The Sports Ambassador | Experienced International Journalist, Professorial Fellow, Director
Netball Australia's embattled CEO, Kelly Ryan, has been here before – that uncomfortable place where it seems everywhere you turn is another dose of bad news. She is doing a good job of remaining upbeat, but how long will that keep the murmurs from becoming howls? Will she stay or will she go? Will she resign or will she be pushed? This week alone Netball Australia has been hit with three issues. The Collingwood Super Netball club confirmed it was handing back its licence at the end of the season. Collingwood players, while recognising the club and the players are partially responsibility for their lack of success, have detailed their lack of confidence in the sport's governing body claiming an "untenable dysfunction and disharmony" between players and administrators and "no confidence in the strategic direction of Netball Australia". On the same day, the chairman of the Australian Netball Players Association, Geoff Parmenter, resigned – adding to the widely held view that the relationship between the player representative body and Netball Australia is currently unworkable. As it stands every player, from all eight Super Netball teams, are off contract this September. None of them know what the future holds, despite the Netball Australia CEO remaining confident a new team will be in place to replace Collingwood. Establishing a new team will cost money, which Netball Australia does not have much of. To be up and running before the next season begins means they will be short on time too. Author of Code Wars – the battle for fans, dollars, and survival, Dr Hunter Fujak, told The Ticket netball's current dilemma mirrors the battle rugby union has faced. "The overall Super Netball competition is in a huge state of flux," Dr Fujak said. "There are probably parallels to the experience that rugby union has had over the last few years where once there's a bit of negative momentum around the sport and certain elements start falling away the issues tend to pile on in terms of a bit of a death spiral, one might say. "The concern for netball is that they are perhaps caught in one of these death spirals where there's just a lot of negative implications building upon one another." Those challenges include fulfilling a broadcast contract guaranteeing an eight team competition, locating where a replacement team will come from, the mental health challenges for players from the Collingwood team who face unemployment, and more broadly for all the players who require certainty that the competition will survive. Full story Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) #netball #sportsbusiness #governance #sportsindustry #womeninsport https://lnkd.in/gbzVq4jA
I might be oversimplifying it but why doesn't NA look for a buyer not only for the licence but the whole program, coach, support staff, players and administrators.
very interesting article Tracey and some great observations. it looks like there is a huge disconnect between the players and the administration. NA must understand what proper consultation is, it is not making a decision or a stance and then informing the stakeholders. you must bring your stakeholders along for the journey, they may not agree on all decisions made but if they have the opportunity to understand and have input those decisions are likely to be more broadly supported across the game.
Colin Morley
1y
Interesting and important article - thank you. It appears we have a sport with a large and established participation, good crowds, an international profile and a level of interest in the National Competition that dare I say, exceeds that of Super Rugby on a week in week out basis. In short, there is a level of interest and engagement in the national Competition that far exceeds that of many other sports eg Hockey, Baseball, All the ingredients are in place to be successful and to grow Netball at all levels.
It must be fixed.. the concept is terrific.. needs tuning up.. for what it does to inspire girls to achieve.. surely the Government can replace the lost sponsorship.
Excellent article Tracey. Thank you.
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1yNetball in Australia is in dire need of a comprehensive administrative overhaul. A fresh perspective is required, starting from the grassroots level and local clubs, in order to foster stronger engagement among players, parents, and fans. Unfortunately, many clubs today lack the fundamental administrative capabilities necessary for effective functioning and the development of future netball talent. This deficiency stems from long-standing administrators who resist adapting to the evolving nature of the sport and are reluctant to let go of outdated practices - Regrettably, this situation also discourages new volunteers from getting involved and driving much needed change. It is astonishing that netball, being the largest team sport in Australia with a participation rate exceeding 1.2 million children, women, and men, struggles to translate this immense involvement and passion into a sustainable and profitable competition. Similar to Larry Kestelman's transformation of basketball and the NBL in 2015, we need a commercially-minded and visionary entrepreneur to not only rescue netball but also propel it into a powerhouse similar to the current state of the NBL