Premier League Netball Program
This season, Westminster has been allocated an additional Premier League position. This is a significant and exciting development for our Netball program, and one we have approached with care and purpose. In shaping how this opportunity would be used, we engaged in broad consultation across the School, our community and within the Netball program to ensure a well considered and student centred outcome.
As a result, the Premier League Pathway team has been established and will compete in the IGSSA Premier League Netball competition. This is a purposeful program designed to provide students in Years 9 and 10, who have demonstrated strong potential through the trials process, with genuine exposure to high level training, coaching and competition.
What does this look like?
The Premier League Pathway team sits within the broader Premier League program and provides players with access to the same high quality training environment, coaching and competition opportunities.
The Premier League Pathway, Premier League and Premier League Reserves teams operate as one connected program. Pathway players will train alongside both squads, ensuring regular exposure to a high standard of play. Across all three teams, there is a shared approach to planning, feedback and development, creating a consistent and purposeful environment for every player.
Coaching
The coaching team behind this program is one we are incredibly proud of.
Cathy Fellows leads all three teams as Head Coach. Cathy is the Adelaide Thunderbirds Assistant Coach and was the Australian U21 Head Coach in 2025.
Darren Saul will coach Premier League and Premier League Reserves. Darren is the Head Coach of Contax Premier League Reserves and Head Coach of the SA U17 State team. Rachel Capetanakis will assist when Cathy is travelling with the Thunderbirds. Rachel is the Head Coach of Tango Premier League and Adelaide Thunderbirds Metro Academy Head Coach.
Sarah McKay and Caleb Barnden will coach Premier League Pathway. Sarah is a former Australian Diamond and long-standing coach at Westminster. Caleb is part of the SA Dragons men's netball program as a player and is an intermediate accredited coach.
The program is overseen by Head of Netball, Carly Heinrich, who is also the Adelaide Thunderbirds Emerging Academy Head Coach and a selector in the state pathway program.
Across the coaching group, there are strong ties to state and national pathway programs. Players have direct access to that experience and knowledge every week.
Training
Premier League Pathway players will train as part of the broader Premier League program, with access to both strength and conditioning and court sessions.
Court training begins Thursday 23 April, 3.45pm to 5.15pm. Prior to the first court session, there will be a compulsory Values session at lunchtime in the Thomas Pavilion on Thursday 23 April. All Premier League Pathway players are expected to attend.
S&C sessions with Gerard Dutton and Kane Viska will run on Monday mornings, 7.15am to 8.15am, starting Monday 27 April.
Competition
The Premier League Pathway team will compete each week in the Premier League position not filled by Walford. This means the team will play within Walford’s core group rather than at the same venue as our Premier League and Premier League Reserves teams. Importantly, the team will still have scheduled home games across the season, ensuring strong connection to the Westminster community.
We recognise this structure may be different to what some are used to. However, this approach provides the opportunity to compete in the top division each week and offers significant benefit for player development and experience.
The Premier League Pathway team will not have an Intercol fixture. While Intercol is a valued and important part of the Westminster experience, the Premier League Pathway program provides opportunities that would not otherwise be available, including consistent exposure to the highest level of competition and access to high quality coaching.
Representative Opportunities
Premier League Pathway players will compete in the 9/10 Knockout competition together as a unit.
They will also have the opportunity to travel to Melbourne to represent the school at the Waverley tournament. This is a fantastic experience and one that is unique to being part of this program.
Selection
All players in the Premier League Pathway team have been selected through the trials process.
Player movement
If the Premier League Pathway team has players unavailable for a round, players will be selected from the 9A or 10A teams. Premier League Reserves players will not move into the Pathway team.
Premier League Pathway players are not eligible to play in Premier League or Premier League Reserves.
This is a program we are genuinely proud of. It brings together strong coaching, high quality training and weekly Premier League competition within a structure that has been thoughtfully designed to support each student’s development.
We are excited to introduce this into an already strong Netball program and believe it will add further depth and opportunity across the School.