Netball has grown in the UK over recent years and more women than ever are getting involved in the sport. JB’s Sports Coaching wanted to bring the sport to one of the most rural locations in the county in the hope for it to build friendships, develop confidence and make people feel like a part of a team.
Horncastle has limited options when it comes to community facilities and JB’s identified that women in the town had fewer opportunities to be active, often feeling excluded from participating in community provisions which led them to feel isolated, lonely, anxious and poor mental health.
Therefore, the Horncastle Hotshots was created.
Thanks to Sport England’s Together Fund, distributed by Active Lincolnshire, JB’s Sports Coaching were able to deliver 20 sessions on a Monday night, to two age groups. 66 women and girls participated across the sessions, with 34 being 11–16-year-olds and 32, 17 years and over.
Removing barriers for women to attend is a priority for JB’s, to ensure that everyone can attend, get active and reap the health benefits. They decided to run the sessions at the same time as the children’s football sessions at the same location, so that childcare was not a barrier.
One participant noted: “My main challenges were childcare. I was able to take part in this as my daughter took part in the under 17’s netball at the same time and my other daughter was able to sit and watch.” This was a huge success of the project seeing so many mothers and daughters play together, and the mums not just stood at the sidelines watching.
One of the participants said: “It’s great to have something for mums in Horncastle. Toni has made the sessions sociable and inclusive, I really enjoy them.”
Three coaches have now been trained thanks to the funding, all receiving their Netball Level 1 qualification which means that the sessions are continuing in the future. This has also developed the coaches’ self-esteem and confidence.
Toni McHamilton, coach at the sessions, says: “It’s been great to have so many adults and young people getting involved in our netball services. Though there has been an element of competitiveness, it’s been great to see people coming along and enjoying the sessions. Meeting new people, becoming more confident in themselves and their own ability and actually improving their netball skills too!”
Despite a few issues with venues, JB’s were determined to deliver the project realising that to get more people active, it is not about the venue, but about keeping it safe to play, and remaining consistent in the delivery.
England Netball’s Lincolnshire Development Officer, Louise Key, has since been working with the Hotshots to ensure sustainability of the team, with the hope that partnership and support continues within the county for the sport.
