As Australia’s most popular sport for women and girls looks to expand its horizons to welcome more boys and men, a new partnership has been struck.
The Diamonds’ recent Quad Series success is expected to help attract even more youngsters to netball as the sport gets set to welcome its 600,000th participant to starter program, NetSetGo.
And as Australia’s most popular sport for women and girls looks to expand its horizons to welcome more boys and men, the NetSetGo program has partnered with Woolworths to help ensure more youngsters remain active and healthy.
NSW Swifts captain Maddy Proud and former Diamond Cath Cox took part in the launch of the program for girls and boys aged from five to 10 in Sydney this week.
“It’s two of Australia’s most iconic brands coming together to promote a healthy lifestyle,” Cox said of Netball Australia’s partnership with Woolworths.
“As a mum, that is just so important, the healthy food and active lifestyle.
“It’s great to see them outside and having so much fun.”
The three-year commitment from Woolworths to the sport is part of the supermarket’s Pick
Fresh, Play Fresh initiative which aims to inspire healthy eating habits in Australian kids through sport, helping them play at their best and follow in their heroes’ footsteps.
Woolworths community grants will continue with the next round opening this month to help provide financial assistance to local netball clubs to encourage children to eat fresh food.
The Diamonds’ recent success in the Quad Series in London may not have been seen by many young fans given the time zone clash but in a Commonwealth Games year, the sport will be in the spotlight and Cox said netball needed to capitalise to allow new players to take the game up.
“It is really great to see the kids down here at the launch,” Cox said of youngsters who rocked up with Proud’s book “Grace on the Court” and netballs, hoping they could get a signature from their heroes.
“The Super Netball players have been away in the hubs (over the past two seasons) and to see the kids down here so excited to meet one of their idols — and just to be thinking netball — they’ve just got massive smiles on their faces and it’s great to be a part of it,” Cox said.
Proud is preparing with the Swifts ahead of the first pre-season matches of the year this weekend, with the premiers set to take on the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
“We’ve had a few hiccups on the way with the Covid rules and people having to miss out on a few sessions but it’s just teaching us to be adaptable and when you do get a full squad together you make the most of every opportunity,” she said.
In other Super Netball news, Queensland Firebirds captain Gabi Simpson has decided to relinquish the role, believing the time was right to hand over to a new leader.
“Captaining the Firebirds has been one of my greatest honours,” Simpson said.
“I am unbelievably grateful for my five years in the role.
“I have grown as a person, a leader and a player from my experiences and … it has been a huge part in building me into the person that I am.”
Simpson said the time was right for her to step away and that whoever took on the captaincy would bring a fresh energy and drive to the position.
Originally published as Diamonds boost as netball expands horizons