The UAE have room to grow internationally in netball, but the Top Sports Coaching and RU Active U-17 netball team have already taken a major step to increase the nation’s profile in the sport outside of the region.

– #Quiz360: WIN a group paintball session at Zayed Sports City

After being invited to the Netball Europe Under-17 Championships in England from March 6-8, the Dubai squad dominated their competition to win the Development Section of the tournament.

Competing against Gibraltar, Malta and Switzerland, Dubai swept the countries convincingly in each of their matches.

Technically, the team didn’t receive first place because they weren’t a full member of the Federation of European Netball Associations.

Nevertheless, it was a promising result and Susanne Skelding, head coach and director of Top Sports Coaching, felt the team could just as well have challenged the bottom half of the more-competitive Championship Section.

“It’s really difficult to know what the situation is and how the girls are going to perform when you’re in a bit of a bubble like we are in Dubai,” Skelding said.

“You never quite know where your girls are compared to the rest of the world, but it was really pleasing to see them come out on top and absolutely smash the opposition.

“Ultimately, it was very much a moral victory. I think we put Dubai on the map in regards to netball. There was lots of interest from a lot of other teams. We want to be somewhere where the top teams want to come and play.”

Netball isn’t the most common sport, but the variation of basketball has its place in the UAE.

“If you’re not from a country that plays netball, then obviously it’s ‘netwhat?’ However, it is an incredibly popular game here in Dubai and played in all the expatriate schools,” Skelding said.

“It’s one of the fastest growing female sports in the world today. It’s getting more and more coverage.”

While the tournament in England was the team’s first foray overseas, Skelding hopes it won’t be the last.

The squad are working hard in an attempt to be properly set up as a team that can officially represent the UAE in international events.

The current group of 10 girls were selected in December from the 20 that were chosen to be part of the Top Sports Coaching’s elite programme, which has under-14 and under-16 teams and will add under-19s next year.

When the girls aren’t playing individually in leagues or tournaments for their respective schools, they’re training as a team at Nord Anglia International School, as well as taking part in conditioning sessions and friendly matches at Dubai Sports City.

They’ll next come together for an upcoming, new five-aside league at Dubai Sports City, but the hope is to be competing more on the international stage in the future.

What: Dubai U-17 netball team
Founded: 2014
Geared towards: Girls netball players
When & where: Nord Anglia International School and Dubai Sports City throughout the year
Contact & info: Visit www.topsportscoaching.com or www.ru-active.com