Twice as many men now playing
BOOMING might be an exaggeration, but men’s netball is certainly growing.
Numbers have doubled in the Dunedin Premier Men’s league this year, while boys and men now make up 5% of all registered players in the centre.
Four teams from three different clubs are now contesting the title in that pinnacle league, up from two in recent years.
College and South Pac Titans have been joined by Southern and a second South Pac team.
It is a significant step for a sport which has long been New Zealand’s No 1 women’s game with little male presence.
Dunedin Netball operations manager LeeAnne Anderson is thrilled with the growth.
She said the centre had been working at the concept for several years.
This was the first year of a full men’sonly league.
‘‘It has been a long time coming, but it’s something we’ve worked really hard on trying to foster,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s just great to see a standalone competition can be created and we can add to that in the future.
‘‘That’s really important as well.’’
Games are played on Monday nights and Anderson said that had been key to attracting numbers.
It enabled many men to play netball competitively, while also playing other sports on Saturdays.
Each team will play each other four times before semifinals and finals, giving it the same season length as the women’s grades.
Anderson said the game was becoming more visible as an option for boys and men.
Having the New Zealand men’s team playing televised matches against the Silver Ferns and New Zealand A over the past two years was significant too.
Alongside growing the club competition, expanding the game at school level was a focus.
‘‘That’s the next step, how do we grow that boys competition?’’ Anderson said.
‘‘Having a secondary schoolboysonly competition, that’s something we’re working on and is in the pipeline.’’
Boys are able to play up to year 8.