Heaps of Aussies are Made in Netball.
From playing, to coaching or umpiring, to volunteering, and even supporting from the sidelines, being part of the netball community is synonymous with being Aussie.
There really is a place for everyone.
And to ensure a continued growth of the sport, Netball Australia has today launched Made in Netball, a 10-year strategic plan to grow its netball family to 2 million by 2035.
Netball Australia Chair Liz Ellis AO said the strategy was designed to secure the sport’s future.
“So many Australians are Made in Netball, whether that’s someone currently part of the netball community or someone who grew up with netball as part of their lives,” she said.
“We see netball as a game for everyone and through Made in Netball, we have ambitious plans to share it with more people.
“On behalf of the Board, I welcome Made in Netball and the opportunities it will offer to people from all backgrounds across the community to play, coach, umpire, volunteer, support, and be part of an expanding netball community.
“With a home Netball World Cup in 2027 and hopefully Olympics participation in Brisbane in 2032, the decade will put the sport in the spotlight, and we will deliver this strategy in full to secure a brighter future for our sport.”
Netball Australia Chief Executive Stacey West echoed those statements and said Made in Netball had set some key goals to ensure the ongoing resilience and prosperity of the sport.
“Our purpose over the next ten years will be to ensure that netball is not only the choice of women and girls, but a powerful force for connection, excellence, and impact,” she said.
“We will elevate every aspect of the game, from grassroots to elite, from local courts to national conversations.
“We will achieve this in partnership with everyone who has a stake in the game.
“We will do this by growing the game, deepening community connection and audience engagement, and amplifying netball’s impact and legacy.
“Netball celebrates 100 years in Australia in 2027, and this strategy will propel the sport to a brighter, stronger and more sustainable future towards the next 100 years.”
Made in Netball outlines several key priorities including:
- To have a playing/non playing community of 2 million people by 2035.
- The Diamonds recognised as the most recognised national female team in Australia and achieve the World Number One ranking.
- Super Netball is Australia’s most popular women’s sports league and the world’s most followed netball league.
- Netball in Australia achieves recognition as the gold standard of sports administration through operational excellence.
- The creation of a framework that increases the participation and success of First Nations participants in our systems, creating a legacy that is wider than netball.
- Developing a data strategy to grow and support the game and its fan base, including developing an app that serves as a central digital hub for community engagement and a fan platform to better connect member organisations, participants and the national body.
The Made in Netball strategy is launching at a time when there are more eyes on netball than ever. Especially for the national team, with the Commonwealth Games, a World Cup, and even a possible Olympics berth on the horizon.
Australian Diamonds skipper Liz Watson said she’s excited about Made in Netball and touched on how players can help grow the game.
“It is a genuinely exciting time for netball in Australia,” she said.
“As an athlete it is really pleasing to see the focus the leadership team has taken to guide continued growth opportunities for the game.
“We all remember where our netball experiences began.
“We want to see that investment in participation and pathways to see the game thriving and attractive so we can gain new fans, new players and greater interest in our sport.”
The Made in Netball Strategy is available here.
