South Staffordshire County Netball
England Netball Excel Pathway
The Netball Excel Pathway is the England Netball process for developing athletes with the attributes to attain
excellence. The programmes within the pathway are focused on developing athletes to reach their potential
and form the foundations to enable England Netball to be the Number 1 Ranked Team in the World.
These programmes provide performance-enhancing training for individuals, not squads. Competition is outside
the Excel Pathway Programmes, in clubs (local leagues, county leagues and regional leagues) and (but not only)
school competition.
The National Excel Pathway
This area of the pathway consists of the National Excel Programme (U17 & U19) which progresses into the
Excel Plus Programme (U21 & National Squad).
The Regional Excel Pathway
This area of the pathway consists of 3 progressive programmes:
 Satellite Academy – owned by the county
 County Academy – owned by the county
 Regional Academy – owned by the region
All programmes are in place across the country and sessions are delivered against the Excel Guidelines.
South Staffordshire County Netball Academies
The first steps on the England Netball Excel Pathway are the Satellite and County Academies which are
targeted at U14 (Satellite) and 14 - 16+ (County) netball players who have been identified as having the
potential to play netball at a higher level in the future.
However, South Staffordshire Netball has extended this programme to include two Development Academies,
for both U12 and U13 netball athletes. These Development Academies sit just below the Satellite and County
Academies and allow for a further 40 to 50 athletes to be involved in the programme.
The structure of the South Staffordshire Netball Academies is shown overleaf.
The aim of the Development, Satellite and County Academies is to give players the quality individual coaching
support they need to help them achieve their full potential. The Academy sessions educate players on how to
train with regards to fitness, skills work and goal setting, as well as many other aspects necessary to become
an elite athlete. Satellite and County Academy players are required to keep a training log of how often they
train, types of training and how often they participate in sport.
South Staffordshire County Netball Academies Structure
Age Group
Under 16
School Years
COUNTY ACADEMY
Y10 & Y11

Under 14
SATELLITE ACADEMY
Y9

Under 13
U13 DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
Y8

Under 12
U12 DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
Y6 & Y7
Trials
Entry into the Development, Satellite and County Academies is through a trial process. Only those athletes
who are willing to commit to the Academy programme, work hard at the sessions, train hard between the
sessions, and implement their new knowledge should trial for a place in a Development, Satellite or County
Academy. Additionally, all those entering the trials must first be nominated and it is strongly recommended
that the nomination comes from a Club Coach or PE Teacher who has completed the Excel Talent ID
Workshop. Further, it is important that Academy athletes are members of a Netball Club or are prepared to
join one.
The format of Development, Satellite and County Academy trials will include a significant amount of matchplay, but selection is NOT based on positional play so no-one should be disappointed because they have taken
to the court in a second or even third choice position. Every moment in a trial situation should be viewed as an
opportunity to demonstrate individual skills and attributes.
Selection Criteria
 For Development (U12 & U13) and Satellite (U14) Academies, selectors will be looking for the following
skills and attributes:
C
A
P
T
I
V
E
CONTROL and BALANCE: Can walk, run, sprint, jump and land in a controlled and balanced manner.
ATHLETISCM: Shows appropriate strength, speed, agility & endurance.
PASSING and CATCHING: Can pass to a stationary & moving player. Catches 1- or 2-handed, stationary/moving.
TIMES MOVEMENT: Can move to get free. Can move to win the ball.
INFLUENCING THE GAME: Listens to instructions. Contributes to the group with enthusiasm and determination.
VARIETY: Shows some variety in movement & passing skills.
EXPLOITS SPACE: Awareness of other players and the space through the court.
 For County Academy (U16), selectors will be looking for the following skills and attributes:
C
A
P
T
I
V
E
CONTROL and BALANCE: Can walk, run, sprint, jump and land in a controlled and balanced manner whilst catching and
releasing the ball.
ATHLETISCM: Can vary speed with ease. Demonstrates strength and agility under pressure from another player.
PASSING and CATCHING: Can pass with accuracy. Can pass from both sides of body. Can pass around a 3ft mark.
TIMES MOVEMENT: Can time their movement to get free. Can time their movement to win the ball.
INFLUENCING THE GAME: Can apply instructions. Perseveres in challenging situations.
VARIETY: Can apply a variety of movement skills – forwards/ backwards/angles.
EXPLOITS SPACE: Can select appropriate space to receive a pass. Starting to create or close down space.
Development Academies (U12 & U13)
These are the first two stages of South Staffordshire Netball’s Academy Programme with a focus on the
development of the individual netball athlete. The main focus at this stage is on the development of basic
movement skills, ball skills, attacking skills and defending skills.
Outcome of programme: To work towards the achievement of the standards outlined under Satellite Academy
in the Excel guidelines.
Duration of training programme: Minimum 10 x 2hrs over 10 months.
Number of players: Approximately 25 athletes per Academy.
Age of players: U12 years (Years 6 & 7) and U13 years (Year 8).
Duration of time players are in the programme: 1 year.
Level of coach: UKCC Level 2 with appropriate experience of working with talented players.
Relevant Competition: U12 or U14 County League/Tournament and inter school competition.
Talent Identification and selection: Players identified as having the 'potential' to achieve the skills outlined
under Satellite Academy in the Excel Guidelines.
Progression:
 U12s: U13 Development Academy
 U13s: Satellite Academy
There is no automatic entry to the next Academy stage. Players must be nominated by the County Coach to
trial along with others nominated by clubs and schools. This applies even if a player has already had a year in
an Academy.
If the athlete has reached their potential at Development Academy it is recommended that they continue their
training at club level.
Aim:
The aim of the academy program is to give each athlete the quality individual coaching support they need to
help them achieve their full potential. The sessions will give them education on how to train with regards to
fitness, skills work and goal setting, as well as many other aspects necessary to become an elite athlete.
Satellite Academy (U14)
Purpose of programme: This is the first entrance into the England Netball Excel Pathway and the focus again is
on the individual development. This stage coincides with peak motor learning, therefore athletes are learning
how to train and develop the skills of Netball. They are also learning the basic technical/tactical skills, and
ancillary capacities including:
 Warm up and cool down
 Stretching
 Hydration and nutrition
 Recovery
 Relaxation and focusing
Although the focus is on the training and skill development, competition should be used to test and refine
skills. The training to competition ratio is 75% to 25%. Athletes should be competing in appropriate club
(county and regional leagues) and school competition.
One of the main reasons athletes plateau during the later stages of their career is because of the over
emphasis on competition and not developing a range of skills during this very important stage.
Outcome of programme: To achieve the standards outlined under Satellite Academy in the Excel guidelines.
Duration of training programme: Minimum 10 x 2hrs over 10 months.
Number of players: Approximately 20 athletes.
Age of players: Recommended as U14 years (Year 9).
Duration of time players are in the programme: 1 year.
Level of coach: UKCC Level 2 with appropriate experience of working with talent players.
Relevant Competition: U14 or U16 County League/Tournament and inter school competition.
Talent Identification and selection: Players identified as having the 'potential' to achieve the skills outlined
under Satellite Academy in the Excel Guidelines.
Progression
 County Academy
There is no automatic entry to the next Academy stage. Players must be nominated by the County Coach to
trial along with others nominated by clubs and schools. This applies even if a player has already had a year in
an Academy.
If the athlete has reached their potential at Satellite Academy it is recommended that they continue their
training at club level.
Aim:
The aim of the academy program is to give each athlete the quality individual coaching support they need to
help them achieve their full potential. The sessions will give you education on how to train with regards to
fitness, skills work and goal setting, as well as many other aspects necessary to become an elite athlete.
Athletes will be required to keep a training log of how often they train, types of training and how often they
participate in sport.
County Academy
Purpose of programme: The focus is on working with another player. The emphasis remains on training and
skill development with competition being used to test and refine skills.
Outcome of programme: To achieve the standards outlined under County Academy in the Excel guidelines.
Duration of training programme: Minimum 10 x 2hrs over 10 months.
Number of players: Approximately 20 athletes.
Age of players: Recommended as 14-16+ years (Years 10 & 11).
Duration of time players are in the programme: Up to 2 years.
Level of coach: UKCC Level 2 with appropriate experience of working with talent players.
Relevant Competition: U14 or U16 County League/Tournament or U14/U16 Regional League and inter school
competition.
Talent Identification and selection: Players identified as having the 'potential' to achieve the skills outlined
under County Academy in the Excel Guidelines.
Progression:
 Regional Academy, through the Regional Screening process.
Athletes who do not progress to Regional Academy are recommended to seek further development at club
level.
Aim:
The aim of the academy program is to give athletes the quality individual coaching support they need to help
you achieve their full potential. The sessions will give them education on how to train with regards to fitness,
skills work and goal setting, as well as many other aspects necessary to become an elite athlete. Athletes will
be required to keep a training log of how often they train, types of training and how often they participate in
sport.
Regional Academy
Purpose of programme: Focus is on working within units and aerobic conditioning. At this stage there is a
greater individualisation of finesses and technical training. The emphasis remains on training with competition
used to test and refined skills.
Outcome of programme: To achieve the standards outlined under Regional Academy in the Excel guidelines.
Duration of training programme: Appropriate timing to be determined by Regional Talent Technical Support
Group and Regional Talent Coach.
Number of players: Approximately 20 athletes.
Age of players: Recommended as U17 years but age range to be kept flexible to cater for individual needs and
maturation.
Duration of time players are in the programme: An athlete may spend between 1 and 2 years at this stage.
Level of coach: UKCC Level 2 working towards Level 3 and with appropriate experience of working with
talented players.
Relevant Competition: U16 or Senior Regional League or Netball Talent League (NTL).
Talent Identification and selection: Players identified as having the 'potential' to achieve the skills outlined
under Regional Academy in the Excel Guidelines.
Progression:
 Nomination to National Screening.
Athletes who do not achieve a nomination to National Screening are recommended to seek further
development at club level, competing in regional league and/or possibly National Premier League.