The Rarotonga Netball season has kicked off this week.

With the Open Grades starting yesterday (This is a one-off - for Tuesday - then next week Opens will be played on Wednesdays as per previous seasons), the reason for starting yesterday was so families can attend and watch cultural festivals over the next two days. 

Note that delegates (clubs that make up Netball Cook Islands - Tupapa, Avatiu, Takuvaine, Titikaveka, Arorangi and Ngatangiia/Matavera) meet on a regular basis in the lead up to the start of the season to confirm dates and grades.

This week was chosen so it is not interrupted by public holidays. 

Yesterday’s games only featured the open grades.

There are two open grades. Open 1 and Open 2.

Takuvaine Netball Club hosted Avatiu Netball Club at Takuvaine Courts

Tupapa Netball Club hosted Ngatangiia/Matavera at the Tupapa Courts/Dome.

This was a first in the Cook Islands where a netball game took place under the Dome that was completed and opened at the beginning of this year. 

Arorangi Netball Club hosted Titikaveka Netball Club at Arorangi Courts.

On Saturday, the rest of the categories/grades will play from age group featuring 6U, 8U grades up to the Reserves and Premier Grades.

All clubs will participate in this season, however, there have been some clubs who may not field certain categories/grades. (Could be due to players leaving the island or competing sports i.e. league and training/trialing for Pacific Games)

There is only one round (where clubs only play each other once, knock outs then semis and finals) versus the traditional two rounds (clubs play each other twice) Hence only 8 weeks of competition. 

Netball Season has started a bit later this season. And looking to see a decrease in numbers. After this week we will have a better idea of membership and number of players. We are hopeful that our netball community will back and support our Clubs especially with the Pacific Games at the end of the year. 

In other news, trials took place for Rarotonga based players from Thursday 30th March 2023 - Saturday 2nd April 2023. Though there was a disappointing turn out (with less than 15 turning up)

Netball Cook Islands was pleased to see young women step up to the challenge.

Furthermore, an indication for NCI to look into rebuilding and implementing a development program for both senior and junior players. 

A trial will take place for New Zealand based Cook Islands players this weekend Saturday 15 April 2023 starting at 10.15am until 2 pm at the Auckland Netball Netball Centre - 7 Allison Ferguson Drive, St Johns on Court 8.  Both trials will be facilitated by Joy Bates. 

Other matters - Netball Cook Islands Annual General Meeting will take place on Tuesday 18th April, 2023, 6pm at CISNOC

Tekura Moekaa

Secretary 

Netball Cook Islands