Held annually since the 1950’s, the Fuel to Go & Play Association Championships has seen many netball stars pass through its gates since its inception.
West Coast Fever Captain and Australian Diamonds athlete, Courtney Bruce represented her Association, Southern Districts, for two consecutive years at the Championships.
“It was my first taste of an intense training environment, with multiple trainings in a week, giving me the opportunity to practice my basic skills and build that camaraderie and how to work in a unit more than anything,” said Bruce.
“It’s a highlight in my netball journey, I really liked just hanging out with my friends for three days straight, everyone would get their hair braided and just getting to play netball together.”
Fellow West Coast Fever teammate and WA local, Jess Anstiss also accredited the three-day tournament for igniting her netball journey after participating for six years.
“Having the opportunity to play many games in a condensed period teaches you how to build on your performance in a short amount of time. Being able to back up each game and get that connection has definitely helped me get to where I am today,” said Anstiss.
Cementing itself as an integral part of the WA Athlete pathway, the Championships are also a great opportunity to develop off the court too.
Former Perth Association representative and current West Coast Fever athlete, Kaylia Stanton said the friendships she developed are the highlight of her Association Championships days.
“When I first started playing netball, I didn’t know many people and I didn’t have a lot of friends outside of school,” said Stanton.
“Participating in the Championships really allowed me to connect with a new group of people who have now become lifelong friends which is really amazing.”
This year’s Fuel to Go & Play Association Championships is set to take place this weekend at the Wembley Sports Park. The 2020 edition will feature the most talented players across 222 teams from 30 Associations coming together from across the state to battle it out.
