KIMBERLEY – With nearly 30 years of teaching experience and currently at Newton Primary School in Kimberley, Roleen van Niekerk’s role in the PEP Mini Netball programme brings together two of her passions: working with children and developing netball.

Van Niekerk, who is the provincial manager of the Northern Cape Schools Netball Committee under South African Schools Netball (SASN), says nothing beats watching children grow each day and develop their own personality.

As provincial manager, she supports the growth of school netball in the Northern Cape. She serves on the SASN Selection Sub-Committee, helping select players whilst upholding fairness and standards.

Van Niekerk finds it rewarding that the programme impacts both the young players and the adults supporting them. What stands out most is seeing the young girls take to the court, experience the festivals and leave smiling.

Her impact extends to the teachers and coaches in the programme. Van Niekerk hopes to see it reach more young girls whilst creating opportunities for teachers and coaches to develop alongside them.

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Growing the game

This year, PEP Mini Netball hosted 45 festivals across the country. Four were held in the Northern Cape in Hartswater, De Aar, Kimberley and Kuruman, whilst the coaching course took place in Springbok. The programme alternates districts and towns each year.

This is a grassroots programme that hosts festivals in all nine provinces for girls in the U7, U8 and U9 age groups. It focuses on fun, inclusive non-competitive play to teach fundamental skills and build confidence. Coaching sessions empower local netball coaches to teach foundational skills to young players. The programme hosts nine coaching sessions across South Africa, one in each province, led by expert coaches using modern and scientific techniques.

• Schools that want to enter the festivals can contact their SASN provincial manager or visit Pep Mini Netball for more information.