Warragul District Netball Association (WDNA) has long been the heartbeat of their town. A place where a sense of community is the norm.
Their junior and senior participation numbers have only grown over the years, and their Woolworths NetSetGo program had up to 64 participants in their most recent season.
An appealing program within walking distance from local schools, it has sure made its mark within the local community.
In October, WDNA hosted a free ‘Come and Play’ day to engage with the local community and ensure the program was accessible to new participants. The day featured a Woolworths NetSetGo session tailored to age groups and abilities, free show bags, and the chance to meet the Melbourne Vixens’ mascot Foxy. The program began to thrive with players from WDNA handing out flyers at their local Woolworths, and promoting the program on social media.
Since the Come and Play day, the program now has 64 players, which is the highest participation rate ever for their Woolworths NetSetGo program. Run by players, coaches and umpires from the local community, the program is supported by their local Woolworths which provides fresh fruit every week, and local businesses who sponsor the program.
The national program structure set out by Netball Australia allows for sessions to be adjusted to participants based on age and ability. With the influx of participants at WDNA, the association followed the ‘Net’ session plans to ensure the program was best suited to the development of each participant.
The association aimed to grow the skills of these young players, with a strong focus on creating a welcoming environment where players could stay active, create connections and enjoy a sense of community.
The program has received constant positive feedback from the community, including acknowledgment of how much effort the centre coordinators put in to running a positive and well-organised program.
Mum of two Christina has both her children enrolled in Woolworths NetSetGo at WDNA, and said the program has been a hit with her family not only for the social impact, but their physical development too.
“My two little ones absolutely adore coming to NetSetGo - it’s been a highlight of their week. It’s been wonderful to watch their skills and confidence grow.”
Meaghan Romano, WDNA’s Woolworths NetSetGo coordinator, has worked on expanding the program within the community and said she couldn't be happier with how the program went this season.
"I am incredibly proud of how our NetSetGo centre has grown this season! The energy, excitement and love for netball from our young players has been amazing to watch,” she said.
“The support from Netball Victoria and our wider community has played a huge role in helping us create a fun, welcoming and positive environment for our NetSetGo players.”
Aiming to expand their Woolworths NetSetGo offering in the future, WDNA is in the process of securing another court for their winter program, which will allow them to continue growing their participant base.
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