From humble beginnings in 1929 when it had only a handful of players, Netball NSW has grown to become one of the largest independent sports organisations in this state. With over 115,000 members playing and enjoying netball at all levels of performance in cities, suburbs, and country towns in all corners of New South Wales, our sport continues to grow both on and off the court as Netball NSW becomes increasingly successful and professional.
History proves that NSW is one of the most successful netballing states in Australia, claiming countless state titles and producing some of the best players in the country. Much of this success can be attributed to the wide range of programs and services Netball NSW offers to its members – from the grassroots level through to the elite. Our coaching and umpiring personnel travel the state to conduct accreditation courses and clinics, ensuring the continued development and providing support for our affiliated associations and their officials. Netball NSW also provides pathways for those umpires, coaches and officials to further their pursuits, offering camps, update courses and seminars to talented and identified officials.
For the players there are endless opportunities for skill development and advancement. Junior Development Officers visit schools and community groups in many regions of New South Wales, running clinics for thousands of children every month in an effort to encourage and promote netball as far and wide as possible.
From their local club team, to association representative teams, from talent squads and Academies of Sport, talented players are also offered pathways to continue their netball ambitions as they strive to represent New South Wales or even Australia.
At the elite end of the player pathway the NSW Swifts and GIANTS Netball participate in the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN). The Swifts, have six Premierships in their trophy cabinet – four Commonwealth Bank Trophies (when they were known as the Sydney Swifts), the 2008 trans-Tasman ANZ Championship and the 2019 Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) title. The Swifts are the only team in Australian netball to have won Premierships in each three editions of the national championship in the modern era, making them the nation's most successful club.
The GIANTS, who were formed in 2017, contested the inaugural SSN Grand Final in the same year and were Minor Premiers in 2018.
In December 2014, Netball NSW moved from the Anne Clark Centre in Lidcombe – the governing body’s home since 1980 – to its new $35M centre of excellence, Netball Central at Sydney Olympic Park. In addition to being the administration Headquarters of Netball NSW, the NSW Swifts and GIANTS Netball, Netball Central houses a Show Court with seating for approximately 850 people plus five further courts (all featuring state-of-the-art timber sprung flooring), a training and education room, a gymnasium, meeting rooms, medical facilities and a café.