Netball has grown in popularity in the UK over recent years and more women than ever are getting involved in the sport. JB’s Sports Coaching have bought netball to one of the most rural locations in the county with the aim of building friendships, developing confidence and making people feel like a part of a team.
Horncastle has limited options when it comes to community facilities. JB’s Sport Coaching identified that women in the town had fewer opportunities to be active. With many often feeling excluded from participating in community provisions which led them to feel isolated, lonely, anxious and experiencing poor mental health.
Therefore, they created the Horncastle Hotshots.
Together Fund Supported Sessions
Thanks to Sport England’s Together Fund, distributed in the county by Active Lincolnshire, JB’s Sports Coaching were able to deliver sessions on a Monday night, to two age groups. Removing barriers for women to attend the sessions was important to JB’s. They wanted to ensure that all women could attend, get active and reap the health benefits. With this in mind, they ran the sessions at the same time and place as children’s football sessions that were being run, so that childcare was not a barrier to taking part.
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.’’
A huge success of the project was seeing so many mother and daughters play together, and the mum’s not just stood at the sidelines watching.
Another of the participants told us:
‘’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.
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, is working with the Hotshots to ensure sustainability of the team, with the hope that partnership and support continues within the county for the sport.
To find out more about the Together Fund’s impact in Lincolnshire here.
Get Involved with Netball
Horncastle Hotshot sessions will be restarting after Easter if anyone is interested in taking part please get in touch with JB’s Coaching at: info@jbsportcoaching.co.uk or telephone 01507237227
Find more places to play netball on our Activity finder