#44 I 💜 Walking Netball

I was lucky enough to have a very small part to play in the initial national project, researching, writing and introducing Walking Netball in England. 

Ever since that first meeting I attended in London, I was hooked! 

It was always going to be a great way to transition those ‘full fat’ Netballers entering their twilight years, or those who sadly sustained a long term injury, into a more gentle version of our great game!

Perhaps, more importantly, opening up netball to a whole new audience. To those who have never played or maybe hadn’t donned a bib since school, which in some cases maybe more than fifty years! 

I consider myself very lucky to be a qualified Walking Netball Host. As with any other sports coaching role though it does come with responsibility! 

One of the most challenging aspects of delivering Walking Netball is when the two audiences collide - the ‘competitive’ more experienced Netballer transitioning out of the ‘normal’ game and the social walking netballer, whose motivations may be anything but netball - meeting new people, recently widowed, recovering from serious illness, wanting to be fitter….the list is endless! 

I don’t think it was something that was considered in those early days. 

It is a subject that has come up on the National Walking Netball Hosts Facebook page - a positive platform to share ideas, best practice & support fellow hosts. 

I think the question posed is along the lines of ‘What do I do with a new, overly competitive participant, who intimidates our regulars!’ 

Advice has been varied from, a somewhat harsh, ‘send them to Back to Netball’ to a more diplomatic ‘set out expectations before the session starts’. 

I’m lucky enough to have encountered and still host a variety of Walking Netball groups. I often cover sessions, set up and hosted regular sessions in my former job and currently host Walkie Talkies, our Monday night Walking Netball group which has been going for 3.5 years. 

My experience is you CAN manage these combinations of audiences successfully, but like all sports coaching, you need to get to know your participants and their motivations! 

They can even compliment each other! 

A case in point is two of my long term Walkie Talkies recently achieving their Walking Netball Host qualification. Their experiences in netball could not be more different. 

Julie is a traditional ‘baller who I’ve known for longer than either of us care to remember! She has been a player, Coach, Umpire and has held various committee roles. She’s been a loyal and committed netball volunteer for donkeys years! 

Carol is the opposite end of the spectrum - recently retired and loving life. She clearly loves supporting a variety of sports but hadn’t picked up a netball in decades! She takes every opportunity thrown at her with open arms and was the first to volunteer when the chance of the Walking Netball Host course arose! 

They absolutely compliment each other - Julie’s confidence and experience with Carol’s enthusiasm & understanding of non Netballers is a match made in Walking Netball Host heaven! I have absolutely no qualms about having a night off occasionally now! (And as a Surrey Storm season ticket holder with Monday night netball on the horizon, I will!) 

There are heaps of other successes I’ve been privy too but I think the key and common denominator is the Host! 

If you’re aware of the different participants in your group, with their different motivations, it is definitely a start!  Setting out expectations at the beginning of each session is also helpful, as is giving those more experienced participants more responsibility and more of a challenge when appropriate. 

My measure? If everyone leaves smiling & a bit flush, it’s been a good session and that is always my target! 

By far my favourite thing about Walking Netball is the opportunity to bring together women from all walks of life (pardon the pun!) that positively makes a difference to all our lives!