Netball Legends – keep on playing!

Kate Nicholson explains a new and exciting initiative for over-45s which is helping them continue their love affair with netball.

“There is a special feeling of sisterhood amongst women of the same age which creates a supportive atmosphere. I felt more belonging and more valued than when playing with much younger players.”

That feedback, shared by a participant at the Kent tournament in April, really summed up what we are trying to do with Netball Legends: create an exciting space for community and a sense of belonging among the over-45s.

Helen, Linda and I are enthusiastic netballers in our fifties. We wanted to provide opportunities for over-45s to continue their netball journey and compete against women of a similar age, as well as building a thriving community.

We have played competitive netball for years, often at the centre of the success of our teams and clubs. As we’ve got older, we’ve gradually lost some of the speed and energy that made us the players we were and it was getting increasingly tough to compete against younger players. But we hadn’t lost the enthusiasm, competitive spirit or, most importantly, our love of playing.

When considering whether it was time to step down and leave it to the younger players at our club teams, it felt like the end of an era. There simply wasn’t anywhere to go or anything to move on to if you want to keep enjoying playing netball into your fifties, sixties and beyond.

That’s what prompted us to set up Netball Legends. We organised a series of tournaments – always indoors with umpires provided and limited ‘sitting around’ time between matches, with a friendly and welcoming vibe and the provision to match players up to form teams if required.

After the success of our first three tournaments in Sussex and Hampshire, which were heavily over-subscribed, we knew we had something and that this was fulfilling a real need.

So on 14 April, 2024, we took Netball Legends to Sevenoaks in Kent. Seven teams – with an average age of 51.6 years – from London, Surrey, Kent and Sussex competed in a round-robin competition. Three things were evident.

“Players were definitely harnessing their inner twenty-yearold at times. I’m sure there would have been some aching muscles the next day, but it was well worth it”

Firstly, players have definitely not lost their competitive spirit! There was a real buzz as the teams warmed up. It was competitive but supportive with some amazing interceptions, shooting and court play. Players were definitely harnessing their inner twenty-year-old at times. I’m sure there would have been some aching muscles the next day, but it was well worth it.

Secondly, it was great fun and the love of playing netball was evident, with lots of smiles and laughter on and off the court. There was a real sense of joy for players as they threw themselves around the court and competed against netballers of a similar age.

Finally, there were some fantastic reconnections and reunions, as players recognised familiar faces, sometimes from 20-30 years ago. So many friendships have been made through netball over the years, and it was great to see that community still thriving.

Congratulations to Phoenix (who definitely rose from the ashes!) who won all their matches and were crowned champions of the Netball Legends Kent tournament. Doddery Diamonds (who weren’t as doddery as their name suggests) came close runners up and the Banshees (anagram of ‘Hasbeens’) were third and had the oldest team with an average age of 58.5 years. We loved the fact that the Nifty Nomads comprised a group of players who came together on the day, with some not having even met each other before. They really captured the spirit of Netball Legends and played brilliantly.

With three more tournaments planned (and fully subscribed) for this season, we would love to expand Netball Legends in 2024/25 into other regions and provide even more opportunities for this age group across the country.

If you would like to see a Netball Legends tournament in your area, get in touch and give us the lowdown on possible indoor venues (we need a minimum of two indoor courts) and how to contact teams and umpires in your area and we will help make it happen.

Become part of our community by following Netball Legends on Facebook and Instagram and tell us what you think.

If you would like to see a Netball Legends tournament in your area, contact netballlegends@gmail.com