Disabled people often find opportunities to play sport hard to come by, but in Wyndham, young disabled netballers are in demand.
The Wyndham Netball Association has registered a team for the all abilities division of Netball Victoria’s Association Championships on June 16.
With the championships fast approaching, the association is on the lookout for more players to fill their team and participate against the state’s best.
“We are not expecting to set the court on fire with our team, we just want to give these kids every opportunity to participate and have a great time representing their community,” said Wyndham Netball Association president Phil Morely.
“We will be building up the game play over the coming weeks to build the skills and confidence of the team. Now is an ideal time for anyone interested in joining all abilities netball.”
In 2023 Wyndham Netball Association started an all abilities netball for youth program to help fill the gap for all-abilities sports programs in the community.
The program caters for youth aged eight to 25 with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, and social disabilities, with Mr Morely noting that the latter had become more common in recent years.
“Social disabilities are an issue that has become more prevalent after covid. Many youth saw their social skills and social confidence impacted by the lockdowns. Being in a group or team setting is a real challenge for some youth and stepping onto the court can be a significant step forward for some. Doing it in a gentler, less competitive environment of an all abilities program can make those steps easier for the participant and the family.”
Those interested are encouraged to contact Phil Morely on 0437 078 739 or come along to the first session for term 2 on Saturday April 20 at Eagle Stadium.
Cade Lucas.
