How do I go from high school netball to the Telkom Netball League?

The route from a school court to the Telkom Netball League (TNL) runs through four stages: schools netball, district and provincial selection, age-group and university competition, and then the league itself. Talent, exposure, proper coaching, drills worth repeating, and someone who tells you the pathway exists in the first place is what moves you from one stage to the next.

That last part is the gap the Telkom netball clinics were built to close.

What are the Telkom Netball Clinics?

The Telkom netball clinics are a school-based coaching programme run alongside the Telkom Netball League. Each clinic brings together over 50 learners, drawn from a host school and three neighbouring schools, for a practical session with TNL players and coaches.

The 2026 programme closed on 19 June, having reached 200 learners across Mpumalanga, Limpopo, the Free State and Gauteng. Sessions concentrated on the fundamentals of the game: passing, footwork, movement, communication, decision-making and teamwork.

Bongi Msomi, netball legend, coach, clinic facilitator and former SPAR Proteas captain, describes the purpose in simple terms. “‘From first pass to crown’ is more than a theme. It is a reminder that every champion started somewhere. Through these clinics, we want young players to understand that their journeys matter, their dreams are possible and, no matter where they come from, they too can aspire to reach the highest levels of the game.”

What could my netball pathway look like in South Africa?

For most players, the sequence looks like this.

It starts at school

School netball is where almost every professional career begins. It is also where the biggest drop-off happens, usually because a player never encounters quality coaching or never learns that there are more opportunities beyond just the school team.

District and provincial netball

Strong school performance opens the door to district selection and, from there, to provincial teams. This is the first level at which players are measured against a wider pool than their own school and its neighbours. This stage is a prerequisite to be considered for the Telkom Netball Championship – the doorway to the TNL as a schools level.

Age-group and university netball

Age-group competitions and university netball keep players in structured, competitive environments through their late teens and their twenties. For many, this is where the gap between promising and ready closes as the competition gets tougher with only the strongest talents making their mark. This stage is a prerequisite to be considered for the Telkom Netball League

The Telkom Netball League

The TNL sits at the top of that pathway. It is South Africa’s premier semi-professional netball competition, organised by Netball South Africa, and the doorway to being scouted for the SPAR Proteas National Netball team. The 2026 season welcomed teams from Malawi and Zimbabwe, adding a competitive layer like no other While the two international teams have immaculate talent, without a platform like the TNL, the lack of opportunities to showcase their skills, prove to be a major hurdle for them in their continued growth. A simple example; 16 TNL players were drafted in international leagues in 2026, while only 1 Zimbabwean and 4 Malawian players were drafted.

“The pathway begins with participation and development,” Bongi explains. “These clinics serve as an important starting point by introducing players to quality coaching, helping them develop their skills and making them aware of the opportunities that exist within the sport.”

What do players learn at a clinic?

The sessions are practical. Learners leave with drills they can run at school the following week, without a coach on site and without equipment they do not have.

Bongi adds, “We concentrate on sharing the fundamentals of the game because they form the foundation of every successful player. We also emphasise values like discipline, resilience and accountability, because success in netball is not only about your talent, but also about your character and your mindset.”

The clinics are also the first time many learners get to ask an elite player a direct question. Like, “How did you get selected?” or “What did you do at the age of 15 that mattered?”

Who keeps school netball going?

The 2026 netball clinics also recognised four educators who hold the sport together in their communities:

• Qiniso Dlamini, Ethembeni Primary School, Fernie, Mpumalanga
• Sontaga Makgakga, Ramabu Secondary School, Madiga, Limpopo
• Nthabeleng Keele, Tiisetsang High School, Bethlehem, Free State
• Margret Mochaki, Fr Smangaliso Mkhatshwa Secondary School, Winterveld, Gauteng

“This kind of recognition matters because strong school netball does not happen by chance. It grows through committed people who keep nurturing talent, opening courts, running practices and encouraging young players to come back again the following week,” says Bongi.

What stood out in 2026

Bongi is clear about which part of the programme left the strongest impression. “What stood out most was their enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Many of these young players have limited access to quality facilities, coaching and competition opportunities, yet their passion for netball is undeniable. It is a reminder that talent exists everywhere. Sometimes all that is needed is exposure and opportunity.”

That is where the clinics earn their place. They connect the country’s premier netball competition to the communities that will supply its next generation of stars, and they give young players a reason to believe they belong on that pathway.

“Success will not only be measured by how many players reach professional netball, but also by how many young people are positively impacted through sport,” Bongi concludes. “If these clinics help build stronger communities, empower young girls, and ensure that the next generation of netball talent comes from every corner of South Africa, then that legacy will have truly made a difference.”

Follow the season

The Telkom Netball League runs alongside a wider sponsorship programme across South African sport. You can follow the league and the clinics on the Telkom sponsorships hub.