Building the Future of Netball: How Regina Ntaye Is Shaping YoungPlayers Through PEP mini-Netball

Throughout her career, Regina Ntaye has created opportunities for people
to grow in netball. With decades of experience in coaching,
administration, officiating, and player development, she continues to
contribute to the sport through her role as the Free State Provincial
Manager for PEP mini Netball under South African Schools Netball (SASN).

Ntaye’s career has taken her across different areas of the game, giving
her a unique understanding of what is needed to build strong foundations
for netball. From working with young players and coaches to developing
umpires and contributing to the administration of school netball, her
focus has remained on strengthening the people and structures around the
sport.

Her experience has also extended beyond the country. Ntaye has been
involved in the Confederation of School Sport Associations of Southern
Africa (COSSASA) Games in Namibia and Zimbabwe as an umpire and team
manager. At the same time, in 2024 she represented SASN at the
International Singapore Schools Tournament. These opportunities have
allowed her to experience school netball on an international platform
and broaden her perspective on the development of sport.

Alongside her international involvement, Ntaye has held several
leadership positions within school and federation netball, including
serving as Chairperson of the Mangaung Metro Secondary Schools netball
structure, the Free State Schools netball body, and the Southern Free
State Federation Netball Association. She continues to contribute to the
sport as a SASN Director of Umpires and executive committee member, Free
State executive member and project convenor, and a Netball South Africa
(NSA) Umpires Course Presenter.

Her experience in umpire development has been another important part of
her contribution. As an NSA Umpires Course Presenter, she conducts
courses from Level One to Three and undertakes gradings up to national
level. Her work has helped develop officials across the Free State, with
some progressing to African Games and international tournaments.

Today, Ntaye is bringing this wealth of experience to PEP mini Netball,
helping develop the game from age seven across the Free State. As
Provincial Manager, she guides Primary Chairpersons across the
province’s five districts in planning and delivering the four annual
festivals supported by PEP. She also supports provincial umpire
convenors, helping them strengthen their approach to courses and
gradings.

PEP mini Netball has given her the opportunity to work with players from
foundation phase. The young girls are introduced to the sport at an
important stage of their development, allowing them to learn the
fundamentals, experience the joy of playing and begin building a
relationship with netball that can grow with them.

“My journey in netball has shown me that for the sport to grow, we
have to invest in every part of the game, from the young players
starting to the coaches, umpires and administrators supporting them. PEP
mini Netball allows us to take that development right back to the
grassroots, where we can build strong foundations and give young girls a
positive start in the sport. That is what makes being part of this
programme so meaningful to me,” says Ntaye.

Her approach is rooted in creating strong pathways within sport. Drawing
on her leadership experience across netball, Ntaye understands the
importance of providing young players with the right support as they
progress. Through PEP mini Netball, she brings this perspective to
grassroots level by supporting not only young girls entering the sport,
but also the coaches, officials and administrators who help create
meaningful opportunities for them.

Ntaye believes that the future of netball depends on continued
investment in the foundations of the game. Her work through PEP mini
Netball is another chapter in a career dedicated to strengthening the
sport and creating opportunities for those who will take it forward.