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One of our team was recently chatting to a parent who was enquiring about a taster session. Before we’d even spoken about venues, session times or what to expect, she paused for a moment and said, “I’m just not sure she’s ready yet.” When we gently asked what she meant, she replied with “Well… she can’t even catch a ball.”
Our answer came without hesitation.
“Great… that’s the perfect place to start.” It’s a conversation we’ve had countless times over the years and, the funny thing is, for us, it isn’t the end of the conversation, it’s usually the beginning. Because somewhere along the way, many children (and parents) have started to believe that sport is something you do once you’re good enough, that confidence comes first. That you should already know what you’re doing before you walk through the door, but at Mighty Netball, we’ve always believed the opposite. Children don’t build confidence before they start, they build confidence because they start.
It may not be those exact words every time, but the same thought often sits underneath.
“She’s never played before.”
“She’s really shy.”
“She doesn’t know anyone.”
“She’s quite small in her class.”
“She gets overwhelmed in new situations.”
“She gets tired quite easily.”
Or sometimes…
“Will this tire her out enough?”
On the surface they’re all different worries, but underneath them is usually the very same hope.
“I just want this to be a positive experience for my child.”
Over the years, we’ve come to understand that completely.
Wanting to protect our children is one of the most natural instincts in the world. We want to shield them from embarrassment, stop them feeling left out and help them avoid situations where they might struggle. Somewhere along the way, though, many of us have quietly started believing that confidence comes before trying something new, when reality is almost always the opposite. That simple belief sits at the heart of everything we do at Mighty Netball. Our sessions are built around introducing sport through fun, imaginative and play-based learning. Whilst children are learning netball, they’re also developing the foundations that help them enjoy sport for years to come: teamwork, communication, balance, coordination, resilience, decision making and confidence. Long before we’re thinking about positions or tactics, we’re thinking about helping children discover the joy of moving, learning and belonging.
One of the things parents tell us most often is, “She’s never played netball before.” To which our response is usually, “Perfect.” Most children haven’t.
We never expect children to arrive already understanding the rules, confidently catching every pass or knowing exactly where to stand. That’s our role.
Every week our Director of session content carefully writes session plans designed specifically for the age group in front of them. During the session children experience games, laughter and movement, in fact, every activity has been thoughtfully planned with a purpose. Some games develop coordination, some improve balance, others encourage communication, teamwork or decision making. Through play, children are quietly building the foundations not just for netball, but for sport and movement as a whole.
We understand that young children learn through curiosity, imagination and movement, not by standing in lines listening to instructions. That’s why our sessions are designed to feel playful whilst carefully developing the skills children need physically, socially and emotionally. We’re not interested in creating perfect netballers at five years old. We’re interested in helping children discover that movement is fun, that learning something new feels exciting and that making mistakes is simply part of getting better.
Every child arrives differently – some skip onto court before we’ve even finished saying hello. Others quietly hold onto Mum or Dad’s hand, taking everything in from a safe distance.
We often hear parents apologise. “She’s quite shy.” “She’ll probably spend the whole session attached to me.”
Please don’t apologise. It’s completely normal. Walking into a brand-new environment filled with unfamiliar children, coaches and activities is a huge thing when you’re little. Some children need five minutes to settle. Others need the whole session simply to watch. Both are absolutely okay.
In fact, one of the reasons we offer two taster sessions is because we know that the first visit isn’t always about joining in. Sometimes it’s about watching, listening, feeling safe and learning the rhythm of the session before deciding they’re ready to step onto court.
Watching isn’t doing nothing, we believe, observing is learning.
Equally, we’ve had children confidently throw themselves into their first session only to have a wobble a few weeks later. Confidence isn’t something children either have or don’t have. It grows, pauses, dips and grows again. Every journey is unique, and our coaches understand that. Rather than expecting every child to fit neatly into one approach, they adapt to the children standing in front of them, encouraging through fun, play-based activities whilst making sure every child feels comfortable and supported.
Another concern we hear often is, “She doesn’t know anyone.” The lovely thing is, neither do most of the other children walking through our doors for the very first time.
One of the greatest joys of coaching at Mighty has been watching friendships blossom. We’ve seen children who met at their very first taster session go on to become teammates, classmates and lifelong friends. It often starts with something wonderfully simple: sharing a ball, celebrating a great pass or helping someone find the right coloured bib.
Our sessions are designed to make children feel welcome from the moment they arrive. Coaches introduce children through games, encouraging kindness, encouragement and teamwork from the very beginning. Learning how to join a new group, include others and celebrate together is every bit as valuable as learning how to pass a netball.
Sometimes parents tell us, “She’s quite small for her age.” Or perhaps they feel “they’re not very sporty”. One of the wonderful things about netball is that every position celebrates something different.
At Mighty we describe each position having its own unique superpowers. Some players are quick across the court, some are wonderfully strategic, some read the game before anyone else sees what’s happening. Others bring determination, focus, stability or calmness under pressure. No player is expected to be everything.
In fact, it’s those different strengths that make a team stronger.
It’s one of the reasons we created our Mighty Characters. Every character has their own personality and unique superpowers because we wanted children to see that there isn’t one type of netball player. Our aim is that every child sees a little of themselves in one or a mix of those characters and realises they already have strengths that can help a team. Sometimes they even surprise themselves by discovering a position they never imagined they’d enjoy.
That’s one of the things we love most about netball, there really is a place for everyone.
Children arrive with different energy levels every single week. Some bounce through the door full of excitement. Others have had a long week at school and need a little longer to settle.
One of the reasons our sessions are play-based, allows the coaches to be constantly reading the children in front of them. Sometimes that means encouraging movement. Sometimes it means slowing things down, or possibly a child simply needs to sit on side for a few minutes, have a drink of water or watch before joining back in.
If your child has asthma, a medical condition, additional needs, sensory differences or simply something that helps them feel more comfortable, we genuinely want to know. Understanding each child helps us shape the session around them, rather than expecting them to fit into one way of learning.
Sometimes the biggest question isn’t about confidence at all – It’s about family life.
Family can be busy, and adding another activity can sometimes feel overwhelming before you’ve even started. That’s why we’ve structured Mighty to support family life as much as possible. Rather than asking families to commit to a full school term, our rolling monthly membership offers a little more flexibility, with just one month’s notice if you decide it’s no longer the right fit for your family. If circumstances change, we can usually help you transfer to another venue or pause your subscription where appropriate. We also keep sessions at the same time each week to help families build routines, and we also offer sibling discounts because we know family logistics matter.
We want joining Mighty Netball to feel like something that brings joy to family life, not another source of pressure.
As we all know, there’s no such thing as a silly question, and we feel exactly the same about worries. If something matters to you, it matters to us.
That’s why whenever you contact Mighty, you’ll speak to a real member of our team. It’s also why every registration form includes space for anything you’d like us to know, whether that’s a medical condition, additional needs, a nickname your child prefers to be called, or simply something that helps them feel comfortable. We do read every word because no two children are the same.
Our role isn’t to expect children to fit into Mighty, it’s to shape Mighty around the families who walk through our doors.
We’ll always strive to create the very best environment for your child to have fun, learn, build confidence and discover a lifelong love of sport.
Click here to meet the mighty team
