In an event first, Netball Australia’s Marie Little Shield will feature teams from every state and territory to compete in the national all-abilities competition this September.
The milestone will be marked by the inclusion of an inaugural Tasmanian team in 2024.
Tasmania will make their Marie Little Shield debut as they compete against teams from the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.
The eight domestic teams will vie for the 2024 title at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena from Friday 6 September until Sunday 8 September.
Netball Australia CEO Stacey West reflected on the significance of the national all-abilities event as it heads into its eleventh year.
“To have all eight of our states and territories competing in this year’s Marie Little Shield is truly wonderful,” West said.
“The Marie Little Shield plays such an important role for the development and growth of every competing player.
“It highlights netball’s touch point to all who take part in the event including coaches, officials, administrators and the supporters who come out to cheer on our national participants.
“We look forward to what all of our competing teams will bring to Brisbane this September.”
Introduced in 2013, the Marie Little Shield competition was named after Marie Little OAM, a netballer who dedicated her life to those with an intellectual disability.
The Marie Little Shield provides the chance for female athletes with an intellectual disability to compete at the national level each year in three days of competition.
Netball Tasmania CEO Mitch Coulson expressed his delight for Tasmania to make their event debut in 2024.
“Netball Tasmania are so thrilled to be sending our first ever Marie Little Shield team to Brisbane to represent Tasmania,” Coulson said.
“This has been made possible due to the tireless work of so many in the netball community and with the great support from the Confident Girls Foundation and Tasmanian Government."
The 2024 event will be open and free to the public, with all matches also being streamed live across the weekend via KommunityTV.
A full fixture for the Marie Little Shield will be released in the coming weeks with team lists to follow.
