The Lakes Entrance Netball Association, supported by Netball Victoria, hosted their annual barefoot beach netball tournament, the fast-paced event drew over 250 players from across Victoria to the main beach.
Beach netball follows the structure of the traditional netball we all know and love, but has its own twists. Played on half a netball court, each team consists of five players on the “court”, with a shorter game time making it inclusive to all ages and abilities.
The tournament brought the local community together, from spectators and players to umpires, with local officials supported by umpires who travelled from Melbourne.
Alongside the on-court action, the event provides a welcome boost for local businesses, with cafés, shops and accommodation providers anticipating increased foot traffic throughout the day.
Making its first appearance in 2016, the competition is driven by Lakes Entrance Netball Association committee member, Kylie Curnow.
“As a small association it's great to see people travelling to our area to support beach netball,11 years on shows the strength of our association and community”
“It’s a drawcard for our amazing tourist town, it brings people to the area from around the State”
“Hopefully next year we can include a junior division,” Kylie said.
This year the Lakes Entrance Netball Association took steps toward building a junior competition, which is planned to be up and running by 2027. Junior players still had a chance to participate this year in an exhibition match against the tournament umpires, which Netball Victoria’s Eastern region manager, Judi Buhagair, assisted in umpiring.
With another successful tournament behind them, the Lakes Entrance Netball Association looks forward to growing the event as beach netball tournaments continue to be a highlight on the local sporting calendar.
