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Throughout her career, Regina Ntaye has created opportunities for people to grow in netball. With decades of experience in coaching, administration, officiating, and player development, she continues to contribute to the sport through her role as the Free State Provincial Manager for PEP mini Netball under South African Schools Netball (SASN).
Ntaye’s career has taken her across different areas of the game, giving her a unique understanding of what is needed to build strong foundations for netball. From working with young players and coaches to developing umpires and contributing to the administration of school netball, her focus has remained on strengthening the people and structures around the sport.
Her experience has also extended beyond the country. Ntaye has been involved in the Confederation of School Sport Associations of Southern Africa (COSSASA) Games in Namibia and Zimbabwe as an umpire and team manager. At the same time, in 2024 she represented SASN at the International Singapore Schools Tournament. These opportunities have allowed her to experience school netball on an international platform and broaden her perspective on the development of sport.
Alongside her international involvement, Ntaye has held several leadership positions within school and federation netball, including serving as Chairperson of the Mangaung Metro Secondary Schools netball structure, the Free State Schools netball body, and the Southern Free State Federation Netball Association. She continues to contribute to the sport as a SASN Director of Umpires and executive committee member, Free State executive member and project convenor, and a Netball South Africa (NSA) Umpires Course Presenter.
Her experience in umpire development has been another important part of her contribution. As an NSA Umpires Course Presenter, she conducts courses from Level One to Three and undertakes gradings up to national level. Her work has helped develop officials across the Free State, with some progressing to African Games and international tournaments.
Today, Ntaye is bringing this wealth of experience to PEP mini Netball, helping develop the game from age seven across the Free State. As Provincial Manager, she guides Primary Chairpersons across the province’s five districts in planning and delivering the four annual festivals supported by PEP. She also supports provincial umpire convenors, helping them strengthen their approach to courses and gradings.
PEP mini Netball has given her the opportunity to work with players from foundation phase. The young girls are introduced to the sport at an important stage of their development, allowing them to learn the fundamentals, experience the joy of playing and begin building a relationship with netball that can grow with them.
“My journey in netball has shown me that for the sport to grow, we have to invest in every part of the game, from the young players starting to the coaches, umpires and administrators supporting them. PEP mini Netball allows us to take that development right back to the grassroots, where we can build strong foundations and give young girls a positive start in the sport. That is what makes being part of this programme so meaningful to me,” says Ntaye.
Her approach is rooted in creating strong pathways within sport. Drawing on her leadership experience across netball, Ntaye understands the importance of providing young players with the right support as they progress. Through PEP mini Netball, she brings this perspective to grassroots level by supporting not only young girls entering the sport, but also the coaches, officials and administrators who help create meaningful opportunities for them.
Ntaye believes that the future of netball depends on continued investment in the foundations of the game. Her work through PEP mini Netball is another chapter in a career dedicated to strengthening the sport and creating opportunities for those who will take it forward.
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