Kobaca Kubadda Netball-ka ee Ragga iyo Wiilasha Cairns

Horyaalkii Cairns iyo ciyaartoyda qaar ayaa muujinaya korriinka ciyaarta ragga

Rag badan iyo wiilal ayaa raadinaya fursad ay kugu tartamaan netball-ka heer sare. Cairns waxay leedahay mid ka mid ah horyaallada ragga ee Queensland, tirada ka qaybgalayaashana waa kordhay seddex xilli ciyaareed. Ciyaartu waxay ka horumarsan tahay gobolada koonfureed.

Daniel Statton iyo Jidkiisa Netball-ka

Daniel Statton waa 19 sano, wuxuu ku dhashay kuna barbaaray Cairns, wuxuuna ahaa wiilkii kali ah ee ku ciyaara kooxaha walaashiis ilaa uu 12 jir ahaa. Xannibaad da’ ah awgeed wuxuu u guuray kubbadda cagta iyo basketball-ka, isagoo aan dib ugu laaban netball-ka illaa uu 16 jir ahaa.

Statton waxaa loo doortay kooxda qaranka ragga ee Australia ee Kelpies, wuxuuna matalay dalkiisa heerka 18-sano-hoos. Wuxuu u ciyaaray Queensland tartankii qaran ee Perth horaantii sanadkan, wuxuuna u guuray Geelong waxbarasho. Wuxuu yiri: “I'm just still hungry for more.”

Aasaaskii Horyaalka Cairns iyo Caqabadaha

Lynton McKay ayaa aasaasay horyaalka ragga Cairns ka dib markii uu ku soo laabtay Melbourne, isagoo koray basketball-ka oo netball tijaabiyay toban sano ka hor. Ka hor inta aan la abuurin, kaliya waxaa jiray netball isku-dhafan oo gudaha ah. Wuxuu yiri: “There wasn't really anything on the scene other than mixed indoor.”

McKay waa macalin, wuxuuna arkaa in sumcad xun oo ku saabsan in netball ay tahay ciyaarta haweenku ay yaraanayso, in kasta oo ay ku badan tahay meelaha gobolka. Wuxuu xusay inay dugsiyo badan gelinayaan kooxo wiilal ah, taas oo aan dhicin shan sano ka hor.

Kobaca iyo Aragtida Mustaqbalka

Horyaalka Cairns wuxuu gaaray xilli ciyaareedkiisii seddexaad, isagoo kordhay afar kooxood, laakiin wali waa shaqo socota. Damian Nowak, kabtan-ka Leprechaun, wuxuu yiri netball waa badbaado foosha dadka, dhinaca bulshadana waa soo-jiidasho.

McKay wuxuu aaminsan yahay in si loo helo ciyaartoy badan ay tahay in la sii wado. Wuxuu xusay inay jirto ka-qaybgalka baahsan ee wiilasha meelaha gobolka. Wuxuu yiri: “I've noticed when we have school carnivals there are a lot of schools now starting to enter boys' teams.”

A men's netball competition in Cairns, Queensland, is entering its third season with four teams, as growing numbers of boys and men seek competitive opportunities in a sport once dominated by women.

A Cairns league built from the ground up

Lynton McKay, a teacher who grew up playing basketball, founded the Cairns men's netball competition after returning to the region from Melbourne. Before the league existed, only mixed indoor netball was available locally. McKay tried netball more than a decade ago and never looked back, recognising the sport's tactical depth and appeal to male athletes.

The competition is now in its third season and has expanded to four teams, a testament to the talent available in the area. McKay noted that despite the small pool of players and competition from other sports, the region has produced some highly skilled athletes, including recent high school graduates who have represented their state.

Daniel Statton: a boy who kept playing netball

Daniel Statton, 19, was born and raised in Cairns and was the only boy playing netball in his sister's teams until he was about 12. Age restrictions then forced him to switch to football and basketball, and he could not return to the sport outside mixed competitions until he was about 16. He has since been selected for Australia's national men's netball team, the Kelpies.

Statton has represented Australia at under-18 level and played for Queensland in the Australian Mixed and Men's Netball Association national championships in Perth earlier this year. He moved from Far North Queensland to Geelong for further study, drawn by the prospect of more competitive netball. He described himself as athletic and agile, and said he is still hungry for more.

Breaking the stigma, one game at a time

Damian Nowak, co-captain of the Leprechaun Netball Club men's team, said netball is a safer option for people's joints and that the social aspect is a big drawcard. He described the team as a group of mates and dads who are just there to have fun.

McKay believes the stigma about netball being a female sport is dropping, particularly in regional areas. He has noticed that when school carnivals are held, many schools are now starting to enter boys' teams, which did not happen five years ago. He said the best way to attract more players is to keep pushing.