Age - Diversity and Belonging
The bonds of belonging that netball forms bridge boundaries and transcend generations, enriching the lives of players aged 5 and 95, and every age in between. Whether it is the first step into the sport as a Bee Netballer, the challenge of competitive club competition or the chance to keep active via Walking netball, there is something for everyone. Off the court there are numerous ways to keep involved through Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering in roles across the game.
We also know that female life stages play a key part in how individuals interact with netball. We see the biggest decrease in participation as girls go through their teenage years, closely followed by those leaving the game during/after pregnancy. By considering this journey, we can ensure that the activities we offered are accessible and meet the needs of the netball family.
Children and Young People - What do we know?
1. Social Connection is the Strongest Driver
Research from Girlguiding UK shows that making friends and feeling part of a group is the top motivator for girls’ participation in volunteering activities.
Sport England insight shows that teenage girls are more likely to engage when volunteering is done “with friends” rather than individually.
Therefore, consider how you can design peer-based volunteering pathways, not individual placements.
2. Purpose and impact matter more than “sport for sport’s sake”
Girls report higher motivation when volunteering:
helps others
supports younger children
improves their community
Programmes framed around:
mentoring younger girls
supporting inclusive sport
Therefore, don’t frame opportunities as ‘help run sport’, frame them as ‘help make a difference through sport’.
3. Confidence is a Major Barrier
Multiple youth surveys show that only 1 in 3 teenage girls feel confident in sport settings.
Lack of confidence will affect willingness to volunteer, particularly in ‘visible’ roles such as leading/coaching sessions or officiating.
Therefore, consider the following:
Start with low-pressure, informal roles
Provide clear guidance and training
Use step-by-step progression pathways
Older Women - What do we know?
Older women are more likely to experience loneliness and discrimination (Age UK, March 2025). Creating meaningful, welcoming spaces is therefore especially important and is part of netball’s commitment to women and girls.
Whilst many individuals continue to play, others may step away from the game because they are no longer able to participate. Where alternative formats like Walking Netball are not suitable, volunteering opportunities are a fantastic way to stay involved.
Not everyone wants to be involved in the same way so make sure that various options are available. Examples could include event-based opportunities, governance (club committees etc.), living heritage (engaging with younger members) etc.
Today, young women are three times more likely than men to experience common mental health problems. In 1993, they were twice as likely. Rates of self-harm amongst young women have tripled since 1993, and today’s young women are three times more likely than young men to experience post-traumatic stress disorder. Young women and girls from disadvantaged groups face the greatest risks, and those who have more than one risk factor (for example, black transgender women) bear a particularly complex set of challenges.
Mental Health Foundation
Click on the image above to find out more about common mental health challenges synonymous with puberty, pregnancy & postnatal, and menopause, and we bend its themes towards the experiences of active girls and women.
Bee Netball is England Netball’s fun and nurturing programme for children (aged 5-11-year-olds) at the beginning of their team sport journey. It is designed to introduce children to netball skills: throwing, catching, footwork and shooting.
More importantly, the programme is designed to support every child’s personal development on and beyond the court. All activities are underpinned by our Beeliefs; our core values are focused on improving your child’s belief in their own ability.
Whether you're a parent, player, or coach (no experience needed!), you can learn how to run exciting and inclusive Bee Netball sessions that go beyond the court through our empowering Beeliefs.
Walking Netball is a friendly and inclusive programme, allowing women the opportunity to find their place in the sport. It’s netball, but at a walking pace and where the rules are slightly tweaked.
Walking Netball has been designed so that anyone can play, regardless of age or fitness level.
From those who have dropped out of the sport they love due to injury, to those who believed they had hung up their netball trainers many years ago. Walking Netball really is for everyone.
Click on the image to find out more.
Reframing Sport for Teenage Girls
This report helps us to understand how the various barriers play out for sporty and non-sporty girls, identifying the barriers that are magnified differently across three key groups The Uninspired, The Missed Opportunity, The Passionate Participants.
Too many girls are disengaging from sport and exercise in their teens. This is huge compared to boys – a significant missed opportunity.
Older Women in the UK
At the moment millions of older women are leading diminished lives because of institutionalised ageism and sexism and many more older women would say, with justification, that they feel undervalued and overlooked. We can change this for the better. This report from Age UK identifies many of the barriers that women face, across a range of environments including ‘health’.