By: Lonwabo Mtyeku | Photo Credit: Supplied
Seen Here: PEP mini Netball continued its nationwide grassroots development drive with a coaching session at Laerskool Baillie Park in Potchefstroom, North West, on 1 June 2026. Led by PEP mini Netball Ambassador Dumisani Chauke, alongside Dr Elsje Jordaan and Minnette Dempsey, the session equipped coaches with practical skills and development strategies aimed at nurturing the next generation of South African netball talent. The initiative forms part of PEP mini Netball’s ongoing commitment to strengthening coaching capacity and growing the sport at grassroots level across the country. Photo Credit: Supplied
POTCHEFSTROOM – The development of grassroots netball in South Africa received another significant boost this week as the fifth PEP mini Netball Coaching Session was successfully hosted at Laerskool Baillie Park in Potchefstroom, North West Province.
The coaching session, held on 1 June 2026, forms part of PEP mini Netball’s nationwide coach development programme aimed at strengthening the foundations of the sport by equipping coaches with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to nurture young talent at school level.
Led by PEP mini Netball Ambassador Dumisani Chauke, alongside renowned netball development specialists Dr Elsje Jordaan and Minnette Dempsey, the session brought together coaches from schools across the region for a day of practical learning, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing.
Participants were introduced to a variety of coaching techniques, player development strategies, and training methodologies designed to enhance the quality of netball coaching at grassroots level. The programme also focused on creating positive sporting environments that encourage participation, teamwork, and long-term athlete development among young players.
As the initiative continues its rollout across South Africa, it is steadily building a network of empowered coaches who play a critical role in identifying and developing future netball stars.
Reflecting on the success of the programme thus far, Chauke highlighted the growing impact the coaching sessions are having in communities around the country.
“With each session, you can really see the momentum building and the impact it’s having on coaches across different regions. It shows just how important this programme is at grassroots level, and it’s exciting to know there’s still so much more to come.”
The PEP mini Netball programme has become one of South Africa’s leading grassroots sports development initiatives, providing opportunities not only for young players but also for educators and community coaches who are instrumental in growing the game.
By investing in coach education and development, the programme is helping to create a sustainable pathway for talent identification and player progression, ensuring that young athletes receive quality guidance from the earliest stages of their sporting journeys.
The North West coaching session marks another important milestone in the programme’s national expansion, reinforcing PEP’s commitment to supporting school sport and empowering communities through meaningful sporting initiatives.
As more provinces continue to benefit from the programme, the long-term vision remains clear: to strengthen grassroots netball, elevate coaching standards, and inspire the next generation of South African netball talent.
With every coaching session delivered, the future of South African netball grows stronger, one coach, one school, and one young player at a time.
