Netball Australia is taking elite-level netball to regional communities, hoping to showcase the sport's global impact and inspire the next generation of athletes.
It follows the body's conscious decision to bring the International Test Series to Wollongong, drawing thousands of fans.The Diamonds will take on the Proteas in the third and final test of the series in Adelaide on Sunday.
Share article Australia’s women athletes are spoilt for choice. From NRLW to AFLW and the Matildas, women's sport is booming. Yet, according to Netball Australia CEO Stacey West, one of the sports Australian women participate in most commonly is fighting for its share of recognition."We are on every continent, played by over 20 million players and in 80 countries." Now, Netball Australia is taking elite-level netball to regional communities, hoping to showcase the sport's global impact and inspire the next generation of athletes.Supplied: Netball Australia"We are boldly taking the opportunity to showcase what women's sports is doing globally, and ensuring netball finds its place within that global impact." On Wednesday night, the Australian Diamonds returned to Wollongong for the first time in more than a decade to face the South African Proteas in Game Two of the International Test Series. The Wollongong Entertainment Centre was full as the Diamonds dominated from the first quarter to secure a 67-40 win and lock in the series ahead of Sunday’s final match in Adelaide.West said choosing Wollongong was a deliberate move to grow the game’s presence beyond major metropolitan areas. "We like to have a good balance between big cities and also regional, real heart and soul of netball communities," West said. "It exposes the game, it inspires a new generation of fans, and it allows our players and our staff to access different parts of Australia." Lilli Staff and Hayley Velasco say watching the Diamonds play right on their doorstep is exciting and inspiring.According to the latest AusPlay data, more than 225,000 children aged under the age of 14 play netball outside of school each year, with 93 per cent of them girls.Despite the high participation rates, many Australians are more likely to be able to name a Matildas player than one of the nation's netball champions. President of the Illawarra Netball Association Vanessa Sturman said the lack of household names was partly due to media representation. "A lot gets overlooked because it's not male, and if you look at the papers and most of the news there is not a lot of female sport there," she said.But at Wednesday's game, players like Jamie-Lee Price, Jo Weston, and Cara Koenen were celebrated as heroes by a sea of cheering fans. Sturman said hosting an international match was a rare and invaluable opportunity for young athletes to connect with the elite level. "Their coaches might say, 'Look at a Diamond and watch what they do,' and they can now do that in person," Sturman said.Twelve-year-old local player Charlie, who competes for New South Wales, said the Diamonds were her biggest role models.Local junior Netball players, Mia-Rose, Olivia and Charlie said they were excited to see their idols play."They inspire us with their talents, and that's where we want to be when we grow up.""They're really inspiring, and you look forward to the future watching them, seeing different moves that you can learn from," she said. Even Wollongong’s Deputy Mayor, Linda Campbell, said the event was a powerful way to elevate netball and support women’s sport in the region. "Our council is very committed to levelling the playing field and ensuring women in Wollongong have access to the best sporting facilities we can provide," she said.While the Diamonds head to Adelaide for the final match of the series on Sunday, Netball Australia remains focused on bringing international netball to all corners of the country. "For us, to take international netball to every part of Australia is absolutely part of our ambition," West said.
Regional Communities Women's Sport Wollongong Diamonds NRLW Stacey West
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