Wed 3 September 2008
Inflation:
Pull the ball into shape and insert the needle into the valve slowly so to avoid puncturing the bladder.
Gradually inflate the ball using a hand or stirrup pump - inflation using a compressor or airline is not recommended as it can lead to over inflation, which can cause the properties of the ball to change.
Check the pressure at regular intervals and ensure that the ball is inflated to 9.5 psi.
Care:
Please clean the balls before use to remove any residue from the surface of the ball. Cleaning should be carried out using warm water, a light detergent and a soft cloth. Please do not sit on the balls as this causes them to go out of shape.
The balls should be stored in an ambient environment and kept dry after they have been cleaned.
Check the pressure of the balls regularly to ensure optimum performance. Slight variations of ball pressure can occur over time due to the natural materials used in the bladder and changes in the external climate.
Wed 3 September 2008
Media Release - Fresh faces in Australian Netball Team
Rewarded for dazzling ANZ Championship seasons and outstanding performance throughout the national camp program, Kate Beveridge, Kimberlee Green and Laura Geitz have earned their Australian Player badge following the announcement of the 2008 Australian Netball Team.
Having previously been called up for national duties as a replacement player, Rebecca Bulley was also formally announced for the first time as a member of the Australian Netball Team.
The Australian Netball Team announced by Chief Executive Kate Palmer at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), will play New Zealand and England during the Holden Netball Test Series in Australia and the New World International Netball Series in New Zealand.
Heading into their first international campaign following the World Championships, Australian coach Norma Plummer and national selectors Carole Sykes and Susan Kenny, believe they have a flexible and versatile team to cover all positions and combinations on court.
"We see this as a development year and we are preparing for the next four by working with the young players and giving them opportunities," Plummer explained.
"The selection of this team has been based on youth as we look towards the future of Australian netball.
"In this team, we have six players who were involved the 2005 World Youth Cup, so the penetration of the 21/U group is really starting to show. Eight of twelve team members are also graduates of the AIS netball program. "
The Australian team will depart for New Zealand on Sunday September 14 and will joined on tour by the Australian 21/U team.
The Australian 21/U team will play a curtain raiser match before the national teams on 17 September, with a second 21/U Test match scheduled on 19 September also in Christchurch.
The 2008 Australian Netball Team
Kate Beveridge (WA)
Rebecca Bulley (VIC)
Bianca Chatfield (VIC)
Catherine Cox (NSW)
Laura Geitz (QLD)
Mo'onia Gerrard (NSW)
Kimberlee Green (NSW)
Natalie Medhurst (SA)
Lauren Nourse (QLD)
Susan Pratley (NSW)
Julie Prendergast (VIC)
Natalie von Bertouch (SA)
Norma Plummer - Coach
Margaret Molina - Manager
Susan Kenny - Assistant Coach
Kathryn Gaffney - Doctor
Sean Mungovan - Physiotherapist
Matthew Durston - Massage Therapist
Lyndell Bruce - Video Analyst
The Australian 21/U Team
Caitlin Bassett (WA)
Shae Bolton (VIC)
Kimberley Borger (NSW)
Madison Browne (VIC)
Shannon Eagland (VIC)
Andrea Gilmore (WA)
Ashlee Howard (VIC)
Jasmine Keene (WA)
Sharni Layton (VIC)
Samantha May (NSW)
Chelsea Pitman (NSW)
Laura Scherian (QLD)
Amy Steel (VIC)
Courtney Tairi (NSW)
Simone McKinnis OAM - Coach
Nicole Cusack - Specialist Coach
Donna Monteath - Manager
Bianca Scotney - Doctor
Steve Hawkins - Physiotherapist
Gamal Darwish - Massage Therapist
2008 New World International Netball Series
AUSTRALIA v. NEW ZEALAND
17 September - Westpac Arena, Christchurch
20 September - Vector Arena, Auckland
2008 Holden Netball Test Series
AUSTRALIA v. ENGLAND
4 October - Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle
8 October - Distinctive Homes Dome, Adelaide
AUSTRALIA v. NEW ZEALAND
26 October - Hisense Arena, Melbourne
2 November - Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
Wed 10 September 2008
In a history making development for women's sport, elite netball will be available in millions of homes accross the country with Network Ten today announced as the official television broadcaster of netball in Australia.
Netball Australia is delighted to partner a commercial free-to-air television broadcaster in a venture that will guarantee coverage of all Australian Netball Diamonds Test matches played on both home soil and internationally for the next four years.
Netball Australia chief Executive, Kate Palmer believes the potential of the partnership is extraordinary.
"This partnership provides netball with an opportunity to build the profile of our brand but more importantly showcase the wonderful athletes who play the game," Palmer said.
"Network Ten has a proven record in sports broadcasting. We are delighted that they have recognised netball as a product that can add value to their current programming."
General Manager - Sport, David White said Network Ten was excited about broadcasting Australian elite netball for the next four years.
"We warmly welcome the sport of netball on TEN, bringing the game to a larger and more diverse audience than ever before," he said.
"TEN looks forward to helping to translate the huge grassroots participation of netball into increasingly larger viewer numbers and to showcasing a new generation of great Aussie netballers to their committed fans."
TEN's coverage, headed by former Australian captain Liz Ellis and Network Ten personality Luke Darcy begins on September 17 with the New World International Netball Series in New Zealand followed by the Holden Netball Test Series featuring Australia, New Zealand and England from October 4 - November 2 in four Australian cities.
Wed 10 September 2008
Move over the Wallabies, Socceroos, Opals and Hockeyroos....the Australian Netball Diamonds have arrived!
In a defining, milestone event in netball's 80-year history, Netball Australia today launched the new brand for the highly successful national team - the Australian Netball Diamonds.
Netball Australia Chief Executive, Kate Palmer believes the timing is right for the historic change.
"Our sport has never had a better opportunity to commercialise the national team brand," she said.
"This is a watershed era in netball's development and the branding of our brilliant, successful Australian Netball Team is a critical part of the puzzle in our future development."
Netball Australia consulted widely throughout the 12-month branding process to create a name, brand and logo that reflects the values and tells the story of the national team.
"It is a perfect brand fit - the brilliance of the diamond joining forces with the brilliance of the Australian Netball Team," Palmer said.
"Netball is the unique, feminine Australian game. The Australian Netball Diamonds are strong, graceful, brilliant, professional, multi-faceted, passionate and feminine."
The creation of the Australian Netball Diamonds does break new ground. But the outstanding qualities and achievements of the past and present players will be identified through the new brand which is proudly Australian.
"Australians love to identify their national sporting teams with nicknames and in no time the Diamonds will become a household name," Palmer said.