Three South Australian netball clubs have been recognised for their successful 2025 seasons as finalists for the Club Excellence Award (Community).
The 2025 award was assessed on each club’s overall growth and the initiatives they implemented to achieve it.
Barmera Netball Club, Loxton Netball Club, and Seaford Storm Netball Club are the three finalists who will be celebrated at the Netball SA Awards Gala on September 5.
Barmera were selected for their focus on growing participation, community connection and inclusivity in 2025.
The club ran sessions of modified netball with the Berri Regional Special School and runs Walking Netball in the summer, catering to all ages and abilities.
They also ran sessions with the Riverland Special School to encourage participation.
The club’s Pelican-Do initiative also keeps retired players, supporters, and grandparents involved through donations of baked goods and soups.
Barmera has also taken a strong focus on increasing its sponsorship and now partners with 38 local businesses, allowing netball in their community to be more affordable.
Loxton celebrated an increase in participation in 2025 to now have 17 registered teams, 16 of which currently sit in finals contention.
The club is committed to sharing all development opportunities with its members, including Netball SA opportunities in coaching, umpiring and administration.
In 2025, 9 coaches gained coaching accreditation. One club umpire also gained her C Badge and another her B Badge, bringing the total of badged umpires at the club to 7.
The club provides a netball carnival for the wider community and has been successful in fundraising for breast cancer research, demonstrating its dedication to social responsibility and community impact.
Loxton’s growth has been made possible through strong partnerships with the Loxton Waikerie Council, Loxton Precinct management, and numerous valued sponsors.
The club introduced an inclusive uniform option and has expanded its successful Woolworths Net Set Go program.
Seaford Storm experienced significant growth again in 2025 to now host 191 players across all age groups - making them the largest club in the Southern Hills Netball Association.
This year, the club launched an Under 9s Training Partner Program, which welcomed new participants from a range of diverse backgrounds.
The program provided a supportive, low-pressure environment where young players could build confidence, develop basic skills, and feel part of the team before transitioning to game day participation.
The club has built strong relationships with local schools, councils, and community groups, including Seaford Rotary, enabling shared access to facilities, schools, and local grant funding.
In 2025, the club had eight coaches complete Netball Australia accreditation courses, two umpires graduate from the coloured shirt program and four new umpires join the program.
