Men and Boys
At England Netball our Vision is to lead a movement on and off the court. Men and Boys are integral to that vision. As fathers, partners, brothers, allies and more recently, teammates. We recognise the role that men and boys play both on and off the court and want to ensure they also experience the joy of netball.
We do so whilst maintaining the essence of our game, recognising that our female sensibility is a mark of distinction, a sign of strength, and a vital force in the effort to address the gender participation gap across sport.
Because it's a female-led sport, you are always surrounded by this really inclusive feminine energy, I think, and they are the ones welcoming people in.
James Thomson-Boston
England Men’s Captain, 2025
Men and Mixed
Men’s & Mixed Netball has seen a fantastic period of growth in recent years. The England Men's and Mixed Netball Association (EMMNA), founded in 2019, operates in partnership with England Netball to deliver authorised netball activity; with a mission to develop, grow, and promote netball for all. Their efforts have seen the number of teams grow to 150+, with 54 participating at the 2025 National Championships.
Whilst championing equality and inclusion in the sport, EMMNA and EN continue to support a thriving men's and mixed netball community across all ages and abilities.
More information about the EMMNA league and national competitions, including how you can get involved, can be found on the EMMNA website.
Bee Netball
Bee Netball is friendly, high-energy and carefully designed 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 focused on improving your child’s belief in their own ability.
Because of the age groups involved, Bee Netball is a fantastic way for schools to introduce boys to netball.
Thanks to comprehensive research from Women in Sport we know that boys, and the men they will become, can be agents of change for girls and women in sport, and in life. We must challenge limiting gender stereotypes and break down the traditional masculine culture in sport that nurtures negative attitudes and behaviours to girls and women.
Here’s how:
Recognise and challenge limiting stereotypes
Redefine the value of sport for boys and girls
Help boys to become allies not opponents
Create gender-equal sporting environments
Increase the visibility of girls and women in sport
To aid with this, Women in Sport have created role-specific resources to aid allyship.
Women in Sport - March 2024
If we are to succeed in changing the narrative around girls in sport we need to change the narrative around boys. Because this is where it all starts.
This research explores what influences the attitudes and behaviours of primary aged boys towards girls in sport. It shows that stereotyping is still prevalent and adults continue to unknowingly pass down stereotypes that can have negative consequences for both girls and boys.
Youth Sport Trust - January 2020
The power of sport has the potential to develop boys’ skills and wellbeing from an early age to prevent such issues leading to a clinical diagnosis of a mental health disorder, exclusion from school, or involvement in the criminal justice system.