Children want to play and have fun, actually scratch that comment, we all want to play and have fun.

I still play Netball, as do my friends, all of similar ages to me, parents with busy lives. For the last two nights I have been out with my Netball team, laughing and having fun. My performance, naturally, is only going south, but the negative impact on my ego is outweighed by all the positive benefits.  Our team did okay, winning one match convincingly and losing the other by a fair margin.  And while my thirst for the win during the match is strong, when we do lose, once I step off the court I am left with just good vibes.  Endorphins from being physically active, the feeling of being a little lighter from having an hour relieved of all responsibility. It is, and always has been, therapy for me, on court acceptance, excitement and fun, packaged up as a Netball match.

When I set up Mighty Netball, not coincidentally with my good friend and teammate Laura, we wanted to give others the opportunity to participate in a team sport where they could feel good, play and have fun. As a Loughborough graduate and an experienced player, I was fortunate that I could have taken my naive enthusiasm and energy and chosen to contribute to any area of the game. I had an offer at the time to coach at a national league club, an opportunity I would have loved.  So, why did I say no and turn my attention to grassroots netball?

The answer to that question is an explanation I have been giving ever since I saw a gap and knew it needed to be filled. There are not enough opportunities to play Netball at grassroots level.  While it is apparent, to those in the know, that the supply can’t meet the demand, this isn’t being systemically addressed. Regularly, I am engaging with surprised parents about the lack of opportunity for their children to play Netball during their primary school years. There are waiting lists at Mighty that are larger than I am comfortable with, we are often contacted in areas we are yet to set up, and then beyond year 6 (as we are a primary age provider), parents frequently tell me there is nowhere for their child to play club netball.

The demand to get involved in our sport at a young age is overwhelmingly there.  The demand for grassroots netball is strong, our communities are crying out for opportunities to learn the sport, to join teams, to compete in leagues.  And it’s just not easily available.  This is a massive miss, an under the post miss, and I’m just not okay with that, the goal can be scored.

At Mighty, we are on a mission to create opportunities for primary age children to learn how to play netball, and I encourage others to do the same. For the last six years we have been creating opportunities and growing the game. We are just getting started. I am more convinced that we can make a compelling difference to others, than ever.  The impact is good for Netball. More players, more coaches and better informed and supportive parents, allowing players to go on to receive the long lasting benefits the sport can give them for the rest of their playing days.

So, here is the call to action for the netball family and beyond. If you would like a Mighty venue near you, get in touch. If you, like I did, have a ton of energy to make a difference in our sport, get in touch. If you want to coach for us, get in touch. If you want to run a franchise, get in touch.

The door is open, I would love to hear from you.

Corinne

You can reach me on hello@mightynetball.co.uk