Netball program grows teeth

ALTHOUGH recent noise about Bond’s netball program has centred around the selection of Bull Sharks Hart Sapphire and Ruby State League teams for next year, the work doesn’t begin and end there.

On Sunday Bond’s 80 Future Bull Sharks Program participants enjoyed their fourth and final training session at Bond University’s Sports Hall.

The Future Bull Sharks program is mostly made up of club netballers looking to improve their skills ahead of local association representative trials.

And on Saturday, Bond hosted its first group of young Indigenous athletes as part of its new First Nations Bull Sharks initiative. Over four weeks, these athletes will have an opportunity to improve their footwork, ball work, court fitness and attacking and defensive skills with Bond’s coaches.

Participants at Sunday’s session were treated to a surprise with Queensland Firebirds Goal Attack Mia Stower on hand to offer some training tips and share insights into her netball development.

“There are certain advantages that flow from having the daughter of your head coach on the Firebird’s playing roster,” said Bond Bull Sharks head of netball operations Kim Boland.

“Mia was outstanding with the kids. She was so generous with her time and knowledge. This kind of community-level mentorship has always played a significant role and we were very lucky to give these kids the opportunity to learn from an elite-level talent.”

Sapphire and Ruby players will be back at Bond on December 4 when they begin strength and conditioning training with Glenn Corcoran.