Walking netball is here to stay in Murray Bridge

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It has become the fastest-growing sport in the Murraylands, and now it’s here to stay.

Dozens of women, and a few men, have shown up to try walking netball at Murray Bridge’s Christian Reserve over the past month.

The game is a modified version of ordinary netball, with no running or jumping, suitable for players of any age or skill level.

It has proven especially popular among women who either played netball in the past – typically more than 20 years ago – or who prefer to play in a more social, less serious environment.

In fact, it has proven so popular that organisers agreed last week to extend what was originally going to be an eight-week trial.

Monday night matches will continue at Christian Reserve until at least March 25, the week before Easter.

After that, coordinator Helen Smith hopes to find an indoor venue and keep the games going through the winter.

Ms Smith said she had last played netball in the River Murray association about 30 years ago.

A coaching career followed at Imperials, and at Jaguars and Oakdale in the Adelaide competition, but she never lost her desire to get back out on the court.

When her sister-in-law told her about an ABC News report she’d seen, about the new variant of netball being played in the Riverland, she realised her chance had arrived.

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A call-out on social media led her to Helen Mattick and Bridgette Syrus from Murray Bridge Community Centre, who were able to get the necessary paperwork done and source balls and water bottles; and to Murray Bridge Netball Association’s Yvonne Stiller, who helped the newcomers access the Christian Reserve courts.

“I thought that if we got four teams, we’d be laughing,” she said.

“Most weeks we’ve had six, plus interchanges and umpires.”

Players’ ages have varied from 13 to 82.

In some weeks, three generations of women from the same family have been able to come out and play on the same court.

The action was no less frantic than any other netball match, even with the players power-walking all over the court.

It was hard for some to resist the temptation to break out into a jog, or to jump when jostling for a pass.

But it was a strictly non-serious affair, with laughter echoing across the reserve.

That was what was unique about walking netball, Ms Syrus said: it gave people of all ages a chance to socialise across social circles and generations.

“We’ve had grandkids coming out to watch grandma play, when usually it’s the other way around,” she said.

“Community like this is something you miss out on once you finish (playing).”

• Play walking netball: Head to Christian Reserve, Murray Bridge from 6.30pm on a Monday night, for a 7pm start; bring $5, water and wear a dark-coloured top.
• More information: Call 0468 640 800.