AS part of Westlakes District Netball Association's (WDNA) representative campaign, each year, the association chooses a development squad. The squad consists of 11-year-old girls who have display an interest in playing at a representative level and who show talent and/or potential with coaching. This year, Westlakes have two squads coached by Robyn Jordan and Margaret Nolan. The coaches are introducing players to representative carnivals and the training regime that is associated with a representative player. Both coaches said they were lucky to be given such an intelligent and hard working group of girls. So far this year the development squad took part in carnivals at Westlakes, Newcastle, Singleton and Cessnock. They have consistently had very positive results including a first place finish for Robyn Jordan's squad at the Cessnock all ages carnival. An added bonus for Westlakes Netball is when they are not playing, the girls are a spirited cheer squad for older WDNA teams as their enthusiasm for all things netball is infectious. In early 2016 the development squad will be reduced in selection to form the WDNA 2016 12-years representative team of around 9 to 10 players - an unenviable task given the talent and quality of play these young girls are capable of. The development squad's year will culminate in a multisports junior carnival at Tamworth in August, which will see them play teams from all over the state in what will be their first overnight netball trip.