New Katanning Netball Association season starts on Saturday but no junior competition due to low numbers

The Katanning Netball Association’s new season will start this week but there will be no junior age competition this year.

Tania Wolfe will enter her second year as president of the KNA and the committee has navigated the uncertainly of COVID-19 to have the new season ready to go.

With the easing of many restrictions, the KNA is excited about an even better season than last year on the court.

The Net and Set program for children will continue under the guidance of Tania Edwards as young and aspiring players learn new skills.

Erin Urquhart will co-ordinate the Go Juniors program which has been well supported, with eight teams nominating between Katanning and Kojonup.

Katanning has four sides and Kojonup also has JUJUfour, making for a healthy and even competition in 2022.

Unfortunately there were not enough numbers to continue a junior competitive program this year.

The KNA will instead allow age-appropriate junior players to compete in the senior competition.

As a result, senior numbers have increased slightly and there are 18 teams registered for the new competition.

Senior co-ordinator Alyce Caldwell has scheduled and spread those teams into four different divisions.

Julie Hanna will be continuing the Green Shirts program for umpires in the KNA. It is an opportunity for people of any age to pick up the whistle.

Kojonup has spent decades coming to Katanning every Saturday in the season along with some weeknight games.

This year, Kojonup will get the opportunity to host games in their town, as players from Katanning travel there to play on new courts which are almost complete.

There will be an opening day of fixtures played in Kojonup on May 21.

The opening round of the KNA season will be played this Saturday.

KATANNNING NETBALL ASSOCIATION ROUND ONE FIXTURES

Saturday April 30

Juniors-mixed

Kojonup Firebirds v Tyrepower Giants — 10am Court 4

ANZ Swifts v JB’s Thunderbirds — 10am Court 1

Kojonup Swifts v Royal Fever — 10am Court 3

Kojonup Thunderbirds v Kojonup Vixens — 10am Kojonup

Seniors

A-grade

Olympians 1 v Allstars 1 — 1.30pm Court 1

Cardinals Force v Kojonup 1 — 3pm Court 1

A-reserve grade

Kia Ora v Kojonup 2 — 1.30pm Court 2

Allstars 2 v Broomehill — 3pm Court 2

B-grade

Cardinals Fever v Dumbleyung 1 — 1.30pm Court 4

Kojonup 4 v Olympians 2 — 1.30pm Court 3

Kojonup 3 v Olympians 3 — 3pm Court 4

C-grade

Dumbleyung 2 v Allstars 3 — 3pm Court 3

Cardinals Phoenix v Cardinals Vixens — rescheduled