A commitment to execution, clear communication, and a determination for netball to reach its potential were Netball Australia Interim CEO Ron Steiner’s key points during his address at the Netball NSW AGM last week.
Steiner, who has been at the helm of Netball Australia since December, said the sport is facing many challenges but is putting itself in a strong position to tackle them in the coming years.
Highlighting the State of the Game Review as the prime motivator of change and the recently struck broadcast rights agreement as an indicator of netball’s potential, Steiner assured attendees that the future of the sport is bright because of its role in the community, strong heritage and brave decision making.
“I think we need to recognise what an extraordinary sport netball is, on so many levels.”
“And not least of all as a national platform for our women and girls, which places us in a position of extraordinary opportunism for the next decade. Because, for the next decade, empowering women and climate change are going to be so significant.”
The State of the Game Review, which called upon everyone across the netball nation to share their thoughts, stories and opinions about the sport in Australia, has provided Netball Australia with “Eight Key Recommendations”:
- A shared and aligned strategy for Australian Netball
- A contemporary governance record
- Netball to be the number one participation sport
- Fully integrated pathways and high-performance program
- Suncorp Super Netball to be the “jewel in the crown” of Netball Australia
- Operational efficiency
- A national digital strategy
- Implementation
“Some of you will look at the Review and say nothing is new, and you’re probably right. But what is new is our commitment to execution.” Steiner said.
“Netball will always be here. It’s a beautiful sport. It’s a great community activity. But we are here, I think, because we want netball to fulfill its potential and that’s what the State of the Game Review focussed on.”
From strengthening the grassroots of netball and creating a fully integrated pathways and high-performance program to modernising the operational efficiency of Australian netball, the key recommendations will provide clear goals and ambitions for the sport to work towards.
Netball Australia recently hired former defence xxx Greg McGlone to manage the process of bringing the State of the Game recommendations to life and he has already made significant progress on the project.
