2021 Competition Results

Optimising the Zone

When Netball South’s strategic plan was last reviewed by the Board in 2018 the focus on optimising the zone was primarily about building the financial sustainability and the organisational capability of the zone. By the end of 2021 we completed year three of that threeyear strategic plan. So how have we done? There are several financial indicators of sustainability that an organisation might use. For Netball South, converting $177,333 of negative equity accumulated in the first three years of operation into positive equity through consistent delivery of positive surpluses was a priority. This was achieved in the 2020 FY when five successive surpluses brought us to $7,000 positive equity. In 2021, with our sixth surplus of $7,000, we further increased this equity to $14,000. Within this achievement is the contribution of the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel. We can be very proud of a breakeven small positive surplus in 2021, achieved despite a significant one-off drop in funding. Alongside plenty of warning from funder ILT so we could prepare, we have our commercial partners to thank for absorbing the impact of the funding loss. We welcomed new partner McDonalds to the whanau, but it was loyal existing partners that increased their commitment to the Southern Steel like Road Safety, Unichem Waikiwi and MacCallum that helped us stay on our feet. Their contribution led to a lift in cash sponsorship of 25% compared with 2020. And while the sponsorship revenue line shone, it was fantastic to see ticket sales take off towards the last three games of the season in Invercargill. Ticket sales for young people under the age of 12 went through the roof filling the upper SBS Bank stand of the ILT Stadium Southland and forcing us to bring out the SIT court end stands. We were really disappointed by a heavy loss to membership sales before the season started. Many longterm loyal members had been badly stung by the Ticket Rocket debacle and were yet to be convinced the 2021 season would not be disrupted by Covid. So it was great to see them return using casual tickets along with young families. The new organisational structure continues to strengthen as our Netball Development Managers in Central Lakes and Otago built their connections with Centres. It is disappointing we have been unable to fill a key vacancy in Southland for a Netball Development Manager. The very tight labour market In Invercargill continues to challenge our priority to complete the team.