Netball has retained its position as the leading team sport for women and girls in Victoria, according to the latest AusPlay data released by Sport Australia today.
Netball Victoria CEO, Rosie King said that this is a great result for netball in Victoria and reflects the work that our netball community has achieved.
“We love the fact that in the current climate there are more opportunities for girls to sample other sports, so with this in mind, our aim is to have the best facilities, pathway, coaches and most welcoming environment where people continue to have a connection with netball at all stages of their life,” said King.
“Victoria has such a strong athlete pathway which is evident in national representation, our pre-elite team, Victorian Fury and the Melbourne Vixens, and with more visibility through media including the Channel 9 and Telstra TV broadcast, the talent of our athletes is showcased and builds them as role models.
“Our social netball products provide opportunities for non-traditional netballers who want flexibility of time and ways to play, and Netball Victoria’s variety of participation products allows a lifelong connection to netball, from Suncorp NetSetGO (introductory) to Rock Up Netball.
“To continue as leaders in sport, we hope that our recently implemented Gender Regulation and Male Participation Policy will provide expanded opportunities for boys and men to play netball.
The survey showed that the top three motivations for people in Australia to participate in netball were social reasons (52%), fun and enjoyment (50%) and physical health or fitness (45%) and the majority of participants who play do so with their local netball club (just under 70%).
The AusPlay data also demonstrated that netball retains players (in Australia) for longer than other sports, with strong female participation into adulthood (18-24 years of age), in fact netball is the activity with the second largest adult female participation rates (89%), behind pilates (90%).
