Some of the young guns of the netball court have learned about life off the court, as well as getting tips from one of the country’s best players.

Last weekend members of the Brisbane North and Brisbane East Ergon Energy Netball Academies received tuition in leadership, problem solving and decision making skills at the South Pine Sports Complex at Brendale.

The program also allows young players to establish their own values framework and empowering them with strategies to lead high performing teams.

The three-hour seminar was part of the Mission Young Guns in2leadership program, which is being rolled out across each of Netball Queensland’s 12 regional academy programs.

Queensland Firebirds and Australian representative Clare McMeniman was also on hand to offer her own advice about leading on and off the court, and to inspire the young netballers.

“There is more to becoming an elite athlete than the skills that you possess on court,” the Warwick netball product said.

“This program aims to provide athletes with the skills to improve their self-belief, mental toughness, and passion to help them succeed in their sport, as well as their life away from it.

“If you set your mind to something, challenge yourself as well as lead yourself in the right direction, anything is possible.”

Among the players in the 12-athlete Brisbane North Ergon Energy Netball Academy are Arana Hills’ Kiani Huriwai and Highvale’s Bianca Cattelini.

Huriwai, 16, plays for the Cannons club and has represented Queensland at schoolgirls level in 2006, 2008 and 2009, while 15-year-old Cattelini, a relative of Australian basketball star Martin Cattelini, plays for the Samford club.

Cattelini, an under-16 Queensland Catholic Schoolgirls netball representative, is also a member of the state water polo squad for her age group.

Pine Rivers Netball Association duo Rebekka Jacobsen and Fallon O’Sullivan are also members of the Brisbane North Ergon Energy Netball Academy, which features up-and-coming players aged 16 and under.