At Rockets netball we obviously love netball, yes we are biased. There are so many reasons why netball is not only an excellent physical exercise, but also fantastic for your brain, body and emotional well being. It really is an all round winner! Let’s look at our top 7 reasons to play netball.
1) Physical fitness
Running around for 60 minutes is, of course, a great way to move your body, but netball movements are so much more than just ‘running’. We use all of our body, from shooting and throwing to bending and pivoting to running, jumping and stopping quickly. It truly is an all over work out. It is estimated that the average calories burned during a 60 minute netball game can be around 507 calories. But if you’re not used to it, don’t be put off by the prospect of all that exercise. Netball is accessible to a huge range of people. The different positions cater to various skills and levels of fitness. For example, at Rockets netball we have players aged from their late 20s to their mid 60s! We have ladies who haven’t exercised for years to those who exercise every day outside of netball. There is something for nearly everyone.
2) Get that brain working
Like most team sports, a large part of netball is about tactics, spacial awareness and reading the game. We make split second decisions, watching not only the movement of our own players but also the movement of our opposing team and we are calculating angles, speed and power all the way through each game. Every move we make has to succeed otherwise we lose possession of the ball and our opponents will possibly score a goal against us. Thankfully our practice sessions and training include working on tactics and how to play against different kinds of opposition players, adjusting for each players skills and abilities. Between our Rockets team members, we have decades of netball experience and our coaches are continually training to help us build our confidence and expertise.
3) Teamwork
Unlike some other sports where a ‘star player’ can take the limelight, running with the ball all the way up the court or field, in netball we truly have to work as a team. The rules of the game mean that each player can only play in a certain area of the court, we can only hold onto the ball for 3 seconds and we cannot run with the ball (when you have possession of the ball you must stay still), so working together as a team is essential to getting the ball up the court and into the goal. We specifically work on accurate passing, smooth movement of players and how to move the ball up the court during our practice sessions, coaching players in the best way to suit their abilities.
4) It’s fun!
Watching netball is exhilarating anyway, the pace of the game and the skill of the players at the highest levels is often breath taking, but playing netball itself is just so much fun. As the ball moves so quickly from one end of the court to the other, a game can change in an instant. The winning team can be chasing their opposition in a matter of seconds with just a quick intercept, mistake or poorly executed throw. Do not take your eye off that ball!
5) Learn new skills
Whether you’ve played netball before or you’ve just learned what netball is, you will always be learning new things. As you play with different people you will see that they throw or catch or move slightly differently to you. You’ll see shooters scoring goals with one or two hands, those who can shoot from anywhere or those who know how to move into their ‘sweet spot’. You’ll play with defenders that are always moving or those who seem to come out of nowhere. During practices our coaches and more experienced players will show you different ways to intercept a ball, how to lose the player marking you or even just how to stand differently to move your body better. We use a combination of focused skills, drills and game play to improve our game as individuals and also as a team.
6) Diverse and progressive
With 7 different positions to play there is something for nearly everyone. Positions such as Goal Shooter and Goal Keeper might involve less running but more strength and accuracy with shooting and reading incoming passes whereas positions such as Wing Attack, Goal Defence and Centre mean that you are moving from the moment the whistle blows until the end of the game. If you like pushing forward in attack then Goal Attack and Wing Attack might be best for you. If you can read the game and you’re great at intercepting or sticking with your player then Goal Defence and Wing Defence might be more suited to you. One of the best things about netball is that you can always try a different position as your skills and abilities progress.
7) Building community
Along with learning new skills, you will make new friends. Netball teams work so closely together that you NEED to be able to communicate and nearly read each other’s minds! At Rockets netball especially, we focus on building a supportive team of ladies who always have each other’s back. We cheer for each other when we score a goal (even if we’re playing on the opposing team in training!), we help each other to learn at practice without fear of embarrassment or ridicule if we make a mistake (we all make lots of mistakes!) and we just have such a laugh whilst we’re playing. Joining a new group that is already established can be intimidating, but we highly recommend you give it a try, we will welcome you with open arms.
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