DNC Netball to relocate to Park Community Arena

Arena Netball Ltd has formed a partnership with the Park Community Arena Ltd (PCA) to enable South Yorkshire’s largest netball club, DNC Netball (DNC), to be located at the Arena from September 2023. This partnership continues the work of both PCA and Canon Medical Systems to promote sports, health and wellbeing with the new arena providing a permanent home for this community-focused netball organisation.

DNC, a Sheffield-based regional netball organisation, currently provides both community participation and elite performance netball. DNC Netball has over 250 netballers participating weekly in sessions from Y2 to adult, with 160 netballers across 17 teams competing regularly in the South Yorkshire County Leagues.

DNC’s success in identifying and developing talented young athletes from the area and providing opportunities to access competitive netball routes is widely recognised. For the 2023 season DNC have nine athletes competing in the National Performance Leagues at U17, U19 and U21 age groups. DNC is launching an exciting new Academy Pathway for September 2023 for young athletes from U12 to U23 and through to Seniors that will be based at the Arena to provide opportunities for talented athletes. This will run alongside the established community netball club that is accessible for all ages and all abilities from Y2 to adult.

DNC is run by volunteers and is only one of two netball clubs within South Yorkshire to play at regional level at U14, U16 and senior competition. The club has an established outreach programme delivering netball to local schools and the move to the Arena will enable this work to develop and provide space to run events to engage and keep young people in sport.
There is a culture of senior players being role-models with a well-established Young Leader scheme for players from the age of 13 years to develop their leadership skills under their coach mentor and develop towards umpiring and coaching qualifications. This develops confidence and opportunities that extend beyond the netball court.

Sarah Backovic

Alex Styan, Director at Arena Netball Ltd stated, “Arena Netball is proud to be able to provide the opportunity for DNC Netball and the extended DNC family to move into the Park Community Arena as a permanent home. This opportunity will enable more people to access netball and continue to support DNC to provide netball for all ages, abilities, and aspirations.“

PCA Ltd, Director, Sarah Backovic, added: “It is exciting to be able to bring netball to the arena and to be working alongside like-minded organisations providing opportunities through sport at the heart of our community.”