One of the great participation sports in this country is netball. In any city, suburb and town Australia wide the sound of whistles reverberates from the multitude of courts and teams. It is a fantastic sound, just as the sound of car horns being blown after an Aussie rules goal at a local ground is fantastic. But make no mistake, the sport's governing body is an a perilous state which imperils the sport as a whole.
At the grassroots level the sport is thriving but decisions at the highest level, particularly when it has come to its professional level, has Netball Australia facing, if not financial ruin, a difficult financial time. Financial issues mean less investment in development programs, under age programs and elite programs. It also means that less money can be spent on advertising and promoting the sport. This is essential as other sports clamber for participants at all levels, and even more than ever at the semi and professional levels.
Netball can no longer be seen on free to air television and whilst recent year's deals provided much needed funds those funds are running out.
In recent days the Daily Telegraph reported that Netball Australia lost $7.2 million over the last two years and has debts of approximately $4 million.
Source: https://bit.ly/3nAYS7gnd
Many believe it was the partnership break from a trans-Tasman league to a standalone Australian League that started the rot, but perhaps netball Australia bit of more than it could ever chew. With the advent of AFLW and NRLW and the continued success and career path of the A-League women's competitions there is not only a fight for professional players across the codes but the far superior financial resources that the AFL and NRL, in particular, have compared to Netball Australia.
Even at grassroots levels if you go to many of the suburban courts they are empty during most week nights and Sundays. They have yet to leverage their vast spaces and share them with other sports that could provide alternative sources of income. There is a distinct lack of advertising at most courts as well, another avenue for resources.
A return to a trans-Tasman competition, getting the sport back on to free to air television, even at a greatly reduced price, are two obvious solutions that the sport would be remiss in not pursuing.
This is a great sport that may need to lower its eyes for a few years or face extinction altogether, at least at the higher levels. In a week that we should be talking about a thrilling Grand Final between West Coast Fever and the Melbourne Vixens we are discussing a sport in serious trouble.
Let me know your thoughts.
Paul Frederickson Twitter: @paul_football
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