A TOURNAMENT FOR EVERYONE
NPL is a drafting league with franchised teams. Players submit to enter the draft and get selected into a franchise through a series of rounds.
Net Premier League is the netball sister to Polo Premier League. It runs on the same draft engine that has worked so well for PPL – now just on the netball courts.
NPL is an independent netball league for players in South Africa, kicking off its first season in Cape Town in 2026.
Read through our thorough process below!
ROLE PLAYERS
Each franchise is run by a Franchise Manager. The Franchise Managers select their own coaches and are entirely responsible for the drafting and selection of teams during the draft.
NPL – produced by the same team behind PPL – does not interfere in player selection. The draft belongs to the franchises and their coaches.
STEP 1 - REGISTER FOR 2026
STEP 2 - THE DRAFT/GET SELECTED
Players do not choose their franchise – they are drafted into one. Draft selection will be a live event.
Why do we believe in a drafting format?
Different players getting coached by different coaches
A healthy ecosystem of player: coach relationship
No favoritism
Drafting rounds only allow 1 player to be chosen per round
The order of selection in each round is at random
EXAMPLE: In the first round Coach A will be number 1 to draft a player, in the second round he/she will be number 6, the third round number 2, in the fourth round number 5. And so on. This ensures equal strength in teams.
STEP 3 - TEAMS ARE CONFIRMED
The tournament costs per play includes your drafting fee, your radical franchise Netball Dress & Visor, your coach’s salary, as well as the tournament fee.
Once you have been selected for NPL you will receive all the important information from your franchise manager and coach. Oh, and hey, congrats on being chosen!!
No refunds are allocated, only substitutions with an admin fee of R500 after team selection. Withdrawing a player has a HUGE impact on the entire system.
STEP 4 - PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Although you are encouraged to keep yourself fit before the league, you will have one scheduled training window the weekend prior to the NPL Cape Town 2026 fixtures. Your coach will be in touch with details – so don’t panic about this now.
STEP 5 - MAY THE BEST TEAM & FRACHISE WIN!
NPL aims to create a safe and healthy space for netball in South Africa to grow.
NPL will always remain a draft-based league with top umpires and a clear focus on fair play. May the best team and franchise win.