ESPN Wide World of Sports Unveils Disney International Youth Netball Tournament for 2014

Filed in: Youth Sports

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla (Oct 17, 2013) — Underscoring the vast variety of sports events for athletes at Walt Disney World, the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will host the inauguralDisney International Youth Netball Tournament in 2014.

The tournament, October 27-31 next year, will feature elite international teams competing and training for a week while also enjoying vacation time at the world’s leading family vacation destination.

Netball, which is popular among young women in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, is a fast-paced team game based on running, jumping, throwing and catching. Teams may include up to 12 players but only seven are allowed on the rectangular court at a time. Each player has a playing position determined by the areas on the court where they may move. The major aim of the game is to score as many goals as possible from within an area called the Goal Circle, which is a semi-circle centred on the goal line and measuring 16 feet in radius (4.9 meters). Only two players from each team may score goals – the Goal Attack and Goal Shooter.

Disney, along with Visions in Education, a leading UK-based youth and school tour operator, are the developers and operators of the tournament, which is being supported by Netball America. “We are excited about the opportunities and growth this event presents for our members in youth netball in North America and the entire international netball community,” Sonya Ottaway, President of Netball America, said.

Teams from the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Israel, the Caribbean and Asia are expected to compete in the Disney International Youth Netball Tournament in U16, U19 and U23 age divisions.

“We are delighted with the initial international response from teams across the globe,” said Nigel Parker, Managing Director of Visions in Education.  “Being able to bring girls together on a global scale to an event such as this is incredible.  Having it hosted at Walt Disney World Resort ensures it indeed will be the top Netball youth event over and above those found anywhere else in the world.”