This year’s event has grown again, with three more teams than in 2024 and over 2180 matches scheduled across four massive days of netball. 60 associations will compete, with Pimpama United making their Junior State Age debut after a strong Senior State Age campaign, while Lockyer Valley and Maranoa return to the event for the first time since pre-COVID.
Adding to the excitement are five invitational appearances, including Norfolk Island, Palmerston (Northern Territory) and Grasshoppers Netball Club from Fiji, bringing a truly international flavour to the competition.
The boys’ competition will also be the biggest yet at Junior State Age, with 16 teams entered, including first-time boys’ teams from Chinchilla, Coolum, Hinterland and host association Sunshine Coast.
More than 250 umpires, supported by Netball Queensland Umpire Coaches, will oversee the action, with the Green Armband Initiative in place to ensure a safe and respectful environment for our under-18 umpires. Respect for officials remains central to netball and Junior State Age is a key moment to reinforce this across the sport.
Around 290 coaches will guide their teams across the weekend, with Netball Queensland’s Community Development Officers delivering coach mentoring sessions to help refine their skills and develop fresh insights.
Clubs and associations are once again being encouraged to compete in the Container Cup with Containers for Change challenging them to collect 10c containers for a chance to win a share of $15,000 HART Sport vouchers, including all the containers being used over the Junior State Age event.
Other Netball Queensland partners activating at the event include Tribal Sport, HART Sport, Mizuno, Suncorp, Ray White Queensland and Baskin Robbins.
Netball Queensland thanks Sunshine Coast Council for their support of this year’s Junior State Age event and Sunshine Coast Netball Association for their hosting.
Fans can watch the action live and free on netballqtv.com.au across the four days.
