England Netball is delighted the Government has given netball the green light to return through a modified form of the game. This means young people within schools, colleges and universities can benefit from the inclusion of netball within a broad and balanced education, and importantly the benefits this brings to children and young people’s physical and mental wellbeing can be kick started once more.
Schools and Colleges
Full guidance for any school (primary or secondary) delivering netball within the curriculum or as part of their after-school provision can be found here. This guidance should be used alongside the specific plans, policies and procedures put in place by the School leadership team locally.
Many schools hire their facilities to the wider netball community, which we know the Netball Family, are incredibly grateful for. However, we also understand that there is some nervousness about doing this more widely as both schools and netball re-start. To help this return and support those who operate venues understand the specific netball requirements, our updated ‘Guidance for facility operators’ can be downloaded here.
England Netball communicate directly with schools who are members of England Netball. Any school that has not previously been a member of England Netball, but would like to join us can find more information here.
Universities
We recognise that universities will be facing different challenges and that sports clubs and social programmes will look a little different this year, we also recognise the important role that all sports, including netball will play in supporting student health and wellbeing during these challenging times.
England Netball has shared its Restart Guidance for community netball which can be downloaded here. The Restart Guidance should be used alongside specific plans, policies and procedures put in place by the University Leadership Team locally.
Whether you’re a COVID-19 Officer, club committee member, player, official or coach, please take the time to read the below information on how the latest restrictions impact universities.
- Netball within universities is exempt from the indoor restrictions if part of curriculum (e.g. for a Sports Studies course).
- Extra-curricular netball is NOT exempt in colleges and universities for over 18s and as such should follow guidance for community netball for over 18s. This includes both training and competition.
We want to continue to work alongside as many universities as possible across the country, reaching out to staff, coaches and student volunteers that have a responsibility for facilitating netball at their university, to empower everyone with the confidence, knowledge and skills to re-start netball activity safely.
England Netball has contacted universities that have been members of England Netball to commence renewing your membership. Any university that has not previously been a member of England Netball, but would like to join us can find more information here or email UNO@englandnetball.co.uk.
With your help, university netball will #RiseAgain and regain the momentum students were enjoying before the crisis began, we’re sure of it.