NETBALL Queensland (NQ) and the Queensland Suns have come together to encourage more men and boys to give the sport a try.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two bodies has been created with the aim of growing participation by boys and men in netball across the state.
The agreement formalises a working partnership between NQ and the Suns which will include greater collaboration between both organisations to grow netball participation by boys and men at all levels.
As part of the MOU, the Suns will continue to be officially recognised as a Member Association of NQ.
The agreement covers a range of opportunities to grow participation by boys and men from community to elite levels.
“Increasing our capacity and capability to welcome boys and men into netball is a clearly defined goal of our Strategic Plan 2023-25,” NQ CEO Kate Davies said.
“We identified in that document that developing an MOU with the Queensland Suns to outline ways of working together to grow participation by boys and men was key to that aim.
“I am thrilled to have this agreement in place and look forward to working together with the Suns to grow the game in Queensland.”
At a community level, NQ and the Suns will develop a plan to grow participation by boys and men in existing competitions, aim to establish netball as a sport option in school for boys and develop and offer community clinics for junior boys.
The Queensland Firebirds will also consider adding a training partner position in the 2024 Suncorp Super Netball squad for a current Queensland Suns squad member.
The Suns will also face their NSW counterparts in a 2023 State of Origin fixture as the curtain-raiser for the Firebirds’ Round 13 Suncorp Super Netball clash with the NSW Swifts at Nissan Arena on 11 June.
“This agreement with NQ opens up exciting new opportunities to grow boys and men’s netball in Queensland,” Suns President Steven Curr said.
“Our mission as an organisation states we are driven to unlocking the potential of men’s and mixed netball in Queensland.
“By formalising our partnership with NQ in this way, we are creating the opportunity to further establish pathways from grassroots to high performance for men and boys across the state.”
