. Patterson has been in the South Canterbury under-19 team for the past two years and has been named by the Canterbury selectors to take part in identification programme.

All the players named in the programme attend two practical sessions conducted by Netball NZ. The first session is in Christchurch on December 7 and the second in Blenheim on March 8. The players are also observed by the New Zealand secondary school coach at these camps and 20 players will be then named to trial for the team.

Last year Julie Campbell (Geraldine) and Charlotte Dyer (Craighead) were selected for this programme. Campbell was unavailable this time around due to a bad knee injury she received at the South Island Secondary Schools tournament.

Representative convenor Lynn Stratford has praised the programme that Kelsi has been named in as it helps to introduce high performance principles at an earlier age at regional level. It also recognises players with potential earlier without also discounting late developers, she said.

Coaches of these players are also invited to these camps to ensure the flow on of information through coach development.

Patterson has also been in the Canterbury Academy Level 2 programme for 2007-8.

It has been a good season for secondary school netballers, Craighead’s Dale Palea’ea and Dyer have been named in the South Island Secondary Schools A-grade.