Marie Little Shield offers No Limits for selected netballers

WA NETBALLERS with an intellectual disability will be competing in the Marie Little OAM Shield for the first time in August.

Eleven players aged 16 to mid 40s were selected to represent WA at the national competition.

Five of those 11 went through Netball WA’s No Limits program, which taught the game to kids aged 11 and over with an intellectual disability.

Trigg resident Shakira Jamieson and Yokine resident Ruby Connor have been named in the team.

WA coach Jaime-Leigh Strickland said it was great to have a pathway from No Limits to representing WA.

“It has been very interesting watching them doing fun games in the No Limits program, getting them used to netball and then progressing them through learning skills that make up the game,” she said.

“They are loving it…their confidence is growing every week.

“This group as the team have only been training for the last three weeks but most of them play at the Fremantle Netball Association in their No Limits division.”

Strickland said the team had varying degrees of netball experience and would face a tough challenge against other states.

“They obviously have got a higher level of regular competition and had experience already,” she said.

“We will definitely push some of the teams and the girls have told me they are going to win.

“It has been trying to find their little niche and give them some consistency so they have got their stability and they know what their role is in their group.”

Shoe company Athletes Foot donated $5000 to help fund the team’s trip to Sydney, equipment and uniforms.

The Marie Little OAM Shield will be held in Sydney on August 20 to 21.