Dunedin Netball

Netball in Dunedin is supported by a well-organised system that includes structured competitions, clubs, and pathways for development. It is played across all age groups and remains a significant sport in the region, with consistent involvement from schools, clubs, and volunteers.

Netball in Dunedin

Dunedin netball runs throughout the year, with the main outdoor season held from April to August. Most competitions are played at Logan Park netball courts and the Edgar Centre. The Edgar Centre is an indoor venue and is often used for premier grades, school competitions, and representative teams — particularly during cold or wet weather.

The sport is supported regionally by Netball South and Netball Otago. Netball South manages performance pathways across the lower South Island. Netball Otago focuses on local development and community competitions.

Dunedin netball supports the player development pathway into the Southern Steel, the ANZ Premiership team for the southern region. While based in Invercargill, many of the team’s players and training partners are linked to Otago through local clubs or the University of Otago. Before the Southern Steel was formed in 2008, Dunedin was home to the Otago Rebels, who competed in the Coca-Cola Cup and National Bank Cup from 1998 to 2007. The Rebels won the inaugural title in 1998 and were runners-up in 1999, before merging with the Southern Sting to create the Southern Steel.

Netball Clubs

Dunedin netball has a mix of large and small netball clubs. Some are school-affiliated, while others are community-based or focused on adult teams. Clubs such as Physed, Southern Magpies, University Albion, College Netball Club, and South Pacific Titans run teams across a wide range of grades.

Training is held on weeknights, often at Logan Park or in local gyms and halls. Indoor training is more common among premier and higher-level teams.

Several clubs also offer opportunities for junior players, based on Netball New Zealand’s Junior Netball programme. Others work closely with secondary schools to provide coaching or development pathways. University Albion, for example, caters for students and non-students alike, running both competitive and social teams with access to university facilities.

Join Netball in Dunedin

To join netball in Dunedin, players usually register through their school, a club, or social leagues. School teams are coordinated by sports staff and are entered into local competitions. Clubs open their registrations in February and run trials in late February or early March. Players are then placed into teams depending on skill level and availability.

Social leagues run through Dunedin Netball, including weeknight competitions for casual players. Some leagues are open to mixed-gender teams or allow flexible playing formats.

There are also roles for umpires and coaches. Training for beginner and experienced umpires is offered regularly, with a progression pathway from Centre to National qualifications. Coaching is supported through workshops and mentoring in line with Netball New Zealand’s national structure.

Netball Teams

Dunedin netball supports both recreational and representative-level teams. Representative teams are selected each year for U14, U16, U18, and Open grades. Trials usually take place in May. Teams then travel to regional and national tournaments, providing players with higher-level match experience.

The Southern Steel draws from across the Netball South zone. Dunedin contributes players and support staff to this programme, particularly through the University of Otago and representative teams. Development players often move through the regional system before reaching professional level.

Tertiary netball also has a place in Dunedin. The University of Otago sends teams to national university events such as the University Games and Tertiary Championships. These teams are often made up of club players who are also enrolled as students.

Dunedin Netball Events

Dunedin’s netball calendar includes a number of local and regional events. Saturday competitions are the most consistent, with more than 100 games scheduled each weekend during the main season at Logan Park.

Other events include the Otago Secondary Schools Tournament, which acts as a qualifier for South Island Secondary Schools. This is held in Dunedin and features schools from across Otago. It is usually played over two days and allows teams to assess their level in comparison with others in the region.

Netball Tournaments

Dunedin netball teams compete in several tournaments outside of local league play. These include the South Island Junior Netball Tournament and Netball New Zealand U18 Champs. Both involve travel and are organised through regional or representative teams.

Long weekend tournaments also feature, such as those held over King’s Birthday or Labour Weekend. These may be invitation-only or open-entry, depending on the host.

Dunedin also hosts a university tournament in April each year. Organised by the University of Otago, it brings together student teams from across the country and includes both competitive play and social activities. Entry is handled via university clubs or student sports groups.

Netball Opportunities

Netball in Dunedin offers more than playing roles. Coaching, umpiring, and volunteering are all structured roles supported through training and formal pathways. Umpires can follow a progression system from entry-level through to national certification. Courses are held locally with support from Netball South.

Coaches can attend workshops for community-level teams or complete modules for advanced qualifications.

Training in Dunedin

Training facilities depend on team level. Outdoor courts at Logan Park are used frequently, particularly for lower-grade and junior teams. Premier and representative teams often train indoors, either at the Edgar Centre or at school and university venues.

Strength and conditioning is available through partnerships with Otago Academy of Sport or university-based providers and are important for injury prevention. Players selected for representative teams may be offered individual or group training programmes. Skill development is handled by club or team coaches, with occasional visits from experienced guest coaches.

Training typically includes court-based sessions once or twice per week. Pre-season camps and structured gym sessions are offered to performance-level athletes through Netball South. These sessions may also include match analysis and fitness testing, depending on the level of the team.