Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
WIMMERA netball leaders have welcomed a review into the state of the sport, but believe player numbers have remained fairly consistent in the region over the past decade.
Netball representatives were among the groups that attended an AFL Wimmera Mallee directions meeting on Monday night.
Wimmera Netball Association events co-ordinator Gayle Leith said population decline was the biggest issue facing the region, but generally netball numbers were pretty good.
“Some smaller clubs are struggling – there used to be families of four or six children, but now most families have two kids,” she said.
“Most clubs seem to have plenty of numbers coming through.
“Population decline is a big thing – it’s a sign of the times.
“Clubs that are close to Horsham aren’t struggling for players, but further out they are.
“You can’t just pluck kids out of thin air.” Mrs Leith said junior numbers tended to fluctuate throughout the region.
“We don’t have a 15B team this year but we knew that was going to happen and it goes in cycles – we had a heap of children who were keen a few years ago,” he said.
“But then, out at Warrack Eagles there are 53 kids doing Net Set Go.”
Mrs Leith said a review would be a positive move for the region.
“Netball it strong but it’ll good to come back and look at it further,” he said.
“A review will be positive for the whole region, the sport needs to be re-vamped and pumped up a bit.
“We haven’t got any major issues but a change will be positive.
“It’s not going to happen overnight though.”
Horsham City Netball Association secretary Grenville Short said while it was difficult to predict how numbers would look in the future, he was confident they should remain steady in the next few years.
”We have under-10 modified and under-12 modified teams that I expect will continue next year,” he said.
Mr Short said it was fantastic to see so many junior netballers keen to be involved.
”It’s great because instead of clubs having to turn players away, they can send them to us to get some experience,” he said.
