THREE-TIME world netball championship defender Julie Corletto says Ballarat's newest indoor stadium will create incredible opportunities for the region's juniors.
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The retired Australian Diamond had an exclusive look at court space inside Ballarat Sports and Events Centre on Monday in between coaching for school holiday clinic on adjoining, original courts in the venue.
A final seal on six new courts, including the show court, remains drying but Corletto looked forward to possibly bringing her clinic back to the big arena next year.
"This is definitely awesome," Corletto said. "This is unreal - it will provide great opportunities for people to exercise in really bad weather conditions in winter...It might entice new players into the game now too."
Corletto said BSEC offered impressive facilities for juniors. Court space has limited Corletto's clinics to about 60 girls in her visits to Ballarat the past three years. She said the new courts would offer a chance to involve more girls next time.
Corletto, who hails from Kerang, said working with young players in regional Victoria was incredibly rewarding - she knew first-hand how hard it was to get players with elite experience out to work in the county.
In a packed school holiday schedule, Corletto will round out her week with junior clinics in Bendigo, Kerang, Shepparton and Albury.
Basketball Ballarat received the keys to BSEC as venue managers on Friday.
A mixed netball match will be the first action for the $24 million development. The match will be played in the showcourt arena on Sunday. Basketballers will take to the floors from Monday.
BSEC will allow for netball and basketball matches to be played alongside each other for the first time in Ballarat.
The city's elite basketball teams will move home games and their training base from the Minerdome to BSEC after the NBL1 season, regardless of play-off potential.
Basketball Ballarat management have planned a gradual, controlled roll-out of events to ease into the stadium.
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