THE Millewa Netball Association (MNA) believes its trial of a 17 and under grade this season could help keep girls in the game.
Traditionally the MNA’s junior grade has been an under-15s competition, however following the association’s AGM it was decided to test an expansion to include the second, higher age group to be played on Saturday mornings during the season.
Clubs were split on the idea, with MNA president Alison Surgey having the deciding vote in favour, citing it as a win-win for Millewa clubs and also girls from SFNL clubs who may be missing out on a game due to limited places at their original club.
“Under-15s (numbers) have been pretty good, we’ve got some younger kids coming up and then we’ve got some older kids that are progressing but perhaps not quite confident enough to step up into senior ranks so hence the trial this year of a 17 and under competition,” she said.
“I know with the SFNL having Division 1 and Division 2 (in both the 17 and under and 15 and under) they only take a certain amount of kids so there’s always that overflow.
“So we’re hoping to capitalise on some of the kids who still want to play netball and still want to play footy/netball (netball aligned with a football club, rather than the separate Mildura Netball Association).
“If we can encourage those players to come to the Millewa clubs that don’t get selected for the SFNL it’s only going to benefit us, I don’t think they’d be turned away by any club.”
Surgey said once a Millewa junior netball had turned 16 in the past she would either need to make the step up into the senior ranks, whether she was ready or not, or just not play.
“Sometimes you have these 16 year olds who just aren’t quite confident enough, they come up against adults and it is a bit scary for them,” she said.
“And who could blame them for that? It would be like me going to play against the A Grade girls, I’d be like ‘hell no’.
“It can only benefit and give them that next couple of years in 17 and under and then they would be confident to take that step.”
Surgey also hoped the expansion might draw a few more players to the traditionally smaller Millewa clubs.
“We’re sort of hoping with kids that are 16-17 they might have mums that come along that haven’t played for a few years that might want a game, that always boosts your numbers,” she said.
“Then you are going to get dads to come along and have a look. It all helps the clubs in terms of their revenue as well so it can only be a win-win.”
