PEEBLES Netball launched a new league last Friday night with a turn-out of over 70 young netballers, their coaches and umpires coming to the town from across the Borders to support the event.

The brainchild of Peebles coach Linda Nicholson, the league is innovative in its focus on the development of volunteer coaches and umpires as much as the development of young players.

With netball across the Borders exploding in participation amongst girls and women of all ages, the supporting coaching and umpire framework needs to keep apace and that is where the new league comes in.

Linda explained: “Netball is massive in the region with hundreds of women and girls taking to the court each week for competitive or recreational sessions.

"However, this has put a huge strain on the few volunteer coaches and umpires here.

"Peebles Netball launched an umpire mentoring scheme a month ago for more experienced umpires and this new league provides an opportunity for mentoring those the first rung of the umpiring and coaching ladders by providing 'holding hand' support in a friendly environment.”

The new league involves six Under 13 and Under 15 teams from Peebles, Earlston and Galashiels who will play in tournaments and league days between now and March.

New umpires and coaches will be supported through the year with mentoring and support from more experienced volunteers. The winning team will be the squad which improves most between the first tournament and the final tournament, thus deemed to have developed the most.

The launch involved mini-matches, coaching and umpiring workshops. The first tournament is on Saturday, October 1 at Peebles High School from 2.30pm to 6.30pm.

All welcome to spectate.