Cardiff and Vale College enters into partnership with Welsh Netball

Cardiff and Vale College has entered into a partnership with Welsh Netball to enhance the abilities of its learners – the first such partnership with a College.

Welsh Netball will work with the College’s Netball Academy and its Head of Netball, Welsh international Kyra Jones, to help players grow and develop and gain experience as they progress along the sport’s pathway. It also hoped that the partnership will attract more international students to the College.

There will be regular opportunities for Welsh Netball coaching staff to work with CAVC staff and players, and collaborative working with the Wales U17 and U21 coaches to ensure a clear pathway is created.

Welsh Netball’s Head of Performance Rosie Pretorius will assist the Academy in developing its programme of coaching, strength and conditioning and performance analysis.

Open to all students, the CAVC Netball Academy provides a supportive and specialist environment that combines first-class coaching and sports development with the College’s expanding portfolio of courses.

“For young players being able to get specific netball provision and support alongside your studies is a huge benefit,” Rosie Pretorius said.

“Getting that mix between education and sport is really important because netball currently isn’t a professional sport, so you do need to have that education background and platform really to build on.

“It gives you that whole holistic view of what it takes to be an athlete and what it takes to really get to that international level, so to come to somewhere like Cardiff and Vale College and have all of that provided for you with support of the national governing body as in Welsh Netball, it’s a fantastic opportunity.”

CAVC Head of Netball Kyra Jones said: “Cardiff and Vale College has developed an exciting partnership with Welsh Netball. This is a great opportunity for our Netball Academy players to grow and develop, with the potential to gain valuable experience along the netball pathway.

“Rosie, as Head of Performance, has the role of developing netball in Wales and this partnership will aid her in that, while helping our netballers progress along the Welsh netball pathway. We are also hoping that more international players will study at college and following our comprehensive programme of coaching, strength and conditioning and performance analysis.”

CAVC Head of Sport, Tourism and Public Services James Young said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for CAVC and especially the sports department. Being the first college to partner with Welsh Netball shows the support and confidence that Welsh Netball has in our programme and our vision for the future. 

“The appointment of Kyra Jones, current Welsh International, as our Head of Netball was a considerable benefit for the College and she is clearly a role model for all aspiring netball players. 

“This partnership will consolidate the educational and performance pathway and will hopefully allow current and future international netball players to further enhance their technical, tactical, physical and psychological development, whilst continuing with their academic studies.  I would personally like to thank Rosie Pretorius and Welsh Netball CEO Sarah Jones for supporting this relationship, which I am positive will benefit both organisations.”