Physical profiles of elite, sub-elite, regional and age-group netballers

Physical profile data from elite, sub-elite, regional, under 21s (U21), under 19s (U19) and under 17s (U17) (n=845) players from a state netball association in Australia were analysed. Within season changes were examined for the elite and sub-elite players. Longitudinal changes were examined for the elite across four consecutive netball seasons.Elite were significantly older (24.3 +/- 3.4years), taller (182.4 +/- 7.2cm) and heavier (73.42 +/- 6.95kg) than other playing levels (p<0.001, ES 0.49-3.26) and had higher vertical jump (VJ) data compared to all groups (p<0.001, ES 0.47-0.93). U17's were significantly faster than elite, sub-elite and U19 players over 5m (p<0.05, ES 0.36-0.58) while elite were faster over 20m compared to all groups (p<0.01, ES 0.45-0.72). Elite achieved a greater distance (1350.8m; p <0.05, ES 0.32-0.50) in the Yo-YoIRT1 compared to the sub-elite, regional, U19 and U17. VJ height significantly increased from the 2014 (51.6 +/- 4.8cm) to the 2017 season (59.6 +/- 6.3cm) for the elite players (p<0.01, ES 1.18). Yo-YoIRT1 test scores increased significantly between the pre-season and in-season phases (p<0.05, ES 0.17).