Two rising netball stars from the ACT, Isla Pfeiffer and Rebecca Howarth, are looking forward to attending the Australian 17/U Squad Camp, set to take place next week at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra.
The camp brings together the country’s top emerging talent, providing athletes with the opportunity to train in a high perfomance environment.
For Pfeiffer and Howarth, the call-up is a significant milestone in their netball journeys and a reward for their strong performances at the 2025 National Netball Championships that was held in Sydney in April.
Pfeiffer said she was thrilled to receive the news of her selection.
“I was really excited when I first found out, it was a bit of a surprise but it was really good to see all the hard work pay off,” she said.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity and all the support I’ve received from the netball community here.”
Howarth echoed similar excitement, describing the selection as both validating and inspiring.
“It felt amazing to see all my hard work pay off and get selected after a really tough competition like nationals,” she said.
“It’s such an incredible opportunity that I know not many people get. I’m excited to live at the AIS, experience the full training schedule, and learn as much as I can to become a better player.”
Both athletes are looking forward to training and connecting with other top athletes from around the country, with Pfeiffer highlighting the opportunity to “learn and improve in a high-level environment” and Howarth noting she’s excited to “meet new people and make great friends.”
The Australian 17/U Squad Camp plays a vital role in Netball Australia’s athlete pathway, designed to develop the next generation of elite talent. Athletes will take part in specialised skills sessions on court, along with education focused on high-performance behaviours, cultural understanding, fitness testing, and competitive intra-squad match play.
Netball ACT congratulates both Isla and Rebecca on their selection and will be closely following their netball journey.