Looking at the cars in the car parks at netball tournaments, I’ve often wondered… how accessible is our sport?
This is a short blog about something that’s been on my mind for a while. I take the daughter all around the country and the cars I see reflect wealth. This led me to think about where netball is developing and growing and if a girl has natural skill how accessible is our sport? This will be an initial discussion which will be backed up by more in depth research in time.
Club fees massively vary, of course depending on the level of training and experience that is being offered at club level, but why do they vary so much?
Let’s take the Eastern region U16 League first: I have spoken to people paying £60 a year for affiliation and that’s it. At other clubs the players are paying £35 a month for training, £15 or £20 a game depending on where the fixture is. So for some players a fixture in Norwich will cost them £20 as they are paying for coaches (fees and travelling fees) and a more local match £10. However, let’s factor the travelling costs into this too. We were fortunate recently that a coach at our club organised an ‘experience weekend’ where we went to Birmingham and then Leeds to play against some of the tops teams in preparation for U16 Nationals. The parents supported this massively: two donated their time to drive mini buses and also were on hand to coach.
Now let’s talk level of play and what league a player plays in. This season I experienced Eastern Region League. Players pay £35 per month for 6 months but this includes training, league and umpiring fees: I believe clubs massively subsidise this. However, let’s factor the travel into this too. I know U16 players who had to travel to Norwich, from Hertfordshire, twice in subsequent weekends.
Now lets talk franchise: say you have a player who is young and keen to ‘be a netballer’ and they make a franchise. From discussions with parents and franchises the average cost for an U17 to join is £500. The franchises do realise this is a commitment and allow players to pay in instalments. However, there are tournament and travelling fees to accommodate too.
Let’s not talk kit that will be for another blog!
We all want to support our young players and I will do anything; sacrifice anything, to help my daughter get where she wants to. I understand that sport is expensive, parents of young footballers also spend a fortune supporting their sons. However, the purpose of this, edited, blog is to highlight the costs that, perhaps, people didn’t know about.
BUT if your daughter is a budding netballer don’t let this put you off from supporting their journey, please. We are a fantastic community who DO support each other and finances are not a barrier to our girls ‘making it’ particularly after the Commonwealth victory and the hosting of the World Cup.
@NetballNow! 