05 Nov 2024
Narrabri High School Empower Play Netball Program Jenny Wright Shield
Recently, Netball NSW completed a 6 week program at Narrabri High School which focused on empowering young girls through umpiring, self-esteem, and leadership development. Over the past few months, we have seen remarkable growth in the participants, both on and off the court. This was the first time a program like this had been run in a regional High School.
One of the key goals of the program was to equip the girls with umpiring skills, giving them the opportunity to take charge and gain a deeper understanding of the game. Not only did this boost their knowledge of netball rules, but it also fostered a sense of responsibility and confidence in their abilities. Many of the girls demonstrated outstanding leadership by managing games with fairness and authority, and their progress has been truly impressive. Mackenzie Knox, a National B Badge Umpire from Narrabri lead the girls through this program and supported them at many events, including the Jenny Wright Shield in Walgett.
The program's emphasis on self-esteem has had a profound impact on the participants. Through team-building exercises, constructive feedback, and opportunities to step into leadership roles, the girls have developed a stronger sense of self-worth. Leadership was a core element throughout the program. By teaching the girls to make thoughtful decisions and support one another, we have seen them evolve into confident, capable young leaders. Whether through umpiring or team captain roles, they learned to inspire and guide their peers. This skill set will benefit them not only in sport but in all aspects of their lives.
The girls were required to attend weekly sessions which eventually lead to the big event, umpiring at the Jenny Wright Shield in Walgett. The participants had the opportunity to put these skills into action with the support of Mackenzie and Lauren from Netball NSW. They demonstrated outstanding resilience and leadership throughout the day and represented their school outstandingly.
We are incredibly proud of what the girls have achieved, and the feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive.
